Don't Buy a Bodhrán until You See This!

[@Leyivo]

Always played a Hedwitschak from Germany. There is no comparison to the quality :)

[@udkline]

Currently using an 18" Meinl "Celtric Bodhran" that was bought at the Memphis Drum Shop. It actually works fairly well--certainly for me at this point!--but it definitely is a cheaper sort of Cooperman style "bodhran" that functionally is more of a hand frame drum these days. But, I teach a class on world drumming, so this vid will be very helpful to look at beginner models for students even as I (hopefully) graduate to more advanced instruments.

[@KRAM-zb2vc]

I use a 16"Mc Neela non tuneable- Great quality and affordable 👍🏻

[@markdemchak5510]

Have a 1995 Bill Wright drum that’s the best I’ve ever had. Fantastic sounding skin

[@RockyRoader]

Was Bill Wright the Galway-based maker? I met him in the Crane once and was keen to get a decent bodhran back about 95, but I was financially constrained. I was lucky enough to have a Martin Murphy "Doolin Bodhrans" drum that I bought in Ennis in 1992 and still play occasionally.

[@gardonyeru3474]

Oh yes! I play a Bill Wright bodhrán since 2001 and love it!

[@gardonyeru3474]

@@RockyRoader yes, Galway! His drums are amazing.

[@simonbrooksstoryteller]

I play da blond by Albert Alfonso and it is an incredible drum. I have also played a Hedwitschak which is another top quality drum, as @leyivo says. One difference is the Alfonso uses a calf skin and not a goat skin. The other drum I have played (borrowed for a summer which I also adored) is Eckerman from Austria. If I were to buy another, it would most likely be an Eckerman. The sound of these three is deep, rich and has little to no comparison to competition.

[@McCRBen]

I’m using a McKnowall bodhrán from Kyogle in NSW.

[@user-tz8pf4pd4q]

No McNeela??

[@57563]

Mine is a blackwood McNeela 14inch performance bodhran

[@The_Prenna]

I appreciate you including a synthetic head drum. I know that can be controversial in some circles.

[@udkline]

Also, "you can't play a bodhran without a tipper" is just categorically not true. See Christy Moore, Tommy Hayes etc...

[@HinnerkRue]

I'd never recommend a non-tunable bodhrán. Never ever. A tuning system has been standard for bodhráns for way over a decade. Better bodhráns feature a tool-less tuning system that you can use without an Allen wrench or screwdriver. My first bodhrán was a no-name "made in Pakistan" (much like no. 2 and 4 on your list). It did the job fairly well but pretty soon I grew out of that. I've been playing a Hedwitschak MHTF for many years now. If I had to get a new one, I'd go for the Hedwischak MONss (Martin O'Neill signature series) that has the same dimensions, but a different tuning system and a different drum head. If "value for money" is really important, I personally would go for one of the Hedwitschak "Core Line" bodhráns. If you are looking for a more "traditional" bodhrán sound, you could also try a Brendan White bodhrán. Brilliantly sounding (but more "rustic" looking) bodhráns are/were(?) made by Seamus O'Kane. Those are real gems. His son Diarmaid has gotten a good reputation as a bodhrán maker as well. I'd like to add that there are several makers of pretty decent bodhráns that I haven't mentioned. Just look through the bodhrán forums on the net...

[@gearmusictech]

What an epic response! Thank you!

[@RockyRoader]

Also recommend the Hedwitschak range - some really great drums for beginners, many much cheaper than the MONss And yes, tunable and tool-less is the way to go! (I've seen an Allen wrench slip and pierce a drum skin!)

[@gerryquinn8267]

Whats it called? Lets start there 😂🤣🇮🇪

[@MrDkelsay]

Man. This is cool but the voice is non-stop, and it’s louder than the music of the drums.

[@dermur68]

Yes, I am the pronounciation police. bow-rawn. There's a fada over the a.

[@A_Wandering_Fool]

Now I know what that mark is 😊

[@jerrya.oneillballads6372]

The 2nd syllable rhymns with lawn or fawn. You obviously have an expert knowledge on the instrument, I'm surprised you've got the pronunciation wrong.

[@gearmusictech]

I looked up multiple sources to get the pronounciation, so I'm not sure what I did wrong in your world. My humble apologies.

[@sarahblevins1670]

@@gearmusictech don't worry lol your pronunciation is fine. There are many trad musicians who pronounce the second syllable the same way, and it's largely dependent on where your accent comes from. For some it's bow-rahn, for some it's bow-rohn, more like how you said it. I was lead to believe the first syllable being pronounced "bow" like you did, ismore consistent across accents. That's what I got schooled on the most by trad musicians in Ireland, as I was originally saying "bah-rawn", and these more experienced musicians kept telling me "bow wow! like a dog says bow wow!" Lol

[@kevobrien4329]

@@gearmusictechThe Bodhran pronunciation was grand. The Jerry guy was right but what he did wrong was try to correct your dialect inflections. Loved the synthetic sound off number three but I’m a traditional goatskin guy. Skin seems better. Just ask Buffalo Bill in Silence of the lambs. 😉

[@RockyRoader]

I've heard Irish players call it all sorts, thanks to our accents and dialects. The VO pronunciation here is perfectly fine.