I bought a bodhran to have around at my house session, but the skin's pretty dry and scratchy and not very fun to play. Is there something I can put on it to make it sound better (I was thinking along the lines of a leather conditioner - not petrol and a match)
well, i dont know what bodhran purists would think of this, but I have used neatsfoot oil, on a warmed up skin. however wait for a few pro opinions eh.....
thanks for the suggestions - they all sound like good options (except for the acid). might try the olive oil - although neatsfoot sounds interesting...
That is the type of drum you put tape round the edges, and it doesn't sound as scratchy. And the more it is battered, the skin will ease up and sound slightly better.
I don't think that olive oil is a good idea unless you are making a pizza. The Walton's have a product that has "water based oils and lanolin" . I would think something with lanolin would be good.
it all depends on the type of skin. if it is untreated, then i would hesitate adding oil to it. if treated, depends on how it is treated... may or may not make a difference.
what kind of drum is it?
could be the best thing to add to it is a "for sale" ad(d) ; )
seriously though, it all depends on what was done to prepare the skin. my first drum was a treated leather - nothing added to it made a diff - my last drum was an untreated alfonso... would not add anything to it to save my life.... though students and some friends have done so, and had really bad results.
Im guessing its a cheapie, Animal skin- so- animal oil.
Lanolin wouldnt be a bad idea, but practically.... you are better off with the neatsfoot, specifically designed for leather, Dubbin, on a warm skin, would also do ok.
It could also be the skin is thin and too tight, a judicious application of a size 9boot might 'mellow' it out[ or destroy it! so beware!]
So warm it up, oil inside and out, warm it some more stretch it by hand[ or foot] should make it playable.....
it's a 16" tuneable rosewood drum (here's where I duck) made in Pakistan. The bodhan expert in our group thinks it's okay, and that it could improve with use. I'd guess it's been treated, although I'm not sure. "for sale" - good one!
I wouldnt think so but.... a sunny day, or an open fire... be care full.! maybe a radiator....
With the olive oil thing its not such a bad choice, it comes from a nut after all. It will work. But it goes against a basic principle of leather treatment and wood treatment. that being animal oil. for animal skin. wood oil for wood.
Still, wait for some more suggestions and advice. Sure Ive done it a few times but I am no expert.
"Olive oil, almond oil, bee wax or any other good quality natural oil should be rubbed only on the playing side of the skin. This can be repeated as often as you like. Rub it on, leave it soak in for a couple of minutes and then wipe off the excess. It helps make the skin waterproof and the skin will become very smooth and pleasant to play on. Additionally it also improves the sound.
The application of a breathable waterproof spray to the back side of the skin keeps it clean and waterproof. The spray is available in sports shops for tents, leather jackets, etc."
Bodhran Bliss: What type of tape do you recommend to go around the edge of the skin? I have a drum I'd like to give that a go on...
Neats'foot oil ( ?sp? ) is recommended for softening and lubricating old dry leather - I heard from a concertina collector who came across an old instrument in Australia that had totally rigid bellows, but after an application of the oil they opened up in half an hour. He carried a bottle with him everywhere......
Is the skin rough ? this would make it sound scratchy, if so you will need to rub the skin very carefully with fine sandpaper (wet and dry ) but use dry with a flat block. The smoother the skin is the better it's tone. Then, apply neatsfoot oil, leave for a couple of days wipe off the excess and play the skin in, it can take a long time to play a skin in mind you. Good luck.
Quote from the Wikipedia:
Neatsfoot oil, like other leather dressings, should not be used on important historical objects, as it will oxidize with time, and embrittle the leather even more.[4] It also may leave an oily residue that can attract dust. On newer leather, it will inevitably darken the leather, even after a single application, and thus is not a desirable product to use when maintaining a lighter shade is desired. However, for routine use on working equipment, particularly in dry climates, it is a powerful softening and conditioning agent that few modern synthetic alternatives can replace."
That maybe explains why concertina makers do not use it.
Does anyone know how 'neatsfoot oil' translates to Spanish?
Insulating tape will do for taping the drum, look at one of Seamus O'Kane's on Google or whatever, and you will know how to put the tape on.
All the oil, ass's milk, leather soap, guinness and WD 40 in the world will not make a difference to a poor artificial skin. Some of those might help with a good skin.
And as I said earlier, and McKnowall emphasised, play it, the more tye better as this will loosen it up.
