Can anybody recommend a beginning bodhran? I live in the Seattle/Tacoma area and would like to purchase one for my wife for Christmas. What size is recommended and what accessories should I begin with? Are the inexpensive ones worth the price? Can you also recommmend a local or mail order vendor. Thanks for your input.
This is a link to many different makers all of whom you can contact via the Internet. The bodhrán makers represented run from decent student drums to top of the line professional models. Good luck in your search and tell your wife to enjoy the journey.
LOL -- good man, Hudak! Anyway, I highly recommend Whistle and Drum -- they can give you all kinds of info on a good starter bodhran for your wife, what you'll want to think about, all that stuff. (Disclaimer: I am not connected to W&D in any financial way but the owners ARE friends. )
hudak,
An excellent maker in the NE USA is Mance Grady at http://www.mance.com/. His drums are not cheap, but they are high quality. And I think he would sell you a non-tunable drum (the least expensive kind of drum) that could be retrofitted to be tunable later on if your wife decided she was really serious about the pursuit.
And that website is part of a "bodhran web ring" which means there is a link at the bottom that will lead you to other similar sites, so you can do some web exploring on the subject of drums.
If you do buy a drum, get ready for drummer jokes--there are more drums in circulation than there are good drummers, which tends to give the whole lot a somewhat questionable reputation.
If your wife is fairly serious, I'd go for a Roundstone. A lot of them are low-end drums for tourists to hang on their walls, as someone once said, but my first bodhran was and is an 18-inch Roundstone Deluxe... it's perhaps $150, and has a lovely tone. Here's the site: http://www.bodhran.com/index2.htm
If your wife is extremely serious, go for one of the high-priced, high-quality ones already reccomended-a Quinlan or a Grady.
Finally, I'm not sure of price, but I like the tones of Coopermans and Brendan Whites. And also, it's best not to get a bodhran with non-removable crossbars.
I finally step up to write a long, constructive, non-joke reply, and it disappeared when I pushed the “Post” button. I think I can recap, and apologies if this now appear twice.
Depends on what you think inexpensive is. On a lark, I bought a two-pack set of two drums for $40 US. I suppose if you are good, you could make them sound fair, but.... There’s some here http://www.mid-east.com under “Interior adjustable” for $80-100. The larger 18” drums can have a deeper, bass sound and be a bit more forgiving to learn on, and less offensive to those around you. With a light weight, longish cipin/tipper/stick, and loose adjustment, it can actually be mellow. A guy occasionally plays at the local session with one that has a synthetic head, and swears by it, only making one adjustment and not having to make others, even when it sits in the car all day. If you are of the mindset of “you get what you pay for”, then $400+ frame drums are not out of question, especially with the cost of some of the other instruments you might see at your local session.
But it does beg the question, why do you/your wife want a bodhran? Bear with me; I’m not confident I can express this well. The cheap ones I mentioned, even when new, looked like they were 100 years old and made on the farm, almost like some shown in those 1930’s photos I saw somewhere. Capital “T” traditional looking, with hand cut wood and even goat hair sticking up on the FACE of the head. Playing it is like a step back in time, in a way. For example, I shoot a traditional English longbow (stick, off the hand), and it can be very difficult to hit a target. If you want to hit the target, there are better bows to use (arrow shelves, sights, stabilizers, metal...), but it isn’t always about hitting the target. It’s about the experience, tradition, challenge, and fun. I keep one of the cheap ones at a cabin in the woods, and bopity-bop on it, boozing on the porch, just for grins. It’s perfect for that. If you want to take something like that to your local session, which may be populated by semi-professionals contemplating their next recording, they may not appreciate your experience, or sound, of a challenging yet full-of-character drum. But if you want one with a variety of sound adjustment (low end), head room for trying different styles (kerry, top end...), and taking out to the pub for some musical fun, sounds fine (in my opinion, but probably with some unevenness, buzz...) then the $90 one works. Also, these types are offered by a variety of different people at different web sites, so you can shop around.
