Wanted - side drum

[watervole]

I've just sold some Blake's 7 collectables, and I'm thinking that gives me shopping money for something I wouldn't otherwise buy.

One of the things I'm tempted to buy is a side drum for Anonymous Morris.

This is a bit of a gamble, because side drums aren't exactly cheap  and there's always the chance the side won't get off the ground.  You'll pay around £135 for a new one like this:



or £55 for this one which is a little bit smaller



all the way down to This one at £46 plus postage:


(I'm not sure that the carrying strap is included in all cases, though it is with the last one.

However, a good drum really does make it easier for dancers to find the beat, and a side drum is the obvious choice because it's easy to carry.  But which one represents value for money? Which will survive general mistreatment and still play reliably several years later?

I don't know much about drums, but two things occurred to me:

1.  There are musicians on my list who probably do.

2.  There are musicians, reenactors, compulsive hoarders and morris men on my flist.  There's a least a fighting chance that one or more of you might have a suitable drum for sale...

So, advice and offers of drums are all welcome!

Comments

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

The closest thing I have is something that was sold to me as a bodhran but looks more like this, with some printing on it. But it's not a side drum.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

It's a tunable bodhran.

I've already got a bodhran, which will probably do to start with, though I won't be able to use it as I'm needed for my rather mediocre concertina skills until we get a decent melodeon player.

But a bodhran played just as something to bang for a beat is not very resonant.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

But a bodhran played just as something to bang for a beat is not very resonant.

Could you clarify that at all? I'm a little confused ... certainly some of the deep sided bodhrans I've seen and played had a big full sound, and a bigger volume than the smallest of the three drums in your posting.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Which is why I'm picking your brains! I'd assumed a drum with a body would be louder.

[sammason.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, the drumbeat that helps dancers to dance well doesn't need to be made on a good drum. It doesn't need to be made on a drum at all. If you're lucky enough to have a good percussionist playing for Anonymous Morris s/he will be able to inspire the dancers even if improvising with fingernails on a coffee cup. S/he will also have drums already, probably including something that suitable for Morris dance-outs.

I think, though, that what you're really feeling is a desire to buy yourself a beautiful side-drum. So I say go for it.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Good point actually. I really should see if we get an interested person with their own drum. Postering the music shop is on my list of things to do.

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

The second one down looks like the sort of drum used by the English Civil War Society from what I recall when I was a member, although I don't know if any of the regiments would have them up for sale.

TBH (I'm no expert) but I'd think that £55 is actually a good price for one like that.