Hey all,

I got a McNeela bodhran there a couple of months ago and it just wont be played in!
It sounds the same now as it did the first week i got it (after a bit of dubbin was applyed of course :)
How long should it take to break in a drum? God knows I have played it enough...

Cillian.

Hi Cillian
We hear your plight...been there, got the tee shirt.
Sounds as if it may be a thick skin ? Don't personally know the model you mention, but it could help to know what the skin has already gone through from the maker - maybe nothing?
I got told to expect a thicker skin to take 'years' - they didn't say how many... Gave mine away, not being the patient type. Been reading through the threads on this subject (which I had missed) and it's VERY likely some of the others will know more than I do.... sure, its about the fibres having to break down. Maybe take the head off and go over it with a mallet.....
I do endorse everything said about ' a drum should be playable from the box,' and then it should improve through our playing and nurturing it. It must not reach its optimum
too early, and get 'played out' as Paul rightly says.
Not much help. But I'd be interested to know how you deal with it after proper advice.
Also interested in your Tipper factory (sorry, wrong thread!)
Cheers, John

Cillers,

Mr McNeela might be able to advise you on how to soften the sound a bit, and he may even have products available to do this with.

Hey BB, John, All,,

I was actually doing work expreience wit the man himself, and he didnt see anything wrong with it :P

I have experimented with a LOT of things on various drums and the best IMO is Dubbin..

The skin is actually quite thin, in some areas you can see through it almost perfectly. The problem (I think) seems to lie in the treatment of the skin pre-fixing.. He orders in the skins in bulk from pakistan (may not be exactly right, cant remember) and then fixes them onto the frames. It seems to be more for the money then the enjoyment of the building...

The thing is, it may be broken in already and there is no change..

Oh and John I think there is a thread knockin about wit details of the stuff make. If you are interested in having one made post there. Maybe I should start a new thread for orders :P

Cillian.

Hey
this is what I had heard about the McNeela drums as well.
Skins from Pakistan can be obtained very cheap (I have regular spam emails with offers starting from 3€ a skin). So probably it is right what you think about the money.

My best advise is to get a proper drum, I know you just spend all your money at an accordion, but maybe you can save some and then get an O'Kane.
All the best
Rolf

...or a RWE or other Hedwitschak drum :-)

Grtz,
M