Kudos to you for a cool gift for your wife—good luck!
Jesse James probably sold bodhrans in the good old US of A, and if he didn't, he should have. At those prices, you'd need to rob a lot of banks, and robbing simple folk(ies) is so much easier.
Eamon maguire, Belfast. About £130 for a top class, tunable bodhran, top of the range, unsurpassed.
Another wind up thread. Pilib/John Bull/hudak, don't you think you've done enough damage for one week?
:-}
(Actually I thump the goatskin myself on occasion. But I couldn't advise. My bodhran is years out of date. For a start it's not programmable and doesn't have a USB port and only has 320 gigs hard drive. Sorry.)
There is an old saying "buy cheap and you buy twice". If you are serious then get a good quality one from the start. Based on my own experience I recommend a tunable Belgarth.
Thanks for all the response and the limited amout of jokes! I really want to get the gift so the wife will beat on something else instead of me. I usually dont buy the cheapest thing on the market since I am not looking for a toy. I will do some searching tonight and should make some sort of intelligent decision from all of your suggestions. I know what you are thinking, the most intelligent decision is not to buy a bodhran!!!
Do you want to start with a beginner bodhran to see if that is what you want to do, or do you want to start with a middle level or high end bodrhan and accessories? Many people start off thinking they want to do bodhran, but don't stay with the craft. If you are sure about what you want, try a Brendan white 42 cm. double skin bodhran. Its a reasonable price for a quality bodhran. If you do not stay with bodhran, at least you will have a heck of alot of fun with it. If you stil are intersted in a few years, you may want to consider a Seamus O'Kane bodhran or an Albert Alfonso bodhran. At that point, you will know if you want to play traditional style, fast triplet style like Donnchadh Gough, play bass on bodhran or have a full range. You may want to invest in some good tippers at Carney Bodhran Tippers or Hunter Bodhran Tippers. I cannot over recommend listening to all of the quality players, starting with Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh (or we would not be having this discussion), Tommy Hayes, Donchadh Gough and John Joe Kelly. If the percussion is in your heart, follow your heart.
When I decided to learn to play bodhran, I got a £40 tuneable one from Waltons, and I still use it now. It's light enough to carry to events without breaking your back, and I like the tone. I did get a second bodhran later, but it weighs a ton and the skin was so stiff the tipper just slid off instead of gripping and bouncing.
Tippers, there are hundreds of styles to choose from, but don't get one too short or long. One the length of the player's stretched hand from thumb tip to little fingertip is the length to aim for. The lighter it is the less strain on the wrist with repeated swivels, but the harder you'd need to strike for volume, so it's a trade off.
Oh my God. Just been on one of those sites, $500 for a bodhran. As Mr McEnroe said "you cannot be serious man". Is extortion not a crime in the US of A?
$500 for a bodhran. Now I know why there are so many jokes.
Tell you what, send me $200 and I will get you a top of the range best drum in the world, as played by the best.
Beginning bodhran recommendations
Beginning bodhran recommendations
Can anybody recommend a beginning bodhran? I live in the Seattle/Tacoma area and would like to purchase one for my wife for Christmas. What size is recommended and what accessories should I begin with? Are the inexpensive ones worth the price? Can you also recommmend a local or mail order vendor. Thanks for your input.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by hudak
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Don't you DARE, any of you bodhran haters, don't you DARE.
http://www.whistleanddrum.com, perhaps
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
I do dare.
As yourself why you wanna play the infernal thing in the first place? Do you have a death with?
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ...
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
"wish". Sorry, I was so incensed with rage I couldn't type fast enough
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ...
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
*smirk*
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
crikey, I get it now. I weas so incensed with rage I never read the post proporly. You have a death wish for your wife.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ...
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
You'll have to excuse Michael. He's got his little ticks. *smirk*
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
I think Michael needs a more epic handle. Like, oooh, I dunno, Huffy the Bodhran Slayer maybe?
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Q
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Excuse Me? I think the fellow has come accross a great way to bump off his wife. Can I be an expert witness for the prosecution?
