This last weekend, my long awaited pipes from CJ Dixon arrived! I made the trip home from college to check them out. It is a 1/2 set now, but will be a 3/4 when the regs are finished.
And me having a tune
This is a really beautifully made set. The wood (ABW and Maple) has been finished very well. All is simply decorated, but very tastefully so. Brass is already getting some tarnish from all the handling! The chanter is really mellow for ABW, and I love it! Drones are still finding their stable point, but purr like a basket of kittens (or would it be a hive of kittens? ) I had made a few stylistic requests for this set, and Chris was a great sport about incorperating my ideas (the bass done puck in contrasting woods, the caps for the drones (and regs) are different than his normal tapre).
I am really impressed by this set, kudos to Chris! This is really a fine set of pipes! Very much worth the wait. I guess i could have posted this under the pics thread, but I wanted to gloat!!
nice looking set,is that plummers tape on the chanter reed?
Yes, it is teflon tape. I’m pretty sure its supossed to be there; chanter plays well, but is a little hard. I sent Chris an Email about it.
now get your butt in gear and practice on that chanter!!!
Yes sir… But first, Its awesome to have a chanter that plays in tune with itself, and makes it soooo much easier to enjoy piping! I know I gotta put my head down (as in the picture ) and practice the chanter, but at the same time, its soooo tempting to just throw that little switch…
Be strong! Take the drone reeds out so as to avoid temptation…same goes for the regs when you get them. Most teachers advise at least a year on the chanter only, but more is even better. Leo Rowsome’s students played chanter only for 4-5 years or something like that. Many accomplished players say that chanter work is 99% of mastering the pipes.
I’m hardly an authority to give wisdom, but after 1.5 or closer to two years I’m still not using my drones really. Except for airs
As far as the reed being hard, play it for a while before you judge. It’ll need to break in. I was playing broken-in reeds that came with my set for a while. I was quite surprised when I got a new reed and wondered myself, but now (after a couple months) it’s perfect…so there you have it. Congrats on the new set anyhow…
I got a reply from Chris about the tape on the chanter reed- it should be there, and it serves to make the reed sides more airtight. I need to do some recordings of the chanter when my skill can do it more justice. Its really a beautiful sounding stick.
I don’t know if any of you have this, but after listening to lots and lots of piping over the years, I have a ‘picture’ in my head of what a set of pipes (in D in this case) “should” idealy sound like. This chanter/reed combo hits it spot on! Its crazy!
Ah baloney! Flip the switch and enjoy those drones!
Doc
Disclaimer:
Doc Jones is a lousy piper with limited experience and really has no basis whatsoever for guiding would-be “good pipers” on the path to piping excellence. Oooo but he does like playing his drones.
ya know, its funny. After I got the drones in tune, I sat there playing them alone for, oh, I’d say a good 10 minutes or more. I just love that sound! These drones are totally loaded with harmonics, and its really magical!
I plan on recording once I’m a little more ‘used’ to the set, and when I can make a few tunes sound good. (don’t worry, won’t be 21 years from now ) I’m thinking maybe another few weeks. There’s mid-terms coming up here, so I’ve had to devote more time to study than play. BOO!!
) I had made a few stylistic requests for this set, and Chris was a great sport about incorperating my ideas (the bass done puck in contrasting woods, the caps for the drones (and regs) are different than his normal tapre).
) and practice the chanter, but at the same time, its soooo tempting to just throw that little switch…
