16" Deep Rim Tuneable Bodhran

Your new deep rim tuneable bodhrán is made by Paraic McNeela, the Bodhrán Maker, with patience, passion, and precision so when you play it you'll hear that inimitable deep, mellow, resonating bass tone only achieved from a high quality crafted drum. Year after year, since 1979, Paraic has worked to improve this bodhrán, from the tone and the construction to the design and aesthetic, to create a professional bodhrán for today's discerning player.

Being able to tune a bodhrán is a huge advantage for any serious player as the weather and humidity on this planet is unpredictable and natural goat skin reacts to humidity. Tuning will mean your bodhrán is not too high pitched or too soft when you play in a session. This bodhrán has a T-bar and arm cut out for even more playing comfort. The T-bar is removable if preferred.

The 16" Deep Rim Tuneable Bodhrán comes with a free Bodhrán Gig Bag, perfect for carrying your bodhrán to sessions and gigs and Allen key, and is taped around the edges for a lower richer tone.

Obviously, you've guessed it, the skin is the most important part. We've done blind tests here, and the results are staggering. Even non-bodhrán players can tell the difference a mile away. It's that obvious. There is a huge difference in sound between a properly made bodhrán and a badly made one. Hand-cured and stretched, properly conditioned and treated (without the use of chemicals) goatskin wins every single time. The curing of the skin has to be carried out with great care as done incorrectly it can destroy the skin. We use goatskin because of its sustain, meaning the beat carries on; it's a sound with heart.

All of Paraic’s bodhráns come with taped skin to help achieve that distinctive bass sound. Inspired by drummers using E-rings on their drum kits to dampen the tone, Paraic found that taping the outer rim of the skin lowered the tone of the bodhrán and extended its harmonic range. In other words, it helps the bodhrán sound more like a musical instrument and ensures you'll always be welcome at a session!

If you’re starting out with the bodhrán we recommend this great text tutor by esteemed bodhrán player, Peter Houlahan The Irish Drum - An Bodhrán