Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Marc
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 07:14 AM

Clinton, accually I have started making a tunable drum. I just haven't had time to change my web site yet. Good luck with what ever you decide on.
Marc

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Kaleea
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 11:32 PM

Gosh, jeffp, I was gonna suggest Albert Alfonzo's drums too! Used to be that everybody I knew who played bodhran made their own, till the last few years since I've been in Kansas (I don't think I'm in Oz anymore). Most folks here have wall hangings which they think are bodhrans. I've played many a drum, but the one which Albert Alfonzo made for me is by far the most responsive--& only 16" in diameter! I literally felt as though I had never played a Bodhran before untill the day a couple of years back when I got mine in the mail. Since then, I have noticed that several of the pros are playing them, too. If you truly love the instrument, and you really want to be a "Bodhranist" (LOL) get yourself out there & pawn what you must to get one. Good Luck!

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 08:42 PM

McGrath... yup. Just do it the same way the "makers" do it. All it takes, as with any job, is the right tools. The only touchy part is the attachment to the base for the tightening screws. Depends on the type of drum. Wood is easy, as long as it's a good strong hardwood. Synthetic is tough, especially fibreglass, but if you use REALLY sharp drill bits and machine screws and seal them with epoxy, they work fine.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 07:57 PM

I don't know why I bother to post.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 07:50 PM

I't seems to me it shouldn't be that hard to adapt a non-tunable Bodhran so it was tunable. I envisage a wooden ring inserted inside, with some method of tightening it, such as a couple of asymetrical wheels fixed to the inner wall of the drum that you could turn.

Anyone ever done it? And how did it work out?

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 06:44 PM

Ta very much Marc... THIS is the exact sort of thing I was looking for.. a Mudcatter with something to offer...

Now if only you made 'em tunable...

Great web site dude!

If I decide to go with another non-tunable, you're tops on my list of folks to contact!

:-)

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Marc
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 02:38 PM

Clinton, Give me an e-mail, [e-mail],or check out my sight, marcbernier.com. I'm small and starting out so I can't charge alot. I think I might be able to help you.

PS. Why do I feel like this is wrong?

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 01:25 PM

Coopermans are eh, if you ask me.

I *love* my buck tunable though. However, we are putting you back into the $400.00 range there as well (if not higher).

If you are just looking for a tunable, there are some relatively inexpensive Pakastani drums out there that fit the bill. My outdoor/bad weather bodhran is a Pakastani tunable with a synthetic head...it aint so bad when you compare it to *any* natural skin bodhran of any price in the driving rain or 99% humidity.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 11:40 AM

I'll have a look McGrath... but I'm not THAT into bodran playing...

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Mar 03 - 07:00 AM

... glorified tambourine ? ... glorified tambourine ? I know how you can be sarcarstic by times, so I hope you were smiling when you typed those words. If not, may you sit on a thousand tippers long end first.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 04:24 PM

Here's an interesting site if you're looking for a new bodhran - the Bodhran Forum.

That heading sounds like the start of another rewrite of "I've got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" - which also had a second life as "I've got a Brand New Combine Harvester", with the Wurzles..

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: GUEST,maire-aine not at home
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 04:20 PM

Considering how compulsive you are about tuning, Clinton, wouldn't you be adjusting the thing all night? With a Halpin, you can't just splash some water on it and go to beatin' on it.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 03:08 PM

Ya... I've played Gerards hran a time or two... I seem to recall it's VERY heavy, at least compaired to the POS drum I'm accostom to...

Maybe I'll sell my hauberk and invest in the drum... I donno...

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 03:03 PM

Clinton, I have one of Fred's drums. If you happen to see Gerard Smith around, he has one too.   For the type of gigs we are playing, it is simply the finest there is. I would consider an Alfonso if I were playing in a "jig, reel, and hornpipe" band. But when one is doing the pub gigs, which require more of a bassy, big beat type of sound, the Halpin is the finest. And the tuning is wonderful. I would save your pennies and get one.

Mick

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 01:42 PM

See, I'm wondering if that's part of the problem... "really serious about getting a decent drum"... I mean, it's not like I'm even really good a tthe damn thing... I just use it for backup on acapella songs, or behind the occasional piece of deedly with the band... But if I am gonna replace the POS one I have now, (And I've had it now, probably longer than I should have) the tunable thing really appeals to me... but it's hard justifying it to myself, dropping 4 or 5 bills on a glorified tambourine...

Myabe I'll just save my $$ for a Sony Plastation 3 when they come out...

