Bodhran

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,any bodhran teachers in AZ
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 10:38 PM

Out in Cochise County, here. Wondering if anyone teaches the basics of the bodhran?

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:30 AM

marc... did you get my PM ?

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,marc
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 04:57 PM

Thanks gnu I think I'm haveing a problem on my end. Old tired machine.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 12:55 PM

I purchased my drum in Ennis, County Clare at Custy's -darn they don't have a annex in Tucson, yet. However, Brendan White has a web site, and you can goodle it. I would not suggest the double skin in our climate. It is difficult enough to keep one skin happy. Folkshop and Rainbow probably don't have what your looking for.

As for the Alfonso's drums, I regret having to report that my friend got one of those and it has never loosened up for him. I think this is probably a flook, but worth a mention. Also, goat skins are great, but before you order, check if they are the smelly kind (differently cured). Then check if the smell makes you gag, which I have a problem with, not everyone does.   You would hate to order a fabulous drum and then have a negative reaction to it based on smell.

Good luck, Claire

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,vrdpkr
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 12:05 PM

Claire

Thanks for the info. I'll remember about the olive oil. Where did you find your bodhran? We'll be coming through Tucson this week and I always like to stop at Rainbow Guitars and Folkshop. My favorite toystores.

Marc

Nice drums! Nice website, too. I'm glad they let you toot your own horn on this site. (So to speak.)

toribw

Thanks for the tip on Albert Alfonso. I'm kind of Cuban Celtic myself. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Love this site. Love this community.

Thanks all

Harpy Trails

vrdpkr

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 06:06 PM

http://marcbernier.com/

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Marc
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 06:03 PM

Hi I'm Marc Bernier, some of you might know me. The blue clicky link thing does not appear to be working for me. So you may visit me at marcbernier.com. I'll work somemore with the blue clicky thing when I get home from work.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,toribw who should be working
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:06 PM

I absolutely love my Albert Alfonso drum.

Tonal quality is excellent, they're terrific in all climes because of the tuning mechanism and Albert's a great person to deal with.

Also, if you're the adventurous type, there are Metloef drums which are made from kangaroo skins. They've got unique sound properties and are fun to play.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 03:12 PM

Marc !!!!! C'mon. Post it ! I'm in New Brunswick, just a spit away, and I'd love to visit your website. You never know... I still have room for two Hrans on my fireplace mantle. Especially from one who understands humidity changes.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 12:12 PM

Hi,

I am Sharon's bandmate with the Brendan White. Yes, it is a really wonderful drum with a rich deep sound but no floppy boom. Just a note to the dry climate folks about caring for your drum.

I almost never put water on my drum. I find that it dries out the skin in the long run. BrendanWhite recommended olive oil in a series of e-mails that we exchanged shortly after I bought the drum. It has been very successful. It breathes (still takes water after oiling), never goes rancid, and smells like a good salad after oiling. I oil at least once a month mostly on the outside, but a little on the inside too. I put about a teaspoon of oil on the drum. Besides that I tune exclusively using the tuning screws, not with water. Here in the desert the water evaporates so quickly, that it is very hard to maintain the correct amount of moisture, so I recommend sticking to oil.

Best to all, Claire

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: IanC
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:33 AM

Why not make one yourself? They're not that hard!

;-)

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Kaleb
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:31 AM

I have to agree with Sharon. I've have my Brendon White drum for about a year and a half now and I love it. The response and tonal range are amazing. Here is his site.

Peace,
Kaleb

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 07:32 AM

YES ! Please do Marc. Or, at least, post the address here.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 11:30 PM

Marc. go to "make a link", below, and do a link to your own website. Discrete advertising by members is ok (and I'd be interested myself)

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Marc
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 10:39 PM

There is another thread about Musical whores or prostitutes, but I figured I'de make my comment here. GUEST,Vrdpkr, I make one hell of a nice drum. Actually it is a decent drum, right in the ball park mentioned earlier. I'm in RI., and understand humidity changes. I don't know how to make a 'blue clicky thing', and am not sure how much I should advertise here. But If you send me a PM. We could talk and I could recommend a couple makers out that way.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Séan
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 09:51 PM

Without any doubt, as both mark dunlop and the person 'forty two' said earlier, I would have to agree that Seamus O'Kane bodhráns are the best, probably the best bodhráns in the world. The calibre of musicians who choose to play and recommend Seamus O'Kane's bodhráns speak for themselves, namely John Joe Kelly (Flook), Cathy Jordan (Dervish), Christy Moore, and too numerous an amount of marvellous bodhrán players to go into further detal. But as mr dunlop inferred, he has a backlog of orders, so unless you are really serious about playing the bodhrán, ie' if you want some painted celtic-knoted paddy-whackery,l then maybe you should go for an inferior maker, as Seamus O'Kane's bodhrán's are the cream of the crop, by a long shot. However, if you are a genuine bodhrán player and want to have the best available piece of equipment there is on the market, you can only to my knowledge order them exclusivley from his website, which was metioned earlier I think. What the heck - to save you scrolling up its: http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus
As mr dunlop said, Seamus is a complete gentleman, but a VERY busy man, so if you choose to order from him, be extra nice as some of the best bodhrán players in the world are also waiting to get their hands on one of his marvelous bodhráns. Hope this is of use to you

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,SharonG
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 09:46 PM

We don't generally get to Cowboy stuff, but always go to the Sharlot Hall Festival in Prescot in October, and the Tucson Folk Festival in May.

I'll be in Phoenix next weekend taking my son to an Irish dance competition. We haven't played the Cotonwood contra dance yet- maybe we should....

Sharon

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,vrdpkr
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 08:02 PM

Sharon,

Maybe. I'm sure I'd like to meet you. Do you go to the Cowboy Poetry Gatherings in Az? We'll be in Sierra Vista next week. We'll be the only ones with a harp. We mostly play around the Verde Valley for Elderhostle programs. If you haven't been, you should go. Great music, great poetry, all-round good entertainment. If you play one of the contra dances in Cottonwood, we'll try to connect.

Harpy Trails

Ken

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 04:45 PM

A Canadian source for quality, tunable, hand-crafted drums is:
Davey Drums
With the CAN/US $ exchange, you can get a very nice drum for a couple hundred USD.

And please, please, please don't pour Guinness on a drumskin. Waste of good drink, and it dries out the skin. Here's a handy mnemonic that just came to me in rare flash of inspiration- "GIDWOB":
Guinness in drummer, water on bodhran.

Cheers,
Bardford

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 04:38 PM

Hi Art

Just to make sure we're still talking about bodhrans- Claire WILL be playing that Brendan White drum on the new cd...and loving it!

but since we're just planning it now, don't hold your breath. Studio time is scheduled for late March and April.

Sharon

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 03:55 PM

Hi, Sharon...Becky was here calling last night...and I'm waiting for the new CD.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,SharonG
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 03:37 PM

I don't play bodhran... but my best friend does and she instantly discarded her Roundstone drum after her first encounter with a Brendan White drum.

She has had it for almost 2 years now and loves it as much as she did when she first tried it.

We live in southern Arizona, where we have as little humidity and higher temperatures then northern Arizona. Brendan recommends the use of olive oil on the drum, and that is what she has been using to keep it soft.

If you have more questions, post them and I'll alert her to this thread.

Just wondering-have we met? - I'm in Round the House and we do get up to Prescott and Flagstaff occasionally.
Sharon

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 03:31 PM

If you are somewhere hot you need a thicker skin? All bodhran players need a thicker skin - or a range of jokes that look like they are a downer on the drum but twist the other way at the last minute.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 09:46 AM

Vrdpkr, there is a shop in Prescot, "The Drum Shop", that sells bodhrans, but their selection is pretty limited.

Since you will have a differential in both altitude and humidity to deal with, make sure your maker knows this...he might be able to ship the drum with extra slack in the head, and it will be nice and tight when it gets to you. If not, make sure it is tunable, and shipped with the pegs loose. You can wet it, with water or Bad Brown Beer (aka Guinness) to remove the tinny tone of a tight drum, but whatever you do, don't overdo this...it will split right in half when it drys again. (A former Prescott voice of experience.)

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: alison
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 09:24 AM

I don't know what part of the world you are in... but I certainly wouldn't buy any of the Waltons that the music shops in Oz import... the skins are almost transparent..... and useless for our extremes of temperature...... and the ones (can't name any makes) they sell to the tourists back home (Ireland)... you could spit through......

if you're somewhere hot you'll need a thicker skin to be able to adapt........

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,mark dunlop
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 07:39 AM

