Hi Weskora, I've been playing bodhran close to 20 yrs, mostly on drums made by Mance Grady (Providence, Rhode Island). My most recent is a 20" frame that's tunable & has a slide bar on a steel brace. Playing this new drum (it's about 2 now) has been as near to heaven as I'll get in the next 20 yrs. Didn't have any of the modern tech to help me get started, I had better, some great players willing to share their expertise. I've only played with a medium size stick, nothing fancy but extremely heavy. If I could shape one from stone I be using that. The stick you use will probably become a very personnal choice, try out as many as you can & try as many styles too. If you sing try using it to back yourself up with. Someone who showed me alot about rim shots (using the wood frame) also cautioned me not kill the music with them. I guess many feel that to much drum can do the same thing. On the Irish-Trad group (don't know how to link you to it) this quite the disscussion on bodhrans. You might also try the Bodhran Page if you haven't already been there. Like any other instrument, you never stop learning as long as you start. Barry