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Subject: Re: 3rd Set


Author:
brad
[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
Date Posted: 16:54:53 04/04/03 Fri
In reply to: Randy 's message, "Re: 3rd Set" on 00:39:46 04/04/03 Fri

|||Naill has an excellent chanter. A BUNCH of the top players play them. But, realize they are more difficult to set up than others. Have you had your instructor help you with it?
And are you close to a pipe supplies dealer? The best way to buy reeds to to test a bunch in your chanter.
>The chanter I currenty use in the Dunfions is a Naill
>A/B and Soutar reed Med. strength. I've tried 6 plus
>diffferent reed brands
>Macphee,Higgins,Apps,Wygent,Caldwell.
>
|||Nothing wrong with the sound of Hendersons! It's probably good to note though that the sound of the pipe is dependent on the "set up"
>"you don't want an "in your face" sound. But, you like
>the sound of the vintage Hendersons."
>Your right, I guess I should qualify that, Someone had
>told me they were Henderson's But I'm not positive.
>
|||Out of curiousity, where are the drone tops tuning (in coparison to the hemp-line)?
>I've currently have the drones reed strength set just
>a-- little bit harder than the most air taking note,
>HI A on the chanter before they shut off.
>
|||Shaving can a pretty awful effect on the sound capabilites of the reed. If you can get your hands on a reed that sounds good, but is a LITTLE hard, don't shave it.
Play it for a bit until it eases up to your level - you'll probably be happier with the tone and volume.
>"Are you playing a vibrant reed with good volume?"
>Actually, to be honest, I really dont think so. The
>reed started out Med and I've been playing it
>regularly for about 4 months, but I shaved it a little
>bit at a time when I was breaking it in,
>
|||My experince with Naill chanters is that they are not overly loud. Although capable of a very sweet sound, and good distinction of embellishments, a louder set of drones can overpower. That being said, I would guess you don't want to change chanters. And, it would surprise me if you can't get either your Dunbars or Dunfions mellowed down a bit.
As a last resort, you might want to consider a set of "tone enhancers" In a sipper bag, then can quiet a set of drones somewhat (be aware that some people do not like them).
>" It may be more that your overall blend between
>chanter and drones isn't what you're after."
>I think thats correct, With the Dunfions, Ive tried
>DunfionA/B chanter Macallum,Warmac,Dunbar. Sold the
>Dunfion chanter, It was just impossible to reed
>
|||Lars Sloan of The Rogues plays them - and has ridiculously nice tone. I know he instructs in Houston, but am not sure how to contact (you might want to check The Rogues website.
Also, I think Aberdeen Bagpipe supplies sells them - they would be a good source of info if they do.
>"There are some excellent players getting great tone
>from those drones! I would be surprised that if your
>blowing is steady, the drones take more than a few
>minutes to settle in.
>I've checked my blowing on a homemade water
>manometer,while playing tunes, i think pretty steady,
>The water dose move but not constantly or wildly. Any
>info on the kinds of drone reeds, chanter, chanter
>reed set ups those guys favor? Or where to go to find
>out?
>
|||I'm a big fan of the Kron Medalist chanter - I really like the ease of reeding, and it's very sweet sounding (wigh nice full sound)
As far as drone reeds go....I don't have much advice, as I haven't worked with Dunfions. EZ's are usually pretty good when set up well.
I like the sound of Omegas, Selbies, EZ's and Rockets. I would GUESS that a set of Kinnaird (sp?) carbon fiber tongued reeds would settle well in those drones.
>"get an excellent chanter and reed set up, then get
>your drones set up to blend well with it."
>Do you have any recomendations, or know of a certain
>brand/s chanter and reed that lends itself
>particularry well to Dunfions? Seems I've had this
>problem with these (Dunfion) pipes since day one. Very
>finicky pipes to be sure. The Dunbar P3's are pretty
>plug and play and accepting of many brands of reeds,
>Just maybe being all plactic the drones sound harsh
>and loud to me.
>
>I think you guys are correct about the chanter &or
>chanter reed being the culprit, When I cork the
>chanter stock the drones alone sound fine. I
>currently have a set of EZ's in there now, in the past
>Iv'e use Henderson Harmonics, Henderson Deluxe, with
>good drone results and Duo-tone with awful sounding
>results. Cane, of course was by far the best sound.
>Any sugesttions re chanters and or chanter reeds I
>have not tried that would be a good match for the
>Dunfion drones would be welcome.
>Thanks again.

