I’m more concerned about this business of touching Cats bots…
Alan
That’s just reminded me of a Roald Dahl story where the boy describes his grandmother’s mouth as being wrinkled and puckered like a cat’s bottom
I’m more concerned about this business of touching Cats bots…
Don’t worry Alan… I’ts a Scottish Thing 
THE ONE… THE ONLY… MR BRIAN HOWARD!
singular dear boy,mustn’t be greedy now :roll:
Uilliam
Don’t worry Becky.this is just childs play!!
Uilliam
LOL!! I’d like to see you when you really get going then! 
Am just curious…but what set do you play?
LOL!! I’d like to see you when you really get going then!
No ye wouldnae !!:twisted:
Am just curious…but what set do you play
Not a Brian Howard !!!:twisted: 
I don’t want to accuse mysel o promoting Andreas Rogge or his B sets so I cannot divulge that information..sorry
Slan Go Foill
Uilliam
Cool…nice 1 
Beckitybek: “LOL!! I’d like to see you when you really get going then!”
…just wait, someone is going to say something stupid…(usually me) and Uilliam will most likely set them in their place. 
Honestly Jo… ye can be soooh stooopid at times!!I am not like that at all.I do not upset folks so shut yer gob.erm now where did I hear that??? 
mustv’e been frae this lot…
http://gstsp.red.co.uk/popup/popup_ray.htm
Slan Go Foill
Uilliam
…ouch…now that’s gonna leave a scar.
Just to touch on something that was mentioned a little bit back on this thread, a universal reed?
I must say I’m not a huge fan of the pipes that Mr Howard produces. I’m not saying that theres anything wrong with them. A local music shop here in St. Louis had a Howard practice set for sale recently and I went to have a look. The workman ship was great but the design of the chanter wasn’t just what I’m used to. It sounded fine too.
I don’t like green beans either, no reason
The point I suppose I’m trying to make is that I’m very sure he’s a fine craftsman. Mr. Howard has been at it for years and still has work.
But a universal reed??? 
Tell me theres been a mistake, a typo or something. A sane minded man is going to TRY to make a reed to fits all chanters?
Or is it that they fit all universal chanters only?
Whats it made from, Kryptonite???
Tommy
If a universal reed truly exists, it may be a revolutionary thing (I pity all the reed makers of great renown)…but I cannot see how such a beastie does exist. A universal reed for the chanters of Mr. Howard, perhaps that is more realistic (uniform reed for uniform chater bore)…and also what is meant by ‘universal reed’.
I think Brian is working on quantum chaos theory… seriously I would love to hear it work though… more power to him! I just hope it’s not a waste of energy.
Patrick.
A while back I had asked if there was any worth in a form of standardized bore design that could incorperate a form of “universal reed” as mentioned here. It seemed though that pipers (excepting all players of Highland types) don’t want anything universal and want to continue to carry on about why X maker is better for them etc. and so on.
The reasoning as it was given in the thread was that it would be a horribly dull and boring world if there was only one chanter design. However I don’t think that was the point. There’s more than one design even in GH piping, yet there is still enough variability to keep players happy it seems. Yet reeds and such aren’t nearly as big an issue for them as they are for us. To me it would make sense for makers to try and agree on some form of standardized chanter to offer, that would have known reeding characteristics and yet still bear the hallmarks that make it their own on the outside.
This in no way would limit a maker to only one design mind you - they could experiment and so on thill they wore out their lathes…however, if someone wanted to order say a Rogge stick with this hypothetical bore, the recipiant would know well before hand what type of bore he would have to work with as far as reeding goes.
This is a highly simplified view of course, but it’s been done before in other types of bagpipes…even dry blown pipes if I’m not horribly mistaken. Anyway, it’s not a new concept.
I don’t think you can compare GHB reeds to UP reeds. GHBs do not have to reach into the second or third octaves. It is the octaving that makes certain aspects of the UP reed so critical, like the shape of the staple, shaping of the cane, the scrape, etc, etc. Also, everything in the GHB world seems to be aimed at sounding the same, probably for performing in a pipe band. The UPs are a solo instrument first.
A more complete description of the “universal reed” is required. We could go on forever here about what it could possibly mean, but the originator would have to specify where his head is at before any of this speculation could go anywhere. The term “universal reed” could mean something as simple as, “Here’s the basic pieces. Cut and shape to suit your own chanter.” Then where would we be? Same place we are right now, of course.
I am one of those who supports the multi-design UP universe. I don’t care for the sound of a lot of pipes I have heard, including those by some big name makers. Its certainly a matter of personal taste, so I’m not knocking anyone, but I believe I would rather have the opportunity to buy the sound I like, and learn to reed it as a consequence.
djm
Clancy week 1997. Brian H was running around the workshop like a man on a mission getting every available piper to try his “universal reed”. I was happy with my reed. I didn’t feel the need to try Mr Howards reed. Perhaps I should have done (for research purposes)
In this instant, the subject is the one size fits all ‘universal’. I think both myself and Ben were there at the time.
I wish my deleted post had been left to sleep quietly.
Alan