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Written by Bodojo
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(c)2008 Darius Bartlett - Summarised from a bodojo discussion thread
Lambeg Heads
Some terminological confusion exists; a “lambeg head” as I
use the term, refers to an animal skin taken off a carcase and specifically
chosen for size and other characteristics and then de-haired and dried according
to each lambeg makers personal formulae. After further preparation it is
attached to a flesh hoop and dried again, following this it is attached to the
drum, tensioned and played with “canes”. There are three distinct stages to the
manufacturing process and each stage imparts specific properties, all of which
are critical to the heads performance, and all of this is relevant to the use
and performance of these heads when used on bodhrans and other frame
drums.
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Written by Administrator
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Skin is
a natural product that has spent years on an animal and will have specific
generic qualities as well as those specific to that animal. For use on a
bodhrán, there are qualities that are desirable and those that are
undesirable.
Desirable
- soft to give a
quieter more absorbent impact
- flexible to permit
improved tonal options
- consistent
thickness to provide for purity of tone
- Thick and thin are
both desirable for different drums in different scenarios, there are no rights
and wrongs but there are differences of opinion and direction.
Undesirable
- Hard &
scratchy
- inflexible - too
thick and heavy
- uneven - badly
prepared or damage / scar tissue
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Written by Administrator
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 Much
of his article is my own research and is also reflected in Gary Hasting's Book
'With fife and drum', That great book has also helped fill in many many gaps in
my own information. Many thanks to Gary and to the lambeggers & drum makers
who have spoken with me.
So, what's all this craic about Lambeg skins, a goat's a goat
innit?
 I thought
this once, a few years back, but a Lambeg skin is a different beast entirely. Read about the Lambeg
drum.
Most
natural drum skins, usually goat, undergo a fairly standard process. The flesh
is removed from the inside of the rawhide and the hair is removed.
The hair
can be removed naturally by shaving or can be removed chemically by the use of
lime or other product. Chemical treatment is not recommended for any drum as the
chemicals can strip the skin of its natural elements and affect its
performance.
The Lambeg skin is
different because the makers use an undisclosed recipe that not only depiles the
skin but also imparts it with particular qualities. When the skin has been
removed, it is then stretched out on a board. In the nice image above right, you
can see where the pins pulled at the skin. The straight white line is a meter
ruler to give an idea of scale.
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