Good Luck!

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Replies:
[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 3rd Set


Author:
Randy
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 02:19:41 04/09/03 Wed

My Instructor hasn't helped me the current reed in the Naill.
I wish I did live close to a piping supply! I usually order via internet about a dozen at a time in hopes of getting three or four winners. I agree the best way is to try the reeds in your own chanter and then buy, But I think the closest piping supply that I'm aware of is way too far.

>|||Out of curiousity, where are the drone tops tuning
>(in coparison to the hemp-line)?
the tenors are about 1/4in above the hemp line and the top bass joint about 1/8in above and the bottom is about the middle (maybe a little lower)of the tuning pin.
I'll take your advise on a little bit harder reed and I will not give into the temptation to shave it.

>As a last resort, you might want to consider a set of
>"tone enhancers" In a sipper bag, then can quiet a
>set of drones somewhat (be aware that some people do
>not like them).
Yes, that is a good call. Right now I'm using shepard tone enhancers in both set of pipes and both sets have Bannatyne zipper bags. I like them, especially air effiency-wise. And your are right they do quiet the drones down some.

>|||Lars Sloan of The Rogues plays them - and has
>ridiculously nice tone. I know he instructs in
>Houston, but am not sure how to contact (you might
>want to check The Rogues website.
I contacted Lars about six months ago and I don't think I asked him the right questions, at the time I was thinking it was perhaps the drone reeds that were the problem, and switched to cane for a while, But talk about having to fiddle and mess around before the pipes were in tune!! I don't think I'm ready for cane.

>Also, I think Aberdeen Bagpipe supplies sells them -

I purchased the Dunfion's from Aberdeen, I actually started on these pipes three years ago and I didn't even realize there was a problem until I purchased the Dunbar's and it only took me a very short time to balace the chanter get the drones tuned and locked on. Ignorance is bliss!
I do think your sugesstion of a harder chanter reed may help and I'm going to give that a go. The chanter reed I'm currently playing: From Piob Hi G to low G I have to ease up on the pressure or Low G "honks".
Thanks again for the help
Randy

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 3rd Set


Author:
Randy
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 02:22:04 04/09/03 Wed

>My Instructor hasn't helped me set the current reed in the
>Naill.
> I wish I did live close to a piping supply! I usually
>order via internet about a dozen at a time in hopes of
>getting three or four winners. I agree the best way is
>to try the reeds in your own chanter and then buy, But
>I think the closest piping supply that I'm aware of is
>way too far.
>
>>|||Out of curiousity, where are the drone tops tuning
>>(in coparison to the hemp-line)?
>the tenors are about 1/4in above the hemp line and the
>top bass joint about 1/8in above and the bottom is
>about the middle (maybe a little lower)of the tuning
>pin.
>I'll take your advise on a little bit harder reed and
>I will not give into the temptation to shave it.
>
>>As a last resort, you might want to consider a set of
>>"tone enhancers" In a sipper bag, then can quiet a
>>set of drones somewhat (be aware that some people do
>>not like them).
>Yes, that is a good call. Right now I'm using shepard
>tone enhancers in both set of pipes and both sets have
>Bannatyne zipper bags. I like them, especially air
>effiency-wise. And your are right they do quiet the
>drones down some.
>
>>|||Lars Sloan of The Rogues plays them - and has
>>ridiculously nice tone. I know he instructs in
>>Houston, but am not sure how to contact (you might
>>want to check The Rogues website.
>I contacted Lars about six months ago and I don't
>think I asked him the right questions, at the time I
>was thinking it was perhaps the drone reeds that were
>the problem, and switched to cane for a while, But
>talk about having to fiddle and mess around before the
>pipes were in tune!! I don't think I'm ready for cane.
>
>>Also, I think Aberdeen Bagpipe supplies sells them -
>
>I purchased the Dunfion's from Aberdeen, I actually
>started on these pipes three years ago and I didn't
>even realize there was a problem until I purchased the
>Dunbar's and it only took me a very short time to
>balace the chanter get the drones tuned and locked on.
>Ignorance is bliss!
>I do think your sugesstion of a harder chanter reed
>may help and I'm going to give that a go. The chanter
>reed I'm currently playing: From Piob Hi G to low G I
>have to ease up on the pressure or Low G "honks".
>Thanks again for the help
>Randy

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