Bodhran drums have been played in Ireland for centuries. Recently, however, there has been an explosion of new interest in the instrument. Nowadays, you can find bodhrans for sale all over the world, made by lots of different makers.
You can’t get a bodhran by taking shortcuts when you’re looking for one. Drums can be bought for cheaper prices, but they won’t play well or sound good. Also, there are some amazing bodhran makers who create custom instruments for each individual player.
Find both new and used bodhrans for sale online here, whether you are looking for a high-end custom instrument or a workhorse!
The Best Place To Find Bodhrans For Sale
Bodhrans are available for sale everywhere. It is a little harder to find good bodhrans for sale. In shops and online, you’ll find brands such as Roosebeck, Mid-East, and Glenluce. Bodhrans of this type can be decent, but they are cheaply made and often need some work to sound good.
There are a variety of places online where one can purchase new, high-quality bodhrans. It is possible to order directly from the maker, or to purchase from a music store. They are also available at some large online retailers, although their selection is often lacking.
The Painted Bodhran
This is a typical painted bodhran. Image by vallgall on Flickr.
It is not uncommon to see bodhrans for sale with different designs painted on the head. Most tourist shops in Ireland have at least a few of these lying around and they’re available on Amazon, eBay, etc. However, they don’t play well by and large. One of the main problems with them is that they are usually not tunable, and the skin is usually not tensioned correctly. However, the main problem is that they are mass-produced for a low price from inferior materials.
Although they may look great now, imagine what regular playing will do to the paint in a year or two. The skin is not dyed or imbued with ink; it is just painted over with paint that will flake off over time.
You can buy wall hangings or souvenirs if you’re interested. It’s true that some of the designs look cool, and they’re useful as decorations. If you’re looking for instruments you should look elsewhere.
Amazon.com Bodhrans Buy Link
There are a lot of cheap and, quite frankly, bad bodhrans for sale on Amazon. If you know what to look for, you can also find a few good ones. Both Meinl and Remo are well-known for their other drums, but they also make excellent tunable bodhrans. Walton’s cheap bodhrans aren’t the best, but their 16-inch tunable model is decent. These are all available on Amazon, and if you do a lot of shopping there already (or are a Prime member), you’ll find it convenient.
Hobgoblin
A lot of bodhrans for sale at Hobgoblin, which specializes in folk instruments. Their “Glenluce” brand is one of the cheaper mass-produced brands, but they also carry bodhrans by Michael Vignoles and Russell Buckmaster (Bridget Bodhrans). Also available are some bodhrans from Waltons that are tunable. Their UK store is located at the same link, but it’s in the US.
Directly from the manufacturer
Bodhrans are made by a lot of different people. It would take a while to list them all, but some have more of an online presence than others. Listed below are some bodhran makers who take orders over the web and have well-organized websites that show what bodhrans for sale they have for sale, prices, etc.
- Paraic McNeela (Dublin, Ireland) – McNeela has been making bodhrans since 1979 and also runs a music store that sells Irish flutes, tin whistles, and concertinas.
- Metloef Irish Drums (Leiden, The Netherlands) – Rob Forkner’s bodhran offer a variety of options and customizable features. He is known for making some of the best drums in the world.
- Seamus O’Kane (Derry, Ireland) – O’Kane is one of the best-known bodhran makers in the world. His drums are in the hands of many top players.
- Christian Hedwitschak (Bavaria, Germany) – It could be said that Hedwitschak bodhrans are the BMWs of the drum world. The former cabinet maker turned bodhran engineer takes a very scientific approach to constructing the best bodhran.
- Albert Alfonso (Texas, USA) – Alfonso is another superb maker of bodhrans. He will make sure you know what you’re getting and you get what you want if you buy from him.
How to Find Used Bodhrans for Sale
Bodhrans can be very expensive, but you can save quite a bit of money if you buy a used one. It’s important to be careful when purchasing something sight unseen, however. Another player, who knows the instrument and can give you honest feedback, is the best person to buy from. You may want to get someone knowledgeable to take a look at it or give you advice if you’re dealing with someone who doesn’t understand bodhrans for sale.
When buying a bodhran, ask plenty of questions and try to get a sound clip or video of it actually being played. Make sure the tuning mechanism is in working order, and that it comes with any tools that you’ll need to operate it if it’s a tunable bodhran.
eBay.com Bodhrans Buy Link
The first place many people look to find used bodhrans for sale is on eBay, but the pick is slim. The majority of bodhrans for sale are painted cheaply, and many are mass-produced brands. On eBay, you can find plenty of high-end bodhrans from makers like Metloef, Hedwitschak, and O’Kane. When you’re patient and in the market, you can often find a great deal just by watching listings. Ask plenty of questions, and make sure you use the eBay Buyer Protection Program if you feel you haven’t received what you ordered.
The Session
The Session is an online community for traditional Irish music lovers and players. The site has a very active discussion board as well as a huge database of tunes and recordings. Additionally, you can often find bodhrans for sale there since it’s a good place to “talk shop.” A word of caution: there can be a lot of controversy around bodhran posts. It is possible that you’ll receive a few snarky comments if you post something. Those are generally good-natured, so feel free to ignore them or reply with a witty comment.
Bodojo Facebook Group
Bodojo, a forum dedicated to the bodhran, used to be very popular. The website has since been taken down, and the discussions have been moved to their Facebook group. bodhrans for sale are still being sold on the site, and a lot of activity is going on there. In addition, you can ask for advice, get playing tips, or talk about anything and everything bodhran-related here. There won’t be the usual (usually good-natured) ribbing for playing the bodhran here unlike other forums!
Chiff and Fipple
In addition to Irish music, Chiff and Fipple focuses primarily on tin whistle, flute, and pipes. bodhrans for sale are occasionally offered for sale, but there is also plenty of discussion about other instruments of Irish music. If you’re looking for something in particular, you can post a “want to buy” notice on the “Used Instrument Exchange.”