I am currently in the market for a new Bodhran to upgrade from my Vignoles I currently play. I have it down to a few makers and would like some personal opinions from those who have drums from these makers. A few points (if they matter): I have a budget of $400 USD, I play Kerry style, I'm looking for a mellow bassy sound. The makers I'm considering are:
Brendan White
Albert Alfonso
Diarmaid O'Kane
Mance Grady
I'm also open to others that you have experience with. Thanks in advance for your input (and I'm sure some smartass comments). Cheers!
Try Eamon Maguire. For $400 you can buy two of the best drums going.
Or just buy one for about $180.
Do not be deterred by the price. many people now rip of USA citizens by over charging for bodhrans. Many of the people who do this are US citizens themselves.
an English tenor banjo player / vocalist, now living in spain _ not sure if he's still making them _ but i had, for my daughter, his 131st one (1998) for only £110 Stirling about 10 years ago and have had a really encouraging response from ''real players'' with regard to it's finish, and most importantly, it's 'tone'
i may add the skin is now trashed (after band use / abuse) so i'm looking for a new one in South London presently . . .
The one thing that all bodhran makers agree on is that their own drums are the best and all the other makers are still learning the craft.
Somewhere out there is a skin that is just right for you, it doesn't matter much who makes the drum, it's all in the skin.
I use kangaroo skins only these days simply because that is what players choose when they test drive a variety of skins.
So try before you buy if you can, one man's stradivarius is another's lid off a garbage tin.
I agree with McKnowall that because each skin is individual that each drum is also individual. However, a lot of modern processing of skins is designed to achieve specific sounds and in many ways is taking some of the individuality out of the skin to maintain consistency in sound. Most drums are sold over the web and therefore without a test drive, consistency is important to give customers confidence
If you're paying around a couple of hundred quid or more you should be expecting a good drum but there are good instruments below that price and even cheapo tourist-style drums with reasonable basic skins can have some life breathed back into them with a little elbow grease - although the cheap shell & tuning systems are another matter entirely.
Seamus OKane's skins are very consistent and great tonal quality (www.tradcentre.com/seamus), his build is basic but the drum does exactly what it says in the tin and does it damned well.
His son Diarmaid (www.tradcentre.com/diarmaid/) makes drums also, I have one of Diarmaids as a second drum with a different sound, it's gorgeous.
Rob at Metloef www.metloef.com makes cracking drums and each is custom designed & the skin treated to the buyer's needs, so it's a process rather than off the shelf and the results are very good, I have several including my primary instrument.
Darius bartlett is out on (over? the edge of design and innovation, like Rob, Darius will work to get you what suits you but you need to know what you want.
There are other makers but these are the ones whose drums I own and play and I am happy to recommend them.
@ Lone Rover Lambeg skins are superb and give a very tonal sound with a wide frequency range. They're a very different beast from a more traditional drum with a harder thicker skin and a less pitched sound. It suits my preferred style but YMMV.
As Davy said above, if you want more bodhran than you can shake a tipper at, try www.bodojo.com.
Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Opinions about a few Bodran makers
I am currently in the market for a new Bodhran to upgrade from my Vignoles I currently play. I have it down to a few makers and would like some personal opinions from those who have drums from these makers. A few points (if they matter): I have a budget of $400 USD, I play Kerry style, I'm looking for a mellow bassy sound. The makers I'm considering are:
Brendan White
Albert Alfonso
Diarmaid O'Kane
Mance Grady
I'm also open to others that you have experience with. Thanks in advance for your input (and I'm sure some smartass comments). Cheers!
# Posted on January 8th 2010 by adrianirish
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Hi adrianirish
You would be better asking that question here http://www.bodojo.com
# Posted on January 8th 2010 by BigDavy
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Try Eamon Maguire. For $400 you can buy two of the best drums going.
Or just buy one for about $180.
Do not be deterred by the price. many people now rip of USA citizens by over charging for bodhrans. Many of the people who do this are US citizens themselves.
# Posted on January 8th 2010 by bodhran bliss
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Check metloef.com
The best .
# Posted on January 9th 2010 by seaniemcg
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Barrie Lockwood
an English tenor banjo player / vocalist, now living in spain _ not sure if he's still making them _ but i had, for my daughter, his 131st one (1998) for only £110 Stirling about 10 years ago and have had a really encouraging response from ''real players'' with regard to it's finish, and most importantly, it's 'tone'
i may add the skin is now trashed (after band use / abuse) so i'm looking for a new one in South London presently . . .
# Posted on January 9th 2010 by lisaniska
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
The one thing that all bodhran makers agree on is that their own drums are the best and all the other makers are still learning the craft.
Somewhere out there is a skin that is just right for you, it doesn't matter much who makes the drum, it's all in the skin.
I use kangaroo skins only these days simply because that is what players choose when they test drive a variety of skins.
So try before you buy if you can, one man's stradivarius is another's lid off a garbage tin.
# Posted on January 9th 2010 by mcknowall
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
seamus o kane makes the best his skins are brill next is maguire they both use goat the original and the best.
# Posted on January 12th 2010 by tank
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
How would you rate Lambeg Style skins?
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by Lone rover
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
I agree with McKnowall that because each skin is individual that each drum is also individual. However, a lot of modern processing of skins is designed to achieve specific sounds and in many ways is taking some of the individuality out of the skin to maintain consistency in sound. Most drums are sold over the web and therefore without a test drive, consistency is important to give customers confidence
the edge of design and innovation, like Rob, Darius will work to get you what suits you but you need to know what you want.
If you're paying around a couple of hundred quid or more you should be expecting a good drum but there are good instruments below that price and even cheapo tourist-style drums with reasonable basic skins can have some life breathed back into them with a little elbow grease - although the cheap shell & tuning systems are another matter entirely.
Seamus OKane's skins are very consistent and great tonal quality (www.tradcentre.com/seamus), his build is basic but the drum does exactly what it says in the tin and does it damned well.
His son Diarmaid (www.tradcentre.com/diarmaid/) makes drums also, I have one of Diarmaids as a second drum with a different sound, it's gorgeous.
Rob at Metloef www.metloef.com makes cracking drums and each is custom designed & the skin treated to the buyer's needs, so it's a process rather than off the shelf and the results are very good, I have several including my primary instrument.
Darius bartlett is out on (over?
There are other makers but these are the ones whose drums I own and play and I am happy to recommend them.
@ Lone Rover Lambeg skins are superb and give a very tonal sound with a wide frequency range. They're a very different beast from a more traditional drum with a harder thicker skin and a less pitched sound. It suits my preferred style but YMMV.
As Davy said above, if you want more bodhran than you can shake a tipper at, try www.bodojo.com.
Cheers
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by powerhaus
Re: Opinions about a few Bodran makers
Sorry I forgot Darius' Site
http://www.dariusbartlettpercussion.com/
# Posted on January 15th 2010 by powerhaus