Furkling with the reed

Uilleann Pipes
1

Well, I’ve had my practice set for 2 weeks now and was wondering whether I was doomed to spend the rest of me life sounding like a cross between a car horn and a pig being manually castrated.

Then I thought, well, after two weeks, it must be time to think about feckin with the reed. Everybody else does. So I did!

Hurrah! I moved the whole thing down into the chanter by about a quarter of an inch, and squeezed the wire bridle thingy. I now have a back D instead of a back C-sharp, and I’m mellow honking in concert pitch! Yeah baby, concert pitch, ‘swhat I’m talkin’ 'bout! Woohoo! Brave of me, I know, furkling with the reed after only 2 weeks, but hey, it takes balls the size of Shropshire to want to play these things anyway. Roll on the next 6 years and 50 weeks is what I say.

Oh yes, and a serious note to all total beginners like meself, or those waiting for their pipes to be delivered. You’ll hear a lot of talk on this board about staples. You do not fe*cking need them! These things come with straps!!

:roll: I wasted the best part of 15 quid on one of these for nothing:

2

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Well done. Don’t worry about playing in Concert. As soon as you hear a flat chanter, you’ll want to play in C# again!!

3

Good job! I am of the opinion one should get to know the reed, its limitations, how your chanter responds to different positionings of said reed, relationship between bridle/reed head positionig etc… etc… but one ought to go about it very carefully. Prior to mucking with the beast, gathering as much info on it as possible (ie: asking people for insight, help or a fast pint :thumbsup: ) is a really good rule of thumb.

4

I’ll drink to that :wink:

5

… race ya!! :smiley:

6

Ever since I read that your practice had arrived I’ve been waiting for your first post here. I must say you have not let me down. :laughing:

But what’s this business?

Roll on the next 6 years and 50 weeks is what I say

I thought it was “Roll on the next 20 years and 50 weeks.”

7

Nah, 6 years and 50 weeks before the neighbours stop phoning the RSPCA! :slight_smile:

8

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

9

In talking with many pipe makers over the years, it seems that even at best, many are only able to turn out about one good reed out of every three or four. That leaves a lot of other not-so-hot reeds for the bin.

And yet - I smell a learning opportunity here!

I wonder if a good business practice would be to send out an extra reed or two clearly labeled so as not to be mixed up with the ‘good’ reed in the chanter. Then the new piper could learn the basics of reed adjustment and what sort of effects changing the seating and staple has etc. - all without the risk of damaging the good reed beyond repair.

An interesting concept to me anyhoo…

10

I like it.

11

Go for it, Gary! By the way … um … just how big is Shropshire anyway? :smiley:

djm

12

Sorta like this??

13

Me too!! :laughing: :laughing: