A playable bodhran for under €40?

The most popular discussion in the members forums at bodojo.com is that of how to improve the sound of a really cheap & nasty drum - Here's the video

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bodojo
• cheap
• bodhran
• improvement

[chefslot]

Wow what a difference, whats the sheels made from, is there much difference between stave or ply? many thanks

[bodhrandojo]

Hi Chefslot. The drum shell is probably steamed & bent. It's the cheapest way for the Asian makers to make these drums. For a shell as thin as a bodhran, usually 6-8mm, you'd probably be looking at segmented rather than stave shell. Ply laminate is hard to beat though for building a stable shell.

[bodhran105]

Hey paul! Thanks this is really helping! I was looking for another bodhran to play, that was larger then my old 10 inch riverdance. one that I could take on trips. But how wide is the tape your using, I do have some old super 88 thats only half an inch wide, is this ok to use, or should I get a wider taps, yours looks like atleast a good inch wide.

[bodhrandojo]

Hey B105 - glad the video is helping. the tape is 1.5" - you could use a less wide one however it may be more inclined to come off. If you put a thin & flat layer of contact cement on the skin where the tape is to go that will help. HTH -P

[foureyes99]

Great tips Paul.

My drum came from Pakistan, and the skin was quality, not a lot of scraping noise, especially now that I've "broken it in." It also came with the type of cross-bar that you opted to cut out.

Just thought that I'd point out that if you have one of these cross-bars, you can use it to brace your hand to really press hard against the skin for a different, slightly fuller tone than you would just by placing your hand on the skin.

Also, the bar makes standing and playing easier.

[bodhrandojo]

Hey FE99. Thanks for commenting.

Yeah I know about using crossbars, but on this drum they really made it unplayable plus are unnecessary for my style of play so out they came!. I've never had a problem standing up and playing without crossbars - I'm doing it in the video :)

Thanks for your comments, all gratefully received.

[nchune]

nicely done Paul!

-Kip

[matuus1]

I just did the modification of my pakistan drum and it sounds so, so much better. It actually sounds like a good Bodhran now!

I didn´t know that the taping could do so much for the sound, now I am thinking of taping my BW drum too. Thanks for your very informative video!

[WiccanPedigree]

i have a pakistan tuneable bodhran and it makes a horrible metalic sound. how would i fix it. the sound it makes keeps me from wanting to touch it. any help would be greatly appreciated

[jkiparsk]

All that work, and you still end up with a damned bodhran...

[freescoperz]

LMAO them bars are for support for the frame

[chansherly212]

does the tape wrinkle on the iner side since the tape is straight, and stretched around a round edge?

[0987654321libra]

Excellent, thank you.

[BlackFolkAndPiano]

I play a Valmusic 20€ bodhran and I really enjoy myself.. but it's not tuneable

[RockyRoader]

Great stuff Paul!

I come across some youngsters learning the bodhran, and the parents buy these drums and ask me to teach them to play - I can now help them sound better quicker!

[GoldStarBev]

Excellent video, helped me make a pretty good internet bodhran sound mellow.  Wow!

[scally112]

G'day Paul, good to see you are still helping the musical world. I just bought my first bodhran. Now to learn to play and make them. Cheers Robert

[gregoryburrows]

fascinating, thank you