I have a Angus Narrow bore set and I can seem to get everything in tune except bottom D, its usually flat, now my hard bottom d is right on but it is very hard to get and hold unless I stick something up the chanter. I have yet to try the other reeds Brad made to see if they are the same (I seem to remember they are). If i prefer to play normal bottom D, can anyone suggest how to sharpen it up without screwing up the other notes? I currently have ther reed set to blow pretty easy and perhaps tightening up the bridle and opening the lips might help - will try tonight - but like the sound and playability where it is now.
thanks,
Brent
If the hard D is difficult to get, try attaching a small piece of thread to the end of the reed so that it dangles inside the top of the chanter. I’ve had results with that before.
Opening the lips of the reed will probably flatten all the notes.
Putting a rush/piece of wire up the bore is not the end of the world. Many pipers rush their chanters to get the best tuning.
Try some of the other reeds.
Brad’s chanters are made to play hard D in tune. A bit of a rush will help stabilize it. I know of no way to make the “soft” D in tune. Learn to play the hard D!
BC Childress’ chanters are similar in this respect: The hard bottom D is spot on while the “soft” bottom d is flat. When I asked BC about this, I think he said he could whack about 3/8 of an inch off my chanter or I could just learn how to play hard bottom D consistently. What Ted said: learn to play hard bottom D.
Thanks, I appreciate the help and will try to get a consistent hard D. Do most people play all hard Ds?
Brent
Some do. Others use hard D for emphasis.
So that implies they usually play a flat D?
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=44413
You get to make up your own mind after reading this link above. 
No, that implies that good chanters aren’t flat enough on a soft D to sound all that out of tune. Actually it implies that good chanters play both hard and soft bottom D pretty much in tune, with hard D “tending” sharp-“ish” at worst and soft D flat-“ish” at worst so you can still blow soft in acceptable tuning.
That includes Childress chanters, and to personalize a Childress or any other chanter in that regard you’d be better off reaming the bell out below E starting the taper from ghost D a hair at a time. You’d be surprised how quickly this sharpens soft D while bringing out hard D performance, and if you over do it a rush in the bell, U shaped actually makes you glad you over did it because then hard D gets harder and easier to hit while soft D is in perfect tune.
Lopping off the end of the chanter–assuming it’s correctly made in the first place is a fairly desperate act for what should be minor adjustments on the bell note.
But then again, you’re talking about an Angus narrow D and well, that’s pretty much how they play. Just be happy you have a sound of any sort coming consistently out of the bottom of the chanter.