Hi Vrdpkr. I play (semi-pro) and teach bodhrán, so here's what little advice I can offer, for what it's worth. Unless you're pretty serious minded about playing (as opposed to "hitting" the drum, I'm sure you know the type of person I mean) I wouldn't spend loads of money. Assuming you are a serious kind of guy, the most you really need to spend is £150 - TOPS. Seamus O'Kane, mentioned earlier, makes absolutely the finest drums I've ever played. He's the drum of choice for players of the calibre of John Joe Kelly, Mark Maguire, Martin O'Neill etc(and I play one too). One of his would cost about £150. Anyone who makes drums and charges more than that is ripping you off. Seamus will ship to America, though you may have to wait a wee while as he always has a waiting list. Eamonn Maguire also makes good drums. I would recommend either of these (Northern Ireland) based makers as I have drums by both. Purely for the reason that I don't have one, I couldn't actually recommend drums by the likes of Eoin Leonard, John Jackson, Charlie Byrne, Mog, Dave Gormlie, or Brendan White, but they are all reputable makers. Personally, I'd avoid Roundstone and Waltons (don't want to say anything slanderous) just as a personal thing. You won't find many "professionals" using either of these, trust me. If you don't mind spending the money, Seamus O'Kane is your man every time, and he's a true gentleman and a nice guy into the bargain. m.d.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Vrdpkr
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 12:51 AM

Thanks for all the info. We are in Northern Arizona so too much humidity is seldome a problem. My wife plays harp and we do a lot of celtic/cowboy tunes. We like to try to show how tunes and songs traveled and changed from the Old World to the Wild West. I'm working through all the web sites and sure do thank everyone for the input. We're a long way from music stores that carry this kind of gear and so we do a lot of mail ordering. Just need to know what to look for.

Thanks again.

Vrdpkr (verde picker)

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 07:53 PM

My Welsh one (Marcus Music) is tuneable with toggles, don't need a key. The more scarlet one is of Gurt Mint (Bristol) manufacture and I carry several alien keys - one is ball ended as it finds the hexagon aperture more easily and you can turn (not crank it) it at an angle as the ball acts like a constant velocity joint.

Did we establish where GUEST,Vrdpkr is located ? I would also consider the rim profile, if you are paying good money get one with a rounded rim for duarability from wear and rim shots.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Beccy
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 04:39 PM

I love my Roundstone by Kearns... Can't beat it.(pun intended.)

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Tig
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 01:45 PM

Not got any current favourite makers as my well beloved bodhrans (a big one and a little one) are now 25 years old and still going strong despite a lot of playing.

I would recommend getting a tuneable one if you can afford it. They save a lot of hassle in sessions etc as you don't have to share your ale or find the hot air dryer in the loos - so long as you don't loose your key. Mine have good old fashioned wingnuts to tune them with so I don't have that problem!

Also go for a good goatskin - you need to try before you buy if at all possible as every bodhran is different in feel.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 12:49 PM

One thought... if you don't get a tunable, don't get any artwork as they are easier to "tune" and maintain. If you go to a shop, take an experienced Hranner with you, if possible, because much can be told about the head with an experienced eye. I've got two of Kearns', one tunable, and I like them both.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: artbrooks
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 08:50 AM

I'm far from an expert player, but I do have a tunable from Malachy Kearns (address above) that I like. Where you are (country/location) is a factor...its nice to go to the shop and bang on a few before you buy.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 08:40 AM

Not an instrument I play but as they are only 15 minutes down the road from me, I'll give Mog a mention. One of our session regulars plays one and it sounds great. I gather he has made drums for people including Gino Lupardi (Four Men And A Dog) so I would assume they are top quality instruents.

Jon

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 06:35 AM

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/ is the The Bodhran Page and it lists a number of makers and has advice on various aspects of the instrument.

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Banging Bill
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:37 AM

For my money you can't beat a WALTONS. Mine is Goatskin and Birch.

You should be able to get one from any reputable music shop anywhere in the world, but if you are having difficulty here is the address

Waltons
2-5 North Frederick St
Dublin 1
Ireland.

Alternatively try

Roundstone Musical Instruments
Malachy Kearns
IDA Craft Centre
Roundstone
Co Galway
Ireland

e-mail [e-mail]
www.bodhran.com

Tel [phone]

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: forty two
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:20 AM

Without a doubt go to Seamus O'Kane. He has got to be one of the best in Ireland and used by many top players
http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus/index.shtml

Suggest you also go to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bodhranii/

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 02:48 AM

I'll second the Davy Stuart. I don't even play bodhran but I covet my friend Charlie's Stuart.

My wife's the bodhrani in this household and she plays an American-made Cooperman. She has the 18" Non-tunable Model, but they also make a 18" Tunable Model.

Note that Davy Stuart's prices are in New Zealand dollars. His 18" drum is currently around $174 USD - cheaper than the Cooperman tunable.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Bodhran
From: alison
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 12:39 AM

there have been threads on this in the past.... but

my favs are Eamonn Maguire (in Belfast)
and Davy Stuart (in New Zealand)

slainte

alison

Subject: Bodhran
From: GUEST,Vrdpkr
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 12:24 AM

I'd like to replace my fiberskin bodhran with a good skin one. Any tips/ suggestions what to look for? Favorite makers/ Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Vrdpkr