5 string head

[ericmd]

I'm on a stoopid pork lift truck course this week ower at hebburn and a codger there plays 5 string.
I'll see a pictuer today of it and was surprised to hear he'd put a goatskin on it's drum.
He canna be serious surely?

[craftsman]

Aug 27, 2008 6:28:38 GMT ericmd said:

I'm on a stoopid pork lift truck course this week ower at hebburn and a codger there plays 5 string.
I'll see a pictuer today of it and was surprised to hear he'd put a goatskin on it's drum.
He canna be serious surely?

Without hair I'm guessing?... Not many bald goats about now though.

I think most skins can be used as long as they are prepared correctly first (?)

Help.... ....expert needed!

[Danny]

Goat skins are the traditional finish (and you're right Andrew, without hair, usually) Plastic only became available in the 20th century, it's almot as new to this as we all are.

Goat's skin is still used a lot in old style banjos (i.e. gourd banjos) and various drums (including my dads bodhran)

The banjo evolved from africa, and later black slaves, stretching a piece of goat skin over a gourd, or whatever else came to hand, attaching a stick and stretching a string or 5 across it.

I believe Elvis Presly's original drummer (from the sun sessions) Bill Black used goat skin heads, last I hear he still does. I also THINK his have the hair attached still.

The main problem from what I understand is that skin is MUCH more reactive to temperature and moisture, so it's always shifting around the place and changing it's tension and theirfore sound

If any of ya wanna play with some..... www.goatskins.co.uk/shop/

Eric, try speaking to the guy, he may just turn out to be one of those 'cool old dudes' that Patrick says about so often

[ericmd]

I was removed from the course yesterday!
Admin error+a small matter of £250!
Will hope to be booked on the course soon to have a chat with the man.
He did say he did work with the Chernobl Children that visit yearly;anyone know him?