You have to go & check out Grady Drums first ( http://www.acebodhrans.com/ ) if you're gonna spend that kind of money. I've have only had his bodhrans for over 2 decades. Since the first time I played one of his drums I've never bought any other since. I've taken my drums to the west coast, on a Pacific crossing, Ireland & elsewhere & I don't think I run across a better crafted & sounding drum, though I have seen some knockoff's & they're easily spotted. Being one of if not the best bodhran player in North America he has the ability & sensativity to custom make a drum to what ever spec's you want (high tone, low tone, deep sounding, etc.). I've also tried drums made by far more famous makers (no names) but never found any where the guality & craftmanship was so consistent. So not only, IMHO, is he one of the best if not the best bodhran maker in North America (I could say world but I've never been to Bora Bora) he's also very professional, he'll find out what you're looking for in a drum, your prefences in sound, weither or not you're looking for a drum that'll be heard along side of a herd of war pipes or one with a soft sweet sound that'll grace the song of nightingale (of course there's alot of taste & style & awareness of the surroundings involved in when & how to play drum at what volume, it's not all the drum). Anyway, no I don't get any discounts for this kind of praise, I can be bought but not that cheaply. Good Luck. Barry