Help with choosing a Bodhran

Hi All
After recently falling out with my malachy Kearns bodhran, i have been saving up for a new drum! I1ve been doing a lot of research on the web and have narrowed it down to three makers:
O`Kane - because everybody who knows about drums says he is the best.
Hedwitchak - heard good stories about his dragon skin high end line drums.
Davy Stuart - Simply have a good feeling abut this lad!
I have never heard live any of these drums except an okane, has anyone any experience with any of these drums. I prefer the more traditional sound of a bodhran, low and rumbling, and kinda dancing around the music. I have been saving up for ages and i really want to buy a great bodhran. So if anyone can help me on this it would be a huge help

all the best

Funny question really, I could be
underhand about it and say you
could learn a real instrument. But a
Kane drum is not that far off.

On the other hand, try to get a
feel for something that
fits more to what you’re after

Alas, i feel i`m too old for a “real instrument”, and i`m quite happy to play the bodhran! A well played bodhran, to me , can be one of the most pleasing elements of a song! But due to the lack of types of drums around me, it`s hard to get a feel for what i want when i can only purchase one.

Oh my god llig did your doctor put you on happy drugs or something? Stop it, you’re creeping me out. Please become your normal sarcastic self or this board is going to get really boring to read!

Don’t say you are too old to do
anything. You are as young as you
feel. Surely it can never be
too late to do anything?

Coincidentally, if you can
understand the music, then
no one should really
tell you otherwise

llig?! you trying to write in verse or something?

thanks for the kind words man!
Still no closer to deciding on a bodhran yet though? Hows andy chung and doogie rush doing? Is there till bad music in sandy bells?

My favorite bodhrans, far and away, are the Mance Grady ones. Deep and rumbly, as you like, but with a good dynamic range when played right.

As for too old… never too old. I didn’t start mandolin/banjo/bodhran until nearly 40.

I`m based in ireland, so its difficult to hear or see any of the american drums, Mance grady has gotten good reports on the web to! Does any one know anything about davy stuarts drums, or hedwischaks dragon skin?

Great to see some good advice on this thread.
Old… young… who cares - enjoying the music is what matters.

Love bodhrans,
Love yourself,
Imbibe Guinness,
Great sessions are made of people like you.

(tee he)

Maybe you should call yourself “abnoxious blanket”

apart from the usual crap that comes with the mention of a bodhran, I would stil value anyones comments that have played or heard any of these drums! As i said i can only buy one, and it needs to be a good one!

I’ve played O Kane and Hedwitschak drums. it’s a close one but I’d go for the O Kane.

Eamon Maguire, Belfast, makes great bodhrans, such as my own, an object of desire to every bodhran player I meet. O’Kane are different, with two lambeg drum thin skins, which give a bass sound. Sound great with Seamus playing them, God awful when beginners have them, but I suppose you could say that about any drum maker. Paul McAulay in Ballycastle does good drums as well.

O’Kane are a bit pricey.

I bought an Okane after years or trying to make a waltons drum sound good, The thing i found with my new drum is to play it to it’s potential i had to adapt a completely different style of playing, my short tipper kerry style done nothing for the drum, bet when i got the hang of it man does the O’kane sound good, the range of it is unbelievable!

i havr been playing a Dick Lett drum for 15 years, still sounds great, sadly he has moved on to making them in the sky.
I heard and played the Hedwichank in August this year and am very impressed with it, so have just ordered his dragon skin…arriving in March…I cant comment on the others

Karlybyrne makes a good point regarding tippers. Half the battle is a really good tipper, the other half is a good drum.
Having said that, the really good players of this world can pick up any old rubbishy outfit and make it sound terrific.

Out of the three you mention I would steer away from the Hewitchek drums. In my opinion there are far better drums on the market for similiar or less money (he does make lovely tippers though). The O‘Kane drums are fabulous and you would not go wrong with one of those. As for davy stuart i would only reccomend his drums if your’re playing a traditional double ended kerry style as they are not articulate enough in the upper regions to do justice to top end playing. You should also check out Paul McAuley in Ballycastle Co. Antrim. He made a lambeg skinned bodhran for me when i was living there (very similar to the O’Kane style) which i adore and is still going strong.

Best of luck, I hope you end up with an instrument that brings you much joy.

-Ben.

If you give Mr O’Kane a call and tell him what kind of sound you want he will build it.

Not very pretty or particularly well finished but a great sound.

Give serious thought to starting to learn a melody instrument.

I don’t dislike Bodhrans, spent two years working really hard to play well. Then started the fiddle and wished I had spent those two years learning it instead.

This is not a “how cool am I cos I can play tunes” type of comment I just want to say what I have experience of.

Playing tunes is just so much more rewarding and enjoyable than playing the bodhran.

No matter how much you regard it as the heart beat of the music or what ever.

How many tune players have stopped melody and gone back to bodhran?

Please dont be offended, twas just advice that if you take I would be astounded if it would be regretted.

Been on the wine so feel brave. Long pause over delete button but hat the heck.

Longer pause over the post button………ready, steady - po..

missed a w on the hat. oops. Hic.

I’d definitely go with an O’Kane Drum. Cooperman drums also makes a very fine tuneable bodhran. And one is never too old to learn anything so don’t be so negative about learning a melody instrument.

Hi - The top end criticism of Davy’s drums is the first I’ve come across. I live in the same town as Davy and all I’ve heard so far, from anyone playing his drums, is positive. I’m not a bodhran player myself, so I’m not as qualified as others here to offer opinions. However I’ve heard a few bodhrans and can say to me Davy’s sound just fantastic when in the hands of a good player - awesome range of sound, very clever tuning/tensioning arrangement too.

Two things really. Firstly, llig leahcim who are you and what have you done with Michael?

Secondly, I’ve played bodhráns made by both Seamus O’Kane and Christian Hedwitchak and found both to be fine drums. I’ve not had the pleasure of playing a bodhrán made by Davy Stuart. All three makers enjoy an impeccable reputation for their work. I don’t want to muddy up the waters but another great maker along the lines of the great Seamus O’Kane is Rob Forkner.

If I had to choose between the three you’ve mentioned I would certainly choose a bodhrán made by Seamus as of the three he is the maker that most other pro model bodhrán makers emulate in one way or another. However if I had free reign I would buy a bodhrán made by Rob.

Peace,
Ed

Hi all
Great to get all this great advice! It`s a pity there are so many great bodhran makers! I understand that the likes of an o`kane compared with a davy stuart may have different properties, and methods of playing them. But i really like the more traditional sound of the bodhran, it might not be as variable as the more contempory styles. But when it is played good its is great! So Mind made up- Gonna buy an O`Kane and a davy Stuart! Or is this madness?

It is, buy a Paul McAulay or Eamon Maguire, it is all you need, will do you for life, and save you a fortune. This is like me saying “buy a Martin” guitar for playing at sessions, when any good make, cheaper, will do the job just as well. At the nd of the day, any GOOD bodhran will do, rather than the machine made production line ones.

I think I need some of whatever Michael is taking.

The mickey?

I am going to throw you a wrench. Get a Claddagh bodhran. I have a tuneable double skin that is very good and will give you the sound you are looking for. Mike Vignoles will make it according to your specifications and will personally respond to any questions you have in a timely manner.

Before plunking down your money, listen to Albert Alfonso’s or Brendan White’s drums… Alfonso’s are deep and resonant, and White’s triple-skinned are expressive & refined. My “Brendan” sounds like soft deerskin slippers dancing on a hardwood floor… I would definitely travel to wherever you need to go to get your hands on prospective drums, rather than ordering through the mail. Every drum is different and you need to spend time in a music store or workshop playing each for at least several minutes to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Particularly with handmade instruments, some will stand out above the rest, even within a single maker’s output.

Ok. A strange man walks into a Belfast pub, clutching a tightly wrapped package close to him as he sits for a pint. The room quiets to whispers and the tension in the room builds until the publican clears his throat, affects a wan smile, leans close to the stranger and says, “Whatcha got in the package there, lad?” The stranger smiles and says under his breath, “Seven pounds of semtex high explosive.” The bartender straightens, smiles and replies, “Thanks be to Jaysus, we were afraid it was a bodhran!”

The old one’s are the best.

ANYONE PLAY A CHARLIE BYRNE?

I have heard many good things about the Rob Forkner Metloef drums, but apparently he is on hiatus right now. I was ready to buy his 15“x6”, but no luck. I don’t think I want to wait indefinitely for him to start back up, So I’m considering an O’Kane or a drum from Paul Mcauley.
Plus, save the lame bodhran jokes. The drum is as much of a ligitimate instrument as any other at at session. I was never made to feel unwelcome at sessions I went to in Ireland (Dingle, Doolin). Back here in the states we are made to feel like red-haired step children. It’s not right.
Sorry to get off topic, it’s a tender issue.

Feck off. Or I’ll set my red-haired step children on you

Feck off? Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Seriously though, I meant no offense to all the ginger stepkids out there.