I have a question about reskinning a bodhrán with a Remo synthetic head: anyone out there done it and have any hints to offer?
A bit o’ history: I started my percussion career about three years ago, with a couple of nontuneables (Buck 18 and Remo 16). I like the sounds I get from both for differing reasons.
I’m now looking toward a high-end, tuneable deep shell, but first wanted to experiment with a Pakistani-made model from Mid-East.com. The goatskin on this drum is less than thrillling and gets way too tight in the dry winter air, even after oiling. I got the notion of emulating the Cooperman deep shell which is available with a Remo renaissance head and reskinning the drum with a cut-out Remo bass drum head from musiciansfriend.com.
It’s funny you should ask Ned. I was looking at the Cooperman deep shell 16" on their website just the other day and was wondering about the Remo head verses the natural skin. Not that I can help you with your question. In the area where I live, the temperature and humidity varies so much from day to day and from season to season, that a Remo head would be the better idea for playing.
Good luck in your searching, there has to be someone out there that knows the answer.
I originally got the idea from the Cooperman site.
It was recently reinforced by a respected session-mate, who mentioned that he was sending his Cooperman back to the factory for a Remo head. He had originally ordered it in calfskin. The guy’s a pro, so he knows what he’s talking (and beating) about. He’s only played Remo’s non-tuneable 18 in sessions and gets a really great sound out of it.
I ordered a Renaissance Ambassador bass drum head from musiciamsfriend.com, since remo would not sell me the raw material. It just arrived yesterday, so I’ll be poking around with it over the Christmas holidays.