;-)

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: GUEST,mark dunlop
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 09:06 AM

Man, if you're really serious about getting a decent drum, think about either Seamus O'Kane or Eamonn Maguire. I've waxed lyrical about Seamus' drums before on mudcat, so I won't repeat myself. Best drums money can buy.
Eamonn is based in Belfast and also makes great drums.
If you prefer a more bass-y sound with less toppy notes, try Eoin Leonard (Orkney Is) - just make sure you get a large diameter drum.
m.d.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: maire-aine
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 08:39 AM

Well, I had mine for a few years, but it developed a hole, and then I left it in the car on a real cold day, and when I brought it back inside, it went rrrriiiiippppppppp. Of course I knew that this MIGHT happen, but by then I kinda wanted a new drum anyway. Confession is good for the soul.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 08:04 AM

Clinton -

The Cooperman mentioned above is a nice drum - very nice when you consider the price. (Maire-aine - are you sure we're not the same person? The drum Malachy made for me in 1982 did not survive the trip over the Atlantic... It starts out like a joke, then gets sad ... Ya see, there was this bar stool and an airline stewardess and a bodhran player in a bar....)

Walton's are a bit heavy for my taste...

Other than that, save yer pennies. That's what I'm doing...

Good luck -

Pete

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 06:35 AM

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/

I have a couple of Kearns, one tunable, which I find to be great Hrans. For just beating around, like when I go to the woods, I have a Remo FibereSkyn. And I know a guy in Halifax who can do amazing things on one, so don't count out the synthetic.

Have you ever talked to Marc ? PM him (Marc). He makes Hrans and the price sounds reasonable. I forget if he makes a tunable.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Mar 03 - 02:22 AM

I like my Halpin fine. The tuneable head is a dream and worries about humidity are a thing of the past with it. But I will admit its limitation in variation of skin sounds (because it's not a true skin, it's a hunk of leather). But if you just want a nice deep bass boom, it works great.

For gigs, I have a mini-mike mounted on a threaded "ground-wire" standoff. I took off the cross-bars from the drum, coz they got in the way. The stand-off screws into one of the old screw holes from the crossbars. I run the mike cord into an EQ pedal which also serves to shut down the input from the mini-mike to the board when I'm not whacking on the thing... eliminating feedback problems when it's idle.

When I bought mine a few years ago, they were half the price they are now.

And no, Clint, you can't have mine!

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: maire-aine
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 11:25 PM

Sure. I'd like to have a Halpin, too. They feel like velvet and sound wonderful. But I'm satisfied with my Cooperman, that I got from Elderly. I chose not go get a tunable drum because I didn't want the extra weight. My first drum was a Malachy Kearns drum that I got from his shop in Roundstone, but it met with an unfortunate accident. I like the Cooperman better.

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 09:52 PM

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

Subject: RE: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 07:16 PM

No one else has a suggestion for a good tunable-head bodhran?

Wow

I kinda thought Mudcatters would be well informed on such a subject...

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: open mike
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 04:18 PM

lookin' for a halpin hand?

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: open mike
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:33 PM

i have a walden i think...no big deal..though it is big...fits in a hat box case i found though...samonsonite... it has a decal on the skin..
a guy with red hair that turns into a keltic knot--i call him my red ahired boy! maybe it is a walton....not tuneable. my first one was
from capri-taurus from felton near santa cruz...made in a foggy climate
and not very well soited for the dry weather we have here inland...
the skin tore right off of the ;frame,,,

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:27 PM

thank you Claire... thank you very much...

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:25 PM

I highly recommend a Brendan White drum. You can search for his site on the web. Mine is a tuneable single skin, 16" and it has maintained wonderful tone and resonance even after living in the desert for almost 2 years. I think they price around $250, but it is well worth it.

Recently, I spoke with Danu's drummer, Donnchadh Gough. He was touring with a Brendan White and said they are great for dependability and tone, I agree.

Good luck, Claire

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:19 PM

I have... why the assumption that I haven't?

I posted here to ask catters opinions... not to bandy about with dim-bulbs...

Never mind...

If someone wants to delete this narf-fest, go right a head...

Unless, gods forbid, anyone here has anything USEFUL to add...

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Ed.
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 03:04 PM

Well do them then...

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:57 PM

Ya.. I know how to do a google search... and an eaby search....

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Ed.
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:56 PM

A google search for tunable bodhran gives a few starting points

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: jeffp
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:42 PM

I was going to suggest Albert Alfonso Bodhrans, but his are about $400 (US) as well. Good luck though!

Subject: RE: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:32 PM

Ya... whatever Guest...

Got anything of relevance to add?

*edited to avert stupid childish flame war*

Subject: Tech: Got A 2nd Hand Halpin Bodhran?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Mar 03 - 02:25 PM

I think I might be in the market for a new bodhran... and I really do kinda like The Halpin Line...   But man oh man, am I so not convinced I need to spend 400 bucks on a drum... If I was jamming with the Chieftains or The Irish Descendants, maybe... but little old me, and my little old band of wackos... I just have a tough time justifing it...

So I thought I'd ask here... anybody got one (A Halpin that is...) they maybe aren't using and maybe wanna part with?

Or got another suggestion for a tunable bodhran?

,-)