Well, fellows, my question is directed to those who have heard or played many different chanters. So… Does the Daye´s penny chanter is mellower or brighter than wooden chanters? And Does that variable in sound depends on the reed?
Thanks
PS: I would like to receive an answer from Joseph Smith
I’ve played a few chanters and in my opinion the Daye chanter is brighter and does not have the “woody” sound. It is though a very good (and cheap) chanter.
Rob
David Daye’s chanters seem to me to be brighter in tone, but not really louder than wood chanters. Much of what you hear in terms of tone and volume is the reed.
I have yet to play a Daye chanter that didn’t play very nicely, in tune and had a good tone.
My original chanter was a Daye Ebony, which of course retained the more mellow wood tone. I believe these are still available and are reasonably priced.
I don´t know anything about Daye wood chanters, but I´ve made mine, based on his brass model but insertede in a wooden body instead a delrin or a PVC body.
I asked David about this some time ago. This was his response:
I am not sure, but I suspect that some of these chanters described do exist. He hasn’t put them into production in the past, but I know there are some Daye wood chanters floating around. I know of a piper here in Columbus who has one, but I haven’t been able to find out if the bore is a traditional bore, or a “stepped” penny-style bore. The sound of that chanter is very clean, warm and balanced. http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/kells-02.m3u
I think a lot can be said of the player, Brian McCoy, contributing to the sound. The quality of the mp3 above is a little washed compared to the CD, my apologies.
The Pictures of my Practice set is posted at page 87 of “Pictures of my pipes” thread. I bored the wood with a 7mm diameter drill bit about 40 cm long, then turned the exterior and then enlarged the bore manualy with a wood file ( I don´t know the name in english), till the brass supaglued thing fitted inside, and then I cemented both things with epoxi rosin that, at the same time, filled the little irregularities.
I myself own a Daye set, just to let you know… very nice.
David Daye no longer makes wooden chanters, although he did turn out a few. Luke Niewsma has such a one.
On Daye’s website, he says that he is going to start up making wood chanters… and drones! He has also just started to produce flat chanters.
David Daye is really improoving in his workshop.