On my chanter, the G is slightly sharp, so to bring it down, I’ve stuck a bit of electrical tape over the top 1/5 of the hole. It works fine and I don’t have to adjust it, but every so often, I have to change the tape and clean the chanter. Also, because of the cold and dry of the Quebec winter, I usually oil (Neets or grape seed) the chanter once a month. The glue from the tape is messy.
Is there an alternative to tape? Originally I was thinking of wax or something similar which could be applied and forgotten about. Something that would not have to be removed when I oil the chanter.
There’s a type of medical tape you can get in most pharmacies (looks a bit like a translucent web) that doesn’t leave glue on the chanter. Naturally I can’t find mine at the moment or would give you the correct name for it.
Surgical tape has been suggested before. I understand that it’s very good - no gunk on the chanter.
I was woundering if there were other options which, in particular, would allow me to be able to oil the chanter without having to replace the tape again and again.
You can make a small ball of wax or poster putty and apply this within the upper or lower edge of a tone hole to tune as required. This wouldn’t need to be replaced like you do with the tape. Personally I use the tape.
I’ve seen a chanter with the same problem - a sharp G so the owner put a plastic collar into the hole the same height as the chinmey and about 1 to 1 and a 1/2 millimeters thick. Seems to have done the trick. Easily removed, no mess.
Cheers,
I guess it depends on the problem with the particular reed/chanter combination. I’ve only the A which goes a bit sharp sometimes when the weather changes, so I like something easily added or removed as required.
Yes, this is a good wat to do it. PJ, go to a hobbie shop and purchase styrene sheeting at .12" or so in thickness. Cut a thin strip of it and roll it up, then insert it into the hole. It will take a few times of shortening or lengthening the strip, but once you have got the correct size insert it into the tone hole. You won’t need to remove it when you oil your chanter, but it can be removed easily enough.
The sharp G seems to be unique to the reed. I’ve other reeds which play the G fine, but are sharp or flat on other notes. However, this one reed has a beautiful tone, which I can’t achieve with the others - A good reed is worth it’s weight in gold, as someone recently wrote on this forum.
I’ve used a little putty in the past because it stays in place so well, and can’t be seen (if the color matches the wood). I don’t like tape, but I know it works okay. I even saw some tape on Keenan’s new chanter.