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banjo skin

does anyone know where i could get real goat/sheep skin to put on the drum part of a banjo i'm making. its real skin i want, i considered using tin and plastic but i want to do it right and i don't want to kill a sheep because they are too expensive :D also it would be handy if i could get it on the web in uk/ireland. cheers.

# Posted on September 15th 2010 by James Morgan

Re: banjo skin

Are you sure you want goat/sheep?

Calf velum would be more normal, and Touchstone Tonewoods would be the place to get it.

# Posted on September 15th 2010 by skreech

Re: banjo skin

thanks, i didn't know calf skin was the norm, i just assumed it was the same skin as the bodhrons and lambegs, i'll check them out.

# Posted on September 15th 2010 by James Morgan

Re: banjo skin

Goldtone make a calfskin head that is pre-strectched and ready to go, try halshaw music if you want one http://www.halshawmusic.co.uk/vellum.html

# Posted on September 17th 2010 by surfmacsurf

Re: banjo skin

If you don't mind roadkill, appalachian tradition holds groundhog(woodchuck/marmot) to be the best of all banjo heads, followed closely by cat.

# Posted on September 17th 2010 by justjim

Re: banjo skin

no i dont mind roadkill, but there is no groundhogs in ireland lol, and i won't be butchering a cat ;)

# Posted on September 17th 2010 by James Morgan

Re: banjo skin

There are a number of bodhran makers in Ireland. They might be willing to sell you some of their stock?

I am certainly no authority on whether goat is an appropriate material for a banjo however.

# Posted on September 17th 2010 by zippydw

Re: banjo skin

i would say any type of skin would be grand to be honest, i was actually thinking of shooting a fox and using it.

# Posted on September 17th 2010 by James Morgan