Very interesting - I assume by fat rods you mean Ralf's Power Rods?

I have the full set and find I can execute even fast rolls with the PowerRods, my mainstay the HotRods and also the ThinRods - I do find more problems with the jazz rods and the faster rolls - but given the reason for using the jazz rod fast rolls are not normally required.

I guess why I find little difference between the three main types of Ralf's rods is probably due to my own hand hold. I find the the amount of surface area contacting the skin - and the shape of that surface, and not just the mass involved also greatly affects the tone from the drum.

Playing the RWE and the Brendan White I find my own preference is for the medium HotRod - in fact Ive yet to find a skin it *doesnt* sound absolutely great on!!

I tend to find that top-end tippers have great articulation but loose much of the punch - that said I have 3-4 which do produce a great sound on bigger drums - Ralfs Blackwood and Snakewood ConcertSticks - these are nice, and also recommended Christian's ME2 and ME4. (I absolutely love Christian's ME13 for Kerry style).

Paul is right - the stick/hand/drum/skin combination makes tippers one of the biggest issues - until I came across Ralf and Christian I went through a LOT of tippers - most rubbish - most will be consigned to auction sites at some point! (hey if I can get a pint of bitter/guiness for each of them its better than burning them!!).

Its the bane of the Bodhran player - the never ending search for the perfect Tipper. Its like looking for gold at the end of the rainbow. :)

lol nice image there barry, the problem with the pot of gold Tipper is that no tipper is perfect for every situation.. for examples i tend to use bouncy tippers for reels and solid tippers or rods for jigs...
At home a light tipper in a sess a heavy tipper.....
Although this proverbial perfect tipper might just be that - perfect for everything :P

Cillian.

Tippers. ah. Ive got 2 Tipper bags from Rolf Wagels. 1 is brimming. The second is already filling up. Even got 2 ANZO paint brushes in there as well! I certainly have a tipper for every occasion!!!

(interestingly enough my wife hasnt noticed yet - whereas she spots the odd bit of studio equipment/musical instrument/new bodhran - damnit! she hasnt noticed the 'tipper obsession' - im trying to keep the 'habit' quiet - although I feel another niche market might be created soon - TA - tippers anonymous!)

hey,

Do you just have Rolfs tippers or do you
hav some from other makers?
Also I didnt know he did bags for them, are
they any good?

Cillian.

Just made a new one there yesterday..

A 6" light fiddle bow stick with a grip at the top.
Really effortless to play, I would recommmend any1 to make one and try it!
Thanks for the idea Paul - I got it after reading about ur bo style :D

Cillian.

Hey Cillers,

Yeah those wee sticks will quickly put the skills in your hands. You don't have any of the help/hindrance of a pendulum so you develop manual control

I was also genuinely suggesting that you practise with a single stick of spaghetti where there is negligable weight and no momentum to overcome.

I'm working with Ralf Siepmann to produce some replica sticks of my version of the "medium hot rod", partly because I'm dead scared of losing the one I have and partly because they may be of use to others seeking to play the same single ended styles. I should be getting a prototype shortly all being well.

P