Cane drone reeds-help me

Uilleann Pipes
1

I have been messing around with some local cane for drone reeds. I am having 2 problems.

  1. I can get them steady, but they use a lot of air (about double my synthetics).

  2. The baritone and bass are about equal in volume to the synthetics, but the tenor is about double the volume of the other drones.

I am using four reeds that came with the chanter as models and O-rings as bridals. Any pointers would be appreciated.

John

2

Hey John,
The local stuff looks so grass-like it is amazing that you got it to work at all. I wonder what species it is.
Dave

3

Mark S. tells me it is phragmites. It is pretty much the same weight and thickness as the arundo.