I’m in “reed heaven.” Just when you think reeds can’t get any better…along comes Alan Burton, whittling away, guessing, making a dry climate reed “blind” and on a mission.
Listen folks…this is one HELL of a reed! Sure, maybe part of the secret is in the crop of cane, but I think not. If I thought my other reeds were effortless, this one is…well, in sailor’s terms, let’s say this one has the perfect Restricted Air Foil, full camber inducers, the strength of the reed is centered halfway between the mast head and the boom..the perfect balancing point. Instead of waves, I’m jumping octaves right now without hardly trying, steady as she goes. This sail is made for racing.
Seriously…it’s all way too good for me. I’m feeling guilty. I now join the ranks of such AB reed holders as…well several famous pipers you would all recognize.
Alan has his Masters in reed making, no I’d say his Doctorate of Divinity…maybe that’s why I’m in “reed heaven” right now. You wouldn’t believe it…
Alan…this reed is INCREDIBLE! Many thanks! When it first arrived, the volume was a little loud, the upper G a little flat, the lips open a little too much…all from the trip over. So, I put on the tea kettle, released the bridle from the reed (it was down as far as it could go but still had tension), played it for about 30 minutes, and by the time an hour had gone by everthing came true. The thumb D note hints at wanting to sink ever so slightly, but I’ll not worry about fixing that for a few weeks (less presure)…just leave it alone. Everything is in tune. Even the 3rd D is automatic.
I’ve put the bridle back on now…loose, it doesn’t really need it. I’ll let you know when I stop shaking my head in disbelief!
[ This Message was edited by: Lorenzo on 2003-03-02 13:06 ]
N…I know he could make you a terrific all-weather reed for Minnesota, aside from the extremes…no one can do that. Summer-winter reeds work reasonably well most of the time, and exceptional much of the time if you regulate your home. Tell him what you’ve got, he may even live close to your pipe-maker in England.
AlanB posts here regularly with contact info listed. And, he’s just as exceptional as his reeds…funny how that happens.
I am fortunate enough to have studied the art of reedmaking with Alan and have a great deal of respect for not only his knowledge and experience, but his ability to teach and explain the subject too.
Subsequently, I make reeds in the way that Alan taught me, and have a reed in my chanter that I made over a year ago which plays well and gives me no great troubles at all. As such, I owe Alan a debt of gratitude.
you sure sold me on alans reeds, but how is it ordering such a tiny item from across the wide ocean. customs,paying,etc. i get scared ordering from new england!
Paul…no I’m not saying I like the reed. I’m saying that I am stunned to learn that a reed can sound so terrible…well, terribly responsive, crisp, and easy to play.
I wish I understood why…out of the several excellent reeds I have from some of the top reed makers…why this Burton reed has that “ping” to it that is so sought after by pipers. Without this “ping” even other good reeds sound just slightly duller to me. Sometimes when I’m playing this reed I am under the impression that the phone is ringing in the other room. It’s just so crisp that I know which reed is in the chanter without even checking, and I trade around a fair bit.
That reminds me..an old friend of mine who works in the medical profession..once told me that this ringing you hear in your head, like when you have a headache, or are sick…it use to thought by religious fanatics that the scull was actually shrinking due to the devolution of mankind, the juices leaving the brain, dehydration from general hyperpropagation of the species.
I hold that it’s the universal drone from the “big bang” though.
I thought that was someone nearby turning on there television set . You know , in the old days , the tv had to warm up . I still hear a ringing sometimes whats up with that ? Or mabey it is exterrareresterials , them , lol .
Larry Dunn? From the LIST? Hey…I never thought much about it till I saw this was your first post. I think you’ll like this crowd…we’re a little rowdy-dowdy sometimes but civil at heart. Enjoy!
Larry D.
PS: and to think…your real name! (well! we can still keep’em confused!)
Alan…I’m still shaking my head in disbelief about the performance this reed you sent me. It’s working better all the time. If anything, it has a tendancy to be a little flat on the upper G and maybe the A a little, but this may be because the internal bore is smaller at that point. I can correct the note with pressure. I’m thinking that’s why conventional thought on this bore suggests a rolled staple. You did fantastic though, making an almost perfect reed w/o the chanter.
Don’t worry, I’m not doing anything to the reed, but if I were to try and sharpen the upper G, is there anything that can be done w/o untying and slipping the staple out?
I bet you’d get a more intune A and G by changing your fingering/lifting the chanter off your knee.
Try playing A with your middle two fingers of your bottom hand off and see what happens… F# or a Cnat bottom hand fingering.
For the G try lifting it off the knee and just leave the little finger of your bottom hand on OR lift off the knee and leave the “middle” finger of your bottom hand on only… experiment… these are the things that make tunes sound interesting.. different fingers… tonal variations etc.
