What is it that distinquishes a good set of drones, and how important is a particular tone of the drones to the overall sound of the pipes?
Harmonics. Very important how they mix with the chanter.
Broad spectrum terms can be a little ambiguous, so I’d say what you desire in drones is a volume and tone that matches the bore in your chanter, and looks good. If your chanter is a small bore you may want softer drones.
UP drones are as variable as the human voice, in tone. The (UP) maker creates a particular tone, depending on the sizes of the bore, the type of wood, the shape of the U-bends, the style of the end hole, and the size and quality of the reed.
Reeds alone have a wide range of tones and can impact the sound of the instrument.
I prefer higher quality drones with lots of wood and little metal tubing. I’ve never understood why a maker would use nearly all brass tubing on the drones and very little, if any, wood. The time and money saved seems insignificant compared to the results.
By the way, excuse me for digressing here, but there’s a drone that sounds thoughout the universe, perhaps from the “big bang” and can be measured by scientist. Any speculation on the influence this may have had on music, or the human desire for a monotone? Maybe we really do have the “alien pipes.”
[ This Message was edited by: Lorenzo on 2002-10-04 15:33 ]
I have always found it interesting the different sounds of drones. For example, some are low and gravelly sounding while others are crisp and clear sounding depending on the set. Do you suppose that its the reeds or the drones/bores themselves?
BTW- The pipes could very well be of alien origin. I mean, we’ve all tried describing them to a friend or relative sight unseen. (Probably more of a prob. here in the States). Sheesh!
More digressing:
Alien pipes, yes, indeed. When I for one think about playing just the chanter, and think that I’ll never be able to get those regs going… well, I think one almost needs three hands really.
This surely must have been designed by aliens!
By the way, I’m sure everyone here must have gotten Brendan Ring’s Troublesome Things? If not, better get it or you’ll miss out on something great. His pipes are enchanted, and those regs are full out.
When everything is going, this is a tremendous instrument, and it doesn’t really sound earthly at all.
And, drones unlying everything. There are certain notes, or sounds, you know, that vibrate in the brain, in sync with that droning in the universe.
Who makes those “low and gravelly” drones, Paul, can you speculate?
[ This Message was edited by: elbogo on 2002-10-05 20:18 ]
[ This Message was edited by: elbogo on 2002-10-05 20:19 ]
And, drones unlying everything. There are certain notes, or sounds, you know, that vibrate in the brain, in sync with that droning in the universe.
Elbogo, in certain places on the earth you can actually “hear” the drone and see it"! 
Who makes those “low and gravelly” drones, Paul, can you speculate?
a few examples of drones that I think sound “gravelly” are on recordings of Felix Doran and Willy Clancy on a CD called Bagpipes of Britain and Ireland. It also has The McPeake Family, and Seamus Ennis on his Coyne set. I don’t know who made the McPeake’s or Willie Clancy’s. I think Felix Doran’s were made by Leo Rowsome? Now, the gravellyness may be due to the quality of the recording. Im not sure. All I know is that each set has distinctly different sounding drones.
By the way, Elbogo, (or anyone who hasn’t seen it) You’ve got to check out http://www.hotpipes.com It is a very interesting site dedicated to all kinds of bagpipes. (including Uilleann Pipes) You won’t believe all the stuff on it. The host, Dr. Oliver Seeler has obviously put billions of hours into developing it. It is truely fascinating.
Slan
-Paul
(edited to fix link)
[ This Message was edited by: paul on 2002-10-06 00:49 ]
Anyone have a read on what the pitch of the universal drone is? Maybe we can get some closure on the flat vs. concert pipes debate…
Dial tone is “F” and there must be some connection although I’ve never really heard of the “F-pipes” ..at least not in any positive way.
I’d say the universal drone is flat for sure. Be, or be flattened. It could be a harmonic combination like DAD or BAD, but whatever, I’m sure it’s no BFD.
the northumbrian smallpipes are traditionally in F. Possibility?
Jo.
Ah, the realm of metaphysical pondering… It could go on forever. So:
If one wishes to add drones to their practice set, when getting them from someone other than the person who made the chanter (or practice set), what is the best option?
Is it not advisable to just order drones from someone and afix them yourself? Better to send the set to a particular maker, so the drones can be properly set and placed in tune?
Not that I’m anywhere near ready for drones, but it would be nice to hear comments on this, so I’ll know what to do when the time comes.
On a related note, can anyone advise me on a source for drone plans, specifically for drones in b? Even a table for calculating lengths and IDs for bores in reference to pitch would do.
L
Regarding reeds for drones: cane or synthetic, and why?
Don’t forget Elder. My vote is for Elder. Then again, I’m a proponent of natural reeds. Synthetics hold better under more diverse conditions, though.
Dionys
I’ve been thinking about this universal drone again. The other day I rented a couple DVDs (The Passion of Christ, and Master and Commander) and realized that often the background music, during a section of great suspense, includes a kind of deep electronic bass monotone throughout the scene. This system of building a melody around a single sustaining note seems as old as the hills. I wonder if some of these scores have been influenced by bagpipes, or if it’s just something throughout all nature. Bees drone, and some bees are called drones. Mosquitoes and flies drone too. You put your ear up to a large pipe, or a sea shell, and you hear it. Wolves try to hold out a single note as long as possible. A drone can be heard in an active forest, a kind of combination of all noise…frogs, crickets, wind in the trees, and water over the rocks. The tone in African drums may have influenced music too. In cities, truck traffic produces a kind of drone as does a freight train. Ever hear a ringing in your ears?
I seem to be droning on and on too…
The didgeridoo, perhaps one of the oldest known (if not THE oldest known) mouth blown instruments, used to mimick the sound of nature while also provinding a drone is a good example of an instrument of ‘nature sound’. I have heard it in thousands of movie scores, TV ads, etc. I have often mused that bagpipes provide an ‘undertone’ to life (like drumming mimicks the heartbeat), and doing so, is popular with many who hear it.
Tinitis…that ringing in your ears, and I have a whopping case of it. Too many years of playing GHBs and Rock-n-Roll I guess. 
I don’t know about Master and Commander, but that drone you hear in The Passion of the Christ is actually a guy who was hired to come in and sing those long droning notes. They are not slowed down or retouched, just layers of other sounds layed down on top of them. Let’s not sell short the human voice as the oldest musical instrument. All other music, I think, is an off-shoot from that.
djm
I think most car horns are pitched in F as well.
Seriously, have you ever tried humming, more torwards the upper back of your mouth, in a place (bathroom is good) where there’s good acoustics, or where sound carries, and feel it vibrating in your face and brain, and kind of in the air around you?
There are certain notes, as you go up and down the scale, that seem to cause a much greater vibration all around, and seem more in sync than the other notes. Interesting phenomenon.
I read somewhere that certain vibrations are actually good for the brain.
I can hear the beachboys now…
Sounds like they’re still growing that good Oaxacan weed to me!!
But seriously, too, you are approaching part of the technique of the ‘throat’ singing (common of Tuva and similar).
Also, there is a programme, I am told, called ‘braingen’ that sends alpha waves and other things into your brain and refreshes you, and calms you, and revitalizes you and makes you a better person and richer and more attractive. The words Monkeys and Butt spring readily to mind…
Alan