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ...
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Thanks Michael your tomfoolery has made my day!
This is a link to many different makers all of whom you can contact via the Internet. The bodhrán makers represented run from decent student drums to top of the line professional models. Good luck in your search and tell your wife to enjoy the journey.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/bodhrandojo/links/Retailers___Makers_000993836919/Makers_001081770255/
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ejsant
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
ha ha, "enjoy the journey" (make sure she has the money for the ferry man)
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by ...
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Thanks for the link Ed. And Michael, I just got off the phone with my insurance agent. I'm going to be wealthy.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by hudak
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
LOL -- good man, Hudak! Anyway, I highly recommend Whistle and Drum -- they can give you all kinds of info on a good starter bodhran for your wife, what you'll want to think about, all that stuff. (Disclaimer: I am not connected to W&D in any financial way but the owners ARE friends.
)
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Here's where I learned to play the bodhran: http://www.madfortrad.com/single.htm?sku=CEFCD071&cart=11346740403053092
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
hudak,
An excellent maker in the NE USA is Mance Grady at http://www.mance.com/. His drums are not cheap, but they are high quality. And I think he would sell you a non-tunable drum (the least expensive kind of drum) that could be retrofitted to be tunable later on if your wife decided she was really serious about the pursuit.
And that website is part of a "bodhran web ring" which means there is a link at the bottom that will lead you to other similar sites, so you can do some web exploring on the subject of drums.
If you do buy a drum, get ready for drummer jokes--there are more drums in circulation than there are good drummers, which tends to give the whole lot a somewhat questionable reputation.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
If your wife isn't too serious, I'd get one of these: http://www.thumpmusic.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TM&Product_Code=MEMBTD6B&Category_Code=13
Good beginner quality, low price. A good starter drum.
If your wife is fairly serious, I'd go for a Roundstone. A lot of them are low-end drums for tourists to hang on their walls, as someone once said, but my first bodhran was and is an 18-inch Roundstone Deluxe... it's perhaps $150, and has a lovely tone. Here's the site: http://www.bodhran.com/index2.htm
If your wife is extremely serious, go for one of the high-priced, high-quality ones already reccomended-a Quinlan or a Grady.
Finally, I'm not sure of price, but I like the tones of Coopermans and Brendan Whites. And also, it's best not to get a bodhran with non-removable crossbars.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
I finally step up to write a long, constructive, non-joke reply, and it disappeared when I pushed the “Post” button. I think I can recap, and apologies if this now appear twice.
Depends on what you think inexpensive is. On a lark, I bought a two-pack set of two drums for $40 US. I suppose if you are good, you could make them sound fair, but.... There’s some here http://www.mid-east.com under “Interior adjustable” for $80-100. The larger 18” drums can have a deeper, bass sound and be a bit more forgiving to learn on, and less offensive to those around you. With a light weight, longish cipin/tipper/stick, and loose adjustment, it can actually be mellow. A guy occasionally plays at the local session with one that has a synthetic head, and swears by it, only making one adjustment and not having to make others, even when it sits in the car all day. If you are of the mindset of “you get what you pay for”, then $400+ frame drums are not out of question, especially with the cost of some of the other instruments you might see at your local session.
But it does beg the question, why do you/your wife want a bodhran? Bear with me; I’m not confident I can express this well. The cheap ones I mentioned, even when new, looked like they were 100 years old and made on the farm, almost like some shown in those 1930’s photos I saw somewhere. Capital “T” traditional looking, with hand cut wood and even goat hair sticking up on the FACE of the head. Playing it is like a step back in time, in a way. For example, I shoot a traditional English longbow (stick, off the hand), and it can be very difficult to hit a target. If you want to hit the target, there are better bows to use (arrow shelves, sights, stabilizers, metal...), but it isn’t always about hitting the target. It’s about the experience, tradition, challenge, and fun. I keep one of the cheap ones at a cabin in the woods, and bopity-bop on it, boozing on the porch, just for grins. It’s perfect for that. If you want to take something like that to your local session, which may be populated by semi-professionals contemplating their next recording, they may not appreciate your experience, or sound, of a challenging yet full-of-character drum. But if you want one with a variety of sound adjustment (low end), head room for trying different styles (kerry, top end...), and taking out to the pub for some musical fun, sounds fine (in my opinion, but probably with some unevenness, buzz...) then the $90 one works. Also, these types are offered by a variety of different people at different web sites, so you can shop around.
