Is there anyway the tone of drones can be adjusted to make them softer .?As the drones I,ve got are very buzzie and not very nice
RORY
It can depend on what your drones are made of, i.e. cane or composites, to see what works best. One way to close down a noisy drone is to use a bridle (small o-ring type elasic bands can be used for this), but then you will get into lots of extra steps to retune them again, like sanding the tips, adding blobs of wax, etc. It may be worth your while to just get new reeds, either purchased or made yourself. Do you have any of the reed-making books?
djm
Stuff the bores with stuff… guitar strings, drinking straws, bit’s of wire, dog hair, blue tack that sort of thing… see what happens.
PD.
I think the NSP players would cut a drinking straw lengthwise an insert it into excessively loud drones. Messrs. Quinn and Liestman, am I mis-remembering? Of course, I may be wrong in equating extreme buzziness with excessive volume, in which case - never mind!
Why not have a go making your own Drone reeds; it’s not difficult.
I use Local native (UK) Common Reed Phragmites australis harvested in late autumn.
It comes in all the necessary diameters; the sections nearest the roots have the best mechanical properties.
Alternatively you could use Elder Sambucus nigra or your native variety. I’ve not made Uillean reeds using this but I have made GHB reeds that work well and have a slightly mellower tone.
Good luck
John S