I have a Brendan White Double. The extra thickness of 2 skins makes it a little harder to distort the skin with your back hand. You do get a lot more ring if you want it when undamped and distinct changes in pitch plus harmonics when you apply a light finger to parts of the skin.
I prefer Brendan White's double skin bodhrán's to his single skin drums as the have much more "character"; simply better drums. Generally speaking, though, I prefer a single thick-skinned drum.
I don't think you will get a definitive answer on here as to which is best; no-one can tell you which is best for you. Preference comes through experience - try to play as many drums as you can.
There are so many additional variables - thickness of skin, depth of rim, type of wood used, crossbar/no crossbar, temperature/humidity, your style of playing,how you use the "free" hand, the type of stick you use, how old the drum is, whether or not the skin has been treated, whether or not it's tuneable, general workmanship,what type of drumming fits in with your local sessions or band.
Just beg, borrow (don't steal!) as many different drums as you can, find out what you like and go look for one of your own.
Something else to watch out for is that some drum-makers are more consistent than others. One Séamus O'Kane drum sounds much like another; the same can be said for Rob Forkner, Eamon Maguire and Belgarth drums; other makers' drums can vary wildly.
Sorry Gian; I just re-read your question and my previous post is off at a bit of a tangent.
Double skin sounds deeper (usually) and the tone sustains for slightly longer. I've also found them to be louder!
Yes, also sorry, first reply was a little flippant. As a maker, I can point out that double skins are fraught with potntial disasters like bubbles etc but some can sound awesome. An interesting phenomena is that at festivals people always ask for a bodhran that sounds like whoever is the star player on the program and when said star visits my tent, every drum in the rack sounds like his (or hers in the case of Anne Marie O'Malley)
Most of these people could play a soggy beer carton and make it soud good
I play a double skin Brenden White. I love it. I have no problem changing the pitch with backslide. I use a special rubber tip tipper for getting a low bass sound. I would recommend playing a few double skin bodhrans if you haven't had the experience.
Double Skin
Double Skin
Hi All
I never played a double skin bodhran, what is the difference?
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by gian marco
Re: Double Skin
I have a Brendan White Double. The extra thickness of 2 skins makes it a little harder to distort the skin with your back hand. You do get a lot more ring if you want it when undamped and distinct changes in pitch plus harmonics when you apply a light finger to parts of the skin.
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by country bumpkin
Re: Double Skin
one skin.
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Double Skin
one skin, two skin, three skin, ....
Trevor
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Double Skin
Does it really matter?
Trevor
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Double Skin
I prefer a skinful
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Donough
Re: Double Skin
I never played a single skin bodhran. What's the point?
(look - someone was going to say it)
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Double Skin
Who said goat-bashers were thick-skinned?
(With head to match)
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Double Skin
'gian marco' There was a fairly comprehensive discussion on this subject a while back. If you check the archives or if perhaps someone else could.
Personally I prefer a single skin.
All the best.....................curlew.
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by curlew
Re: Double Skin
I prefer Brendan White's double skin bodhrán's to his single skin drums as the have much more "character"; simply better drums. Generally speaking, though, I prefer a single thick-skinned drum.
I don't think you will get a definitive answer on here as to which is best; no-one can tell you which is best for you. Preference comes through experience - try to play as many drums as you can.
There are so many additional variables - thickness of skin, depth of rim, type of wood used, crossbar/no crossbar, temperature/humidity, your style of playing,how you use the "free" hand, the type of stick you use, how old the drum is, whether or not the skin has been treated, whether or not it's tuneable, general workmanship,what type of drumming fits in with your local sessions or band.
Just beg, borrow (don't steal!) as many different drums as you can, find out what you like and go look for one of your own.
Something else to watch out for is that some drum-makers are more consistent than others. One Séamus O'Kane drum sounds much like another; the same can be said for Rob Forkner, Eamon Maguire and Belgarth drums; other makers' drums can vary wildly.
God luck!
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Double Skin
Sorry Gian; I just re-read your question and my previous post is off at a bit of a tangent.
Double skin sounds deeper (usually) and the tone sustains for slightly longer. I've also found them to be louder!
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Double Skin
A discussion on the subject is at http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5481
Jim
# Posted on June 24th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: Double Skin
Yes, also sorry, first reply was a little flippant. As a maker, I can point out that double skins are fraught with potntial disasters like bubbles etc but some can sound awesome. An interesting phenomena is that at festivals people always ask for a bodhran that sounds like whoever is the star player on the program and when said star visits my tent, every drum in the rack sounds like his (or hers in the case of Anne Marie O'Malley)
Most of these people could play a soggy beer carton and make it soud good
# Posted on June 25th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Double Skin
a professional soggy beerr cartoon!
# Posted on June 25th 2005 by gian marco
Re: Double Skin
carton
# Posted on June 25th 2005 by gian marco
Re: Double Skin
It is most certainly a protected species, I've been thinking that for some time now.
# Posted on June 25th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Double Skin
I play a double skin Brenden White. I love it. I have no problem changing the pitch with backslide. I use a special rubber tip tipper for getting a low bass sound. I would recommend playing a few double skin bodhrans if you haven't had the experience.
# Posted on July 4th 2005 by CeolCairdeas