anyone have sound samples of the same song or even just a scale being played with these 2 types of chanters?
also any further info on the differences would be great.
thanks.
Hi jen-m,
I have no sound file, but I played a Peter Hunter narrow bore D chanter and own a concertD chanter - the difference is mainly the sound: it’s mellower and quieter, not as shrill as a concertD chanter can be sometimes. Furthermore, the tone holes are smaller and the intervals between them are a little bit lower.
Greetings,
G.
You might come closer by comparing a historic C# (Ennis, for instance) or a set based on a Coyne C#. with modern concert pitch.
The differences aren’t just tonal of course, it’s a whole different ‘feel’.
Also, it bears keeping in mind that every maker’s product is different, thus there are as many kinds of “narrow bore D” as there are makers of same. What some people call “narrow bore D” is what others might call “medium bore”, [in fact one knowledgeable person casually referred to my own “wide bore concert pitch” design (in my own estimation) as a “narrow bore D” because it wasn’t as big/wide as a Leo Rowsome.]
Frankly narrow bore D (or at least what I call narrow bore D) is sort of a holy grail for some players/makers, i.e. the pitch of modern pipes with the tonal richness and playing qualities of flat sets. (Others don’t see the point I guess) IMO very very few of the “narrow bore D” chanters i’ve played/heard were up to that standard. so I think some caution is advised.
My own narrow bore D design is not ready for prime time either… 
Bill
thanks.
yeah i guess i thought concert d was less shrill. ray sloan’s sample of concert d seems more throaty so to speak and i just love it.
Hmm reminds me of Mick O’Brien, tonally. Not sure how much of that is recording technique, etc.
Sure does. I just played them side by side. Slight differences. Ray speeds up a little too.
any reed tips on how to get my chanter closer to that sound?
I haven’t seen Ray’s reeds, so I don’t know. I do suspect that one thing the two chanters have in common is a slightly narrower-than-usual bore (I know this to be true of Mick’s, though it’s well within the “wide bore” concert pitch range, and I seem to recall having heard this about Ray’s chanters). That said, I thought Ray’s chanters took a tubing staple, whereas Mick’s definitely prefers a larger tapered staple, similar to Benedict K’s “Rowsome reed” design. I’ve only tried to reed one of Ray’s chanters but it was apparent from a quick test that it would not accept one of my BK-inspired “Rowsome”-type reeds.
Bill
Ray’s narrow bore chanters do, in fact, take a hobby tube staple as do many narrow bore chanters I have reeded. Other than that, there really isn’t anything that noticeably different in their construction… IMHO.
Ray’s narrow bore chanters have a decidedly sweet and colorful tone, not to mention that all of his work is well made and beautiful to look at.
I wouldn’t call Ray’s chanters narrow bore, personally. When I say ‘narrow bore’ I mean “like a flat set”. Perhaps “medium bore” comes closer…
Bill
I am referring to his narrow bore chanters. He also makes a wider bore, which is what you may be referring to.
Forum member ‘snoogie’ owns a half set of the narrow bores.
OK, gotcha.
The sound sample posted is one of the wider-bore ones I think. I haven’t seen one of his narrow bore models.
Bill
Beautiful instruments, very sweet of tone.
This is snoogie’s 1/2 set