Kudos to you for a cool gift for your wife—good luck!
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by TiiiM
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Jesse James probably sold bodhrans in the good old US of A, and if he didn't, he should have. At those prices, you'd need to rob a lot of banks, and robbing simple folk(ies) is so much easier.
Eamon maguire, Belfast. About £130 for a top class, tunable bodhran, top of the range, unsurpassed.
Unless eamon now thinks he's Jesse James.
# Posted on December 15th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Another wind up thread. Pilib/John Bull/hudak, don't you think you've done enough damage for one week?
:-}
(Actually I thump the goatskin myself on occasion. But I couldn't advise. My bodhran is years out of date. For a start it's not programmable and doesn't have a USB port and only has 320 gigs hard drive. Sorry.)
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
It's not necessarily a windup!
Although I was tempted to ask if he wouldn't like to give her a penny whistle instead...
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
There is an old saying "buy cheap and you buy twice". If you are serious then get a good quality one from the start. Based on my own experience I recommend a tunable Belgarth.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by Thumper
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Thanks for all the response and the limited amout of jokes! I really want to get the gift so the wife will beat on something else instead of me. I usually dont buy the cheapest thing on the market since I am not looking for a toy. I will do some searching tonight and should make some sort of intelligent decision from all of your suggestions. I know what you are thinking, the most intelligent decision is not to buy a bodhran!!!
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by hudak
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Do you want to start with a beginner bodhran to see if that is what you want to do, or do you want to start with a middle level or high end bodrhan and accessories? Many people start off thinking they want to do bodhran, but don't stay with the craft. If you are sure about what you want, try a Brendan white 42 cm. double skin bodhran. Its a reasonable price for a quality bodhran. If you do not stay with bodhran, at least you will have a heck of alot of fun with it. If you stil are intersted in a few years, you may want to consider a Seamus O'Kane bodhran or an Albert Alfonso bodhran. At that point, you will know if you want to play traditional style, fast triplet style like Donnchadh Gough, play bass on bodhran or have a full range. You may want to invest in some good tippers at Carney Bodhran Tippers or Hunter Bodhran Tippers. I cannot over recommend listening to all of the quality players, starting with Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh (or we would not be having this discussion), Tommy Hayes, Donchadh Gough and John Joe Kelly. If the percussion is in your heart, follow your heart.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
When I decided to learn to play bodhran, I got a £40 tuneable one from Waltons, and I still use it now. It's light enough to carry to events without breaking your back, and I like the tone. I did get a second bodhran later, but it weighs a ton and the skin was so stiff the tipper just slid off instead of gripping and bouncing.
Tippers, there are hundreds of styles to choose from, but don't get one too short or long. One the length of the player's stretched hand from thumb tip to little fingertip is the length to aim for. The lighter it is the less strain on the wrist with repeated swivels, but the harder you'd need to strike for volume, so it's a trade off.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by Martin Milner
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
". . .the most intelligent decision is not to buy a bodhran!!"
Well, you're going to need someplace to put the cheese and crackers.
KFG
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by KFG
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
It's handy for collecting glasses too.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
You want a cheap bodhran, £35, top of the range, £130.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Beginning bodhran recommendations
Oh my God. Just been on one of those sites, $500 for a bodhran. As Mr McEnroe said "you cannot be serious man". Is extortion not a crime in the US of A?
$500 for a bodhran. Now I know why there are so many jokes.
Tell you what, send me $200 and I will get you a top of the range best drum in the world, as played by the best.
# Posted on December 16th 2005 by bodhran bliss