Latest Up-Dates.

The workshop is currently under reorganization due to some health issues, there may be some delay in contacting me and in my replying. All emails will be answered but not as speedily as in the past. All outstanding orders will be completed.

Darius Bartlett.

The Philosophy of the "atelier"

This is the website of an artisan drum maker  maker producing one-off designs with all the work being done in-house. The basic philosphy or the fundamental tenet of the atelier is the construcion of instruments of the highest "sound excellence", the quality of sound is preeminent and appearance is a secondary attribute. All works are based on the makers own intellectual endeavours with respect for the intellectual property of others; unlike some  in the market place the designs are the result of intellectual effort and experimentation and the makers own research and development, and not theft.  From time to time, and principally in the Blog, I will express my opinions on the nature of my work and the prevailing conditions within the frame drum world; should anyone want to take offence or be excessively concerned with political correctness then they can simply press the "Off" Switch or not read any further

Players at all levels deserve a quality instrument....

with the introduction of CNC maching into the workshop the drums, generally called the "The Lissofin Contemporain"have now become the basis of a new 14in x 4in, or a 15in x 5in variation bodhran.Photographs of the Contemporain will give you a general idea of the "look" of the new drum!!It will be available post free for $265 USD. Performance will be upgraded to and it will perform on a par with other makers expensive "signature" specials!!

The drum will be available with a choice of specialty veneered exteriors and the black gloss finish on the tuning system for an extra $10 USD

 Size, 14in dia and 4in deep and with 9 new three armed tuning screws as standard. Also available in the 15in dia x 5in deep for$275USD

Head will be "natural goat" equivalent to what others call a lambeg head even though some of those heads have never been on a lambeg in their life

  Check out the small head bevel, no giant size 45° heavily taped skin area that means less skin to tension and if you couple that with an engineered bearing edge you will have a drum with a tonal head capable of good top-end clarity with all the mid range and bass for a session instrument.  This is a drum that can take you through from beginner through to The All-Ireland Fleah contender performance level!

BUT best of all it is not going to take a loan from the US Federal Reserve to purchase---its all about a better bang for your $$$$$$$$$

It's a 14in dia x 4in Intermediate level Bodhran at $265USD with Free Delivery

Email for details!!!

Interchangeable Head Bodhran.

After years of experimentation and trialling designs, different materials and the development of better atmospherically stable heads the interchangeable head drum is now in production and available to the music oriented player. Further developments and finish quality work is continuing and as more machines come under CNC control the benefits will be passed on to the workshops clientel.

The "atelier" is a rambling collection of rooms in an old French farmhouse and contains a full metal and wood shop and finishing facilities into which the experiments of over a dozen years are crammed in a chaotic manner. The workshop has explored the widest range of head materials and species as well as a wide range of materials from wood veneers and plywoods through to polyurethanes and epoxy composites. The "chemistry" experiments seem to be relegated to the kitchen and bathroom but the reults are in the hands of musicians around the world. Those that play and make the music make my life and amusing myself with creations that add to the evolving tradition is what this woorkshop is all about, it exists to help musicians create music---a mass producing money machine it is not!! I believe that I can claim to have experimented with more ideas and materials than any other bodhran maker on the planet and with the single intent of producing instruments that add to the diversity and extension of the "soundscape".

The workshop is not a mass production money machine, far from it. The basis of
all production is a working realtionship between maker and musician. The workshop over the years has experience with the widest variety of frame materials from timberveneers through to epoxy composites. Heads are from a variety of species; goat, naturaland lambeg,kangaroo, various species of deer, calf and can be of varying thicknesses and levels of preparation. The workshop has over the years developed a high level of expertise in the chemistry related to drum heads andespecially the very climatically stable heads necessary for the interchangeable pull-down heads.
Tuning systems of any form, O'Kane patterns in their various various forms,
 in-the-rim or through the rim "pull-down interchangeable head systems" that
were first pioneered by this workshop. The small three armed Bartlett/Forkner
tuners now available were designed here.It is a custom building shop whose
range of activities extend beyond bodhrans. 

Price, the bottom line!!  The appropriate selection of components is down through discussion, a fair and reasonable price is arrived at. There is a five year guarantee and a "three drum option" ensures that the musician has an instrument tailored to his needs. Generally, musicians availing themselves of the workshops services are not beginners, but no-one is turned away. However, if you are the Bodhran Messiah with several mediocre YouTube clips, don't pick up the phone or push the send button! In all cases contact should be direct. All orders are processed sequentially and there is always a waiting time.