arundo donax - prep

Uilleann Pipes
1

How long should arundo donax be left to dry before the reed making process?

2

Professionals like Medir in Spain say 3 - 4 years.

djm

3

My friend EJ Jones uses his stuff after about 6-8 months…http://www.piperjones.com/tidycottagesmallpipes.html

4

For UPs or GHBs? 6-8 months really isn’t long enough for the cane to cure. It’s not just about drying, it is also about the natural breaking down of sugars, cellulose and what ever kind of decomposition that takes place.

A reed made from cane that hasn’t cured will go through changes in size and density and wouldn’t be very stable at all.

5

I think he used to use it for both I think he uses bassoon cane now. The stuff we pick out of the cane bush or whatever you call it down here is already pretty yellowed and dry … I personally use bassoon cane from Rigotti…

6

… I personally use bassoon cane from Rigotti…

I have tried pre-gouged Rigotti - found it to be on the hard side - any suggestions to make it work?

–kb

7

Chew it till its tender. :smiley:

djm

8

Chew it till its tender.

I did. Chipped a tooth. :astonished:

–kb

9

You can get the Spanish cane into good condition in 12-15months
if you know what your doing, it should make top notch reeds after this length of time, all the best.

10

Spanish cane from Medir usually requires a year or so cure after getting it. It is usually only cured two years before shipment so it must be set aside for further curing to make stable reeds. That gives the minimum 3 years total of curing, which is the usual minimum recommendation.

Ted

11

Spanish cane from Medir usually requires a year or so cure after getting it. It is usually only cured two years before shipment so it must be set aside for further curing to make stable reeds. That gives the minimum 3 years total of curing, which is the usual minimum recommendation.

Ted

12

Personally, I wouldn’t use anything that hasn’t cured for at least 3 years. You will run into tuning issues, stability issues etc… etc… with cane that hasn’t had enough time to cure properly… and it is not as though the reed itself doesn’t already have enough temperment issues. :smiley: