I love this thing! Beautiful sound, great quality construction, a lot of “character”…Now all I have to do is learn to play the darn thing.
And Fred Halpin–what a great man. He’s called me several times, first to confirm my order, then to let me know the drum would be late due to the UPS backup, and this evening to see if the drum had arrived and what I thought of it. Each time we’ve ended up talking for at least half an hour or so.
I can already play the basic “reel” rhythm well enough to impress my students–they need to get out more, I guess. They like to sing sea chanties, and enjoy the way the bodhran sounds accompanying them. Still working on the jig rhythm and the fast triplets. I can do fast triplets now, but only occasionally are they on purpose.
So, here’s the brief review: Fred’s website makes some pretty bold claims about his drums. After a couple days of extremely amateurish playing, I’d say he’s telling the truth. Brian, I’ll never doubt you again. Until the next time you suggest I spend $300+ on a musical instrument.
So I shouldn’t tell you how much my pipes will likely run should I?
In all seriousness, I’m thrilled you like the drum! I still need to send mine back to Fred for a new skin, as some clown was kind enouhg to empty half a pint onto it at a recent session. It still plays, but after trying to clean it up, it’s lost some of it’s ‘life’.
Yes, Fred is really neat and sincere man. I have been playing his 19" for six years now, and now have a 25" of his. I to have had long conversations with Fred, and I will be writing a review of the 25" soon for him and several websites that feature bodhrans.
I have “B.A.D.” owning seven bodhrans of different sizes and skins.
You will come to love Fred’s bodhrans and so will the people you play with. When we do benefits and such, that is the bodhran that they want me to use, especially for solo work on flute and harp.
Brian I’m sad to here that someone wasted a beer on your bodhran. Fred does offer a re-skinning service. If the skin doesn’t come back to life, after it has dried out, contact Fred.
