The Signature Bodhrán {2-Week Lead Time}

This highly responsive bodhrán offers great action and superb control. With a lush tonal range, it offers strong resonance and depth of tone with a rich, booming bass - everything you need to take your playing to the next level. 

With an 8 point hand tuning system, you're fully in control of your sound. It even comes with a choice of top quality Lambeg or Vellum goatskin, for a truly personalised musical experience.

This premium bodhrán is truly worthy of the McNeela seal of approval.

• Diameter 16.5”
• Rim Depth 6.5”
• Cutout Depth 3"
• 8 point hand-tuning system
• Rim cutout for playing comfort
• Highly responsive
• Wide tonal range
• Lush bass sound
  
• Choice of Lambeg or Vellum Skin

Bonus Features:

• Taped edges for superior tone and extended harmonic range
• Free bodhrán beater
• Free lightweight bodhrán gig bag
• Free bonus lessons with Rónán Ó Snodaigh

The McNeela Signature Bodhrán offers superb resonance and depth of tone, as well as a rich bass sound. The quality hand-selected, sustainably sourced goatskin ensures a warm, vibrant tone. With its signature cutout style this bodhrán is guaranteed to turn head for all the right reasons.

Lambeg vs Vellum

Hand produced in Northern Ireland for the famous Lambeg drums, Lambeg skins were first adapted for use on the Bodhran by the Legendary maker, Seamus O’Kane. These skins produce a strong clear tone, with an exceptionally resonant high end. Lambeg skin is the perfect choice for bodhrán players who favour a more melodic style of playing. They do however also offer a rich, resonant bass and offer plenty of volume - making them perfect for session playing.

Vellum is the art of producing paper from skin - many ancient Irish manuscripts including the famous Book of Kells are written on Vellum. Vellum skins offer a warm mid range while producing deep, dark, rich bass notes. They also offer excellent sustain. Vellum skin is typically quieter and slightly more subtle than Lambeg skin.

Whether Lambeg or Vellum, each skin that we use here in McNeela is hand-selected for quality, responsiveness and sustain. This is a natural sustainable product and each skin will be unique to your bodhrán, waiting for you to explore its characteristic sound. 

Yes, 80 to 90% of players go with vellum. If you are starting out, I would always point you toward a single vellum head. It gives you a warm, natural tone straight away, and it responds nicely even to light strokes, which is exactly what you need while you are finding your touch. It is easy to control, it has plenty of depth, and it does not feel heavy or sluggish under the tipper. Lambeg and double skins are thicker and need a stronger hand to get the best out of them. When you are new, you want the drum to answer you back and teach you, not something you have to wrestle with. This bodhrán with a single vellum head will give you solid bass, a wide range of tones to explore, and space to grow into your playing without frustration.

We recommend using McNeela's DrumDiddly Bodhrán Conditioning Cream to keep your new bodhrán skin in optimum condition.

Free Online Bodhrán Lesson with Rónán Ó Snodaigh

For a limited time only, with every purchase of the Signature Bodhrán, you will receive eight free lessons with Rónán Ó Snodaigh. Rónán is one of the greatest Irish bodhrán players in the world. You might recognise him as the driving force behind Irish supergroup Kíla.

These online lessons cover everything from basics, to traditional Irish music session performance and alternative beats. Rónán will show you how to get the most out of your bodhrán, how to tune your bodhrán and everything else you need to get started on your musical journey.

These free online bodhrán lessons are exclusive to McNeela Instruments and will have you accompanying your first traditional Irish music session in no time!

Need advice?Check out our expert guide: The Bodhrán Maker's Guide to Buying a Bodhrán

Bodhrán Size

The smaller the drum, the more flexible the head. This means our 16″ model will be more responsive to your hand pressure than a larger drum.

For this reason, if you currently have an 18″ model and are looking to upgrade, I would recommend making the change to a 16” bodhrán. It will give you a wider tonal range and a far greater variety of sounds to work with.

The 6.5 inch rim depth produces a rich, deep bass tone. The deeper the rim, the more resonant the bass sound will be. The 6.5" rim is perfect for creating our signature McNeela lush, booming bass and great volume.

Hand Tuning System

Our 8 point hand-tuning system makes it easy to adjust your bodhrán tuning, without interrupting your performance.

The tuners are easy to grip and fast to tune. The McNeela tuning system will allow you to get the best sound from your bodhrán skin, no matter the playing conditions.

Performance

Adjust tuning with lightning speed to respond to performance requirements for when you need your bodhrán to match pitch, volume and tone. 

With the wide spread of tonal options available you can offer a subtle accompaniment in quieter session spaces and a full resonating bass in concert settings. 

• Remove a small amount of cream from the container and, using your fingers, massage it into the skin on the front of the bodhrán. Use large circular motions to spread the cream over the skin. Then, leave it overnight to soak in.
  
  
• The following day, take a soft, lint-free cloth and, again using large circular motions, wipe the skin with the cloth. This will remove any excess product from the skin. Continue to buff until the skin is dry and no longer sticky.
  
  
• You’ll notice a difference immediately in not just the feel and texture of the skin, but also the sound it produces.

• 14 day money back guarantee from the day you receive the bodhrán. See our Shipping & Returns Policy.
• 1 year warranty
• Free backup service for one year
• Priority Shipping Worldwide
• In you're in a hurry enquire about our FedEx 4-6 day shipping