I've heard that singeing with an open flame and then sousing in a weak solution of uric acid will do it, but personally I wouldn't , not even if it was on fire
I loosened it as much as I could, which helped some, but it's been so dry here that it's tight again. Playing it is probably the best method - but I'll probably still try the neetsfoot (or maybe one of Brendan White's vegetarian options) and also the tape and the size 9 boot (not necessarily in that order). Thanks for the tips...
Airport,
I have one of those Pakistani drums like yours. First I sanded both sides (lightly) using a Scotchbrite pad. Next I applied the Waltons conditioner mentioned about. The key ingredient is the lanolin. Finally, I taped it with black electrical tape, starting at the top of the tacks and going in about one inch onto the flat top, overlapped about 1/4 inch. With that set-up, it sounds great. The sanding takes care of the roughness you mentioned and the tape does add a bit of deepness to the sound. The conditioner was for good measure and probably had the least effect of the three.
I was actually pretty amazed at how much 20 minutes of my time could improve the sound of this drum. Sure, it's no $300 drum, but it sounds a lot closer to one that it did when I bought it.
You say no drum is worth 300 dollars. Well, i recently bought a Christian Hedwitschak RWE and it is worth every penny of the 390 euros i paid for it.
Even though it is not played in fully yet, the sound is amazing and i'm getting high tones out of it you just can't get out of a cheap drum.
artificially aging a bodhran
artificially aging a bodhran
I bought a bodhran to have around at my house session, but the skin's pretty dry and scratchy and not very fun to play. Is there something I can put on it to make it sound better (I was thinking along the lines of a leather conditioner - not petrol and a match)
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
acid? (not lsd)
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Olive oil is good to run into the skin and leave for several minutes, then wipe off. You can use mink oil as well.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by twangtown
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
well, i dont know what bodhran purists would think of this, but I have used neatsfoot oil, on a warmed up skin. however wait for a few pro opinions eh.....
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by jig
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Of course, I meant "rub" not "run"...
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by twangtown
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
bit caustic, isn't it?
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Mink oil? What the feck is that? Is from that little userper of the otter or from a minke whale?
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
thanks for the suggestions - they all sound like good options (except for the acid). might try the olive oil - although neatsfoot sounds interesting...
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
That is the type of drum you put tape round the edges, and it doesn't sound as scratchy. And the more it is battered, the skin will ease up and sound slightly better.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
I don't think that olive oil is a good idea unless you are making a pizza. The Walton's have a product that has "water based oils and lanolin" . I would think something with lanolin would be good.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by GoatBasher
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
it all depends on the type of skin. if it is untreated, then i would hesitate adding oil to it. if treated, depends on how it is treated... may or may not make a difference.
what kind of drum is it?
could be the best thing to add to it is a "for sale" ad(d) ; )
seriously though, it all depends on what was done to prepare the skin. my first drum was a treated leather - nothing added to it made a diff - my last drum was an untreated alfonso... would not add anything to it to save my life.... though students and some friends have done so, and had really bad results.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by maze
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Im guessing its a cheapie, Animal skin- so- animal oil.
Lanolin wouldnt be a bad idea, but practically.... you are better off with the neatsfoot, specifically designed for leather, Dubbin, on a warm skin, would also do ok.
It could also be the skin is thin and too tight, a judicious application of a size 9boot might 'mellow' it out[ or destroy it! so beware!]
So warm it up, oil inside and out, warm it some more stretch it by hand[ or foot] should make it playable.....
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by jig
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
it's a 16" tuneable rosewood drum (here's where I duck) made in Pakistan. The bodhan expert in our group thinks it's okay, and that it could improve with use. I'd guess it's been treated, although I'm not sure. "for sale" - good one!
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Brendan White suggests the olive oil...
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by twangtown
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
try sinking it in a larhe body of water. yes, that should do nicely. lol
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by rob_handel
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
will a hairdryer do for warming it up?
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
I wouldnt think so but.... a sunny day, or an open fire... be care full.! maybe a radiator....
With the olive oil thing its not such a bad choice, it comes from a nut after all. It will work. But it goes against a basic principle of leather treatment and wood treatment. that being animal oil. for animal skin. wood oil for wood.
Still, wait for some more suggestions and advice. Sure Ive done it a few times but I am no expert.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by jig
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Tape. Seamus O'Kane isn't daft you know.
Now it is not a real skin, but the tape will improve things, makes it sound a bit deeper.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Here's from Brendan White's site:
"Olive oil, almond oil, bee wax or any other good quality natural oil should be rubbed only on the playing side of the skin. This can be repeated as often as you like. Rub it on, leave it soak in for a couple of minutes and then wipe off the excess. It helps make the skin waterproof and the skin will become very smooth and pleasant to play on. Additionally it also improves the sound.
