Well, mine is not a bodhran, it's a Native American drum about 14-16 inches across. It gets really dry here, all of the time, but I have it in the roomw ith all of my houseplants where the humidity is at least 50%, so it doesn't get too, too dry.

After reading some of the above, I am sure it is cow skin. About a year after I got it, it developed what looked like a tear at the edge, which ctarted to extend up onto the head. A NA whom I met at a fair, told me to put water on it, stretch it down over the rim, some more, then bind it all the way round with cord. That didn't seem to work very well.

I do have it bound round; I never have to dry it under a lamp or moisten it to get good sound; it always has good sound, but I am worried about the tear extending even further.

I have a small stick, kind of like the short one used on bodhrans, which I play it like a bodhran with, and a longer, trad. NA one.

Do any of you think the remedies above might work on it, too? I like the idea of olive oil. Am wondering if I'll have to scrap the head all together, for a new one; or get a smaller rim?

I even use it to play syncopation with a cd I have of dumbek playing, which is awesome in itself.

BTW, Catspaw, dulcimers, huh? Do you have them on any kind of website? Do you make harps, too, the kind with strings:-) I am interested in a small Celtic harp and bet's offered to trade her unused cello for one! She's a great big sister!

Thanks. This is really interesting.

katlaughing