Just wanted to say thanks for all the genuine advice, and thanks for the jokes and the good-natured p_ _ _ taking, I particularly liked the Gatling Gun link from Midchuck and the lengthy one from catspaw49 - I thought it was genuine until near the end!

However, I am disappointed that another Mudcat thread goes beyond good natured banter. You just can't seem to reign yoursleves in can you. I don't think statements such as "bodhrans appear to be the chosen weapons taken up by those biding their time until they can master a real instrument." are necessary, good natured or humorous. Also, given this thread was started by someone (me) who has recently acquired said instrument, do you not think it is a little unnecessary?

Also, you'll never know whether your generalisation applies to me or whether I am going to ruin a session, because you have no idea of whether I play anything else, why I want to play the Bodhran, where I intend to play it, whether I want to play it at a session at all or whether I'll be any good. Anyway, now I'm getting drawn in.

I think I will still visit Mudcat to keep an eye on things, but I will be disinclined to post again. I was going to post a thread to ask about tuition, but sod that I think I'll just search the internet while I listen to Christy Moore's 'The Hackler from Grouse Hall'.