Rolf Wagels Edition This is a special serie model with the ideas and wishes of Rolf Wagels, one of the leading Bodhrán players and teachers in Europe. This model is a "signature line" bodhrán and can only be purchased from Rolf Wagels ! The price is 425 EUR for the RWE and 390 EUR for the 'compact' model. Order and more info at: www.bodhran-info.de   Special thanks to master drum maker Seamus O´Kane for his help. Seamus is a living legend in bodhrán making and I am very proud and happy to get this support from him www.tradcentre.com/seamus   Rolf playing a solo on  youtube!

Details | Gallery

The details: RWE 40 cm diameter (ap. 16") 15,3 cm deep frame (ap. 6,1") Original LAMBEG skin from the North of Ireland. Tool-less 8-point-tuning system. Smooth-running, direct power transmission. Direct skin tention feedback. Precise tuning possible. Exclusive Design of red "fiddle bottom maple". Taped for more harmonic overall sound. Price: 425 EUR  "RWEcompact" 37 cm diameter (ap. 15") 14 cm deep frame (ap. 5,6") Original LAMBEG skin from the North of Ireland. (special selected for the smaller diameter). Tool-less 6-point-tuning system. Smooth-running, direct power transmission. Direct skin tention feedback. Precise tuning possible. Exclusive Design of red "fiddle bottom maple".  Taped for more harmonic overall sound. Price: 390 EUR

Gallery

Rolf Wagels about the RWE:

It was a great chance and pleasure to work on the signature line RWE together with Christian Hedwitschak. When developing the drum I had the following ideas: I wanted a Lambegskin, a skin that supports a universal playing style. It gives the RWE a focuses base, ploppy high notes, but also a great tonal range in the middle, which was most important to me. The Lambeg skin reacts quickly and easy to both my skin hand, which allows easy tone modulation and to the tipper with a great rebound from the skin. This allows for a lively and crisp sound including a decent amount of overtones.
This means I can achieve both a traditional sound and a modern top end sound. The drum has great attack and enough overtones for harmonic playing, but not too many overtones that wouldn't allow the occasional open bass playing.
I prefer a classic design, which includes the velvet band and the nails, but also, and more important, a tuning system that is easy to handle and very smooth-running. Some experiments had to be taken until I was satisfied with the smooth operation of the tuning system and the fact that Christian uses the system now in all his High End drums speaks for itself.
I am still playing the drum that was made in the first series in May 2005. I took it all over Europe and the USA and played it on many stages in different climate zones. And I still wouldn't want any other drum, it's 100% reliable and still sound ideal to me.

Eric Cunningham:

"I only use one bodhrán on stage with 'Frankie Gavin & De Dannan' and that is the RWE bodhrán made by Christian Hedwitschak. It is simply a terrific instrument and it doesn't surprise me that after every gig I did in the USA recently I was asked all the time who made my drum. It has a bass end Steve Gadd would be happy with and a top end Zakir Hussain would take delight in. There is a great feeling knowing that night after night I spend minimal time sound checking as the drum has all the natural tones inbuilt and available instantly."

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