The application of a breathable waterproof spray to the back side of the skin keeps it clean and waterproof. The spray is available in sports shops for tents, leather jackets, etc."
Bodhran Bliss: What type of tape do you recommend to go around the edge of the skin? I have a drum I'd like to give that a go on...
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by twangtown
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Neats'foot oil ( ?sp? ) is recommended for softening and lubricating old dry leather - I heard from a concertina collector who came across an old instrument in Australia that had totally rigid bellows, but after an application of the oil they opened up in half an hour. He carried a bottle with him everywhere......
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Saddle oil apparently works a treat, though I'v e never tried it. Not sure that there's a substitute for actually sitting and playing it in.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Is the skin rough ? this would make it sound scratchy, if so you will need to rub the skin very carefully with fine sandpaper (wet and dry ) but use dry with a flat block. The smoother the skin is the better it's tone. Then, apply neatsfoot oil, leave for a couple of days wipe off the excess and play the skin in, it can take a long time to play a skin in mind you. Good luck.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by curlew
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
play it!
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by mcknowall
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
iI have used neatfoot oil for 10 years or so. Ideal.
Tape on drum, black plastic plumbers tape.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Dave_
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
GuernseyPete,I have been told by a concertina maker never to use neatsfoot oil on concertina bellows.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Rufus Jameson
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Quote from the Wikipedia:
Neatsfoot oil, like other leather dressings, should not be used on important historical objects, as it will oxidize with time, and embrittle the leather even more.[4] It also may leave an oily residue that can attract dust. On newer leather, it will inevitably darken the leather, even after a single application, and thus is not a desirable product to use when maintaining a lighter shade is desired. However, for routine use on working equipment, particularly in dry climates, it is a powerful softening and conditioning agent that few modern synthetic alternatives can replace."
That maybe explains why concertina makers do not use it.
Does anyone know how 'neatsfoot oil' translates to Spanish?
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Ramiro
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Found it, 'aceite de pata de buey'.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Ramiro
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Insulating tape will do for taping the drum, look at one of Seamus O'Kane's on Google or whatever, and you will know how to put the tape on.
All the oil, ass's milk, leather soap, guinness and WD 40 in the world will not make a difference to a poor artificial skin. Some of those might help with a good skin.
And as I said earlier, and McKnowall emphasised, play it, the more tye better as this will loosen it up.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
I've heard that singeing with an open flame and then sousing in a weak solution of uric acid will do it, but personally I wouldn't , not even if it was on fire
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Bren
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
If it's tuneable, you should be able to do what needs to be done by tuning it. Tuning the drum is not for pitch per se - it's for tension.
# Posted on January 22nd 2008 by Ailin
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
I loosened it as much as I could, which helped some, but it's been so dry here that it's tight again. Playing it is probably the best method - but I'll probably still try the neetsfoot (or maybe one of Brendan White's vegetarian options) and also the tape and the size 9 boot (not necessarily in that order). Thanks for the tips...
# Posted on January 23rd 2008 by airport
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Neatsfoot Oil is made from the feet and shin bones (but not the hooves) of cattle.I presume that's what the Spanish phrase means.
# Posted on January 23rd 2008 by dafydd
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
Airport,
I have one of those Pakistani drums like yours. First I sanded both sides (lightly) using a Scotchbrite pad. Next I applied the Waltons conditioner mentioned about. The key ingredient is the lanolin. Finally, I taped it with black electrical tape, starting at the top of the tacks and going in about one inch onto the flat top, overlapped about 1/4 inch. With that set-up, it sounds great. The sanding takes care of the roughness you mentioned and the tape does add a bit of deepness to the sound. The conditioner was for good measure and probably had the least effect of the three.
I was actually pretty amazed at how much 20 minutes of my time could improve the sound of this drum. Sure, it's no $300 drum, but it sounds a lot closer to one that it did when I bought it.
# Posted on January 24th 2008 by Craymcla
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
No drum is worth $300. You could buy an instrument or two for that.
# Posted on January 24th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: artificially aging a bodhran
@ bodhran bliss:
You say no drum is worth 300 dollars. Well, i recently bought a Christian Hedwitschak RWE and it is worth every penny of the 390 euros i paid for it.
Even though it is not played in fully yet, the sound is amazing and i'm getting high tones out of it you just can't get out of a cheap drum.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by martijn573