Native Hand Drum Kit This lot consists of a white ash stave shell, a white-tail deer raw hide and a scrap piece of rawhide to make the lacing and handle.  The best method is to punch 16 sets of two holes to string the well-soaked rawhide, and to make a cross handle after stringing by wrapping four pairs at a time.  An instruction sheet is included, but the best step-by-step guide is easily found on youtube.  In fact there are several youtube videos which cover the assembly and other stringing options.  The hide is a medium-thick raw hide (which gives the drum a wider voice), and will need to be fully soaked to give it the stretch to bring the skin completely over the stave rim all the way around.  The shell is made of 24 staves,  13 1/2" in diameter, and is the undisputed best resonant design for bodrhan and snare drums as well.  White ash is brighter than most hardwoods and combined with the thicker hide gives an interesting range of tones, and pitch can be altered by squeezing the cross,  placing  fingers on the head inside, or by using a variety of striking instruments (we favor larger bodrhan tippers).   This design is traditional, but the stave construction is far superior to any other available shell.  We are assuming that this will especially appeal to advanced players who are familiar with spirit drums and wish to complete the construction, fulfilling the "spirit of the tree", "spirit of the animal", "spirit of the maker", and "spirit of the player" mojo. We will put up some custom tippers for those who wish to play like an Irish bodrhan in separate eBay lots.  FREE SHIPPING INCLUDED FOR THIS KIT TO CANADA OR USA.