How do woods affect the sound of pipes?

Uilleann Pipes
1

I was wondering if there is a general rule as to how different woods affect
The sound of your pipes.

Does harder or softer wood make a different sound or is it simply what looks best?

And, what are some common pipes’ woods?
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

2

Ebony
African Blackwood
Cocobolo

3

Ebony,Abw=loud
mopane= medium
Fruitwoods,yew, some rosewoods=moderate

This kind a basic list was given when I asked about borderpipes (bellowsblown)
sound volume from maker J.Burke, perhaps it works kinda same way with UP’s too.

4

Boxwood
Lemonwood
Snakewood
Red Lancewood

5

Well, as you can imagine, as an ex-reedmaker I have worked on very many different sets and chanters. It is my opinion that not the wood itself influences the sound but moreover the surface of it´s bore. Unlike with stringed instruments, the wood itself does not vibrate but just the air-collumn within the bore. This ends up to the same with one exception: For example Ebony might sound “crisper” than Blackwood (wich it normally does not) if it has been worked at with a very sharp reamer and the Blackwood has been worked at with a fairly blunt reamer. To my experience I would give this “range” of woods from “crisp” to “mellow”:

Snakewood
Lignum
Blackwood
Cocobolo
Ebony
Boxwood
Fruitwoods

The surface-structure of bore depends on density, grain structure, fat-contence, etc…

The sound depends on reed, bore-surface, personal taste, accoustic features of the room (e. g. reverb etc..), player, humidity, etc…

My theory seems logical to me but I can´t prove it. A proof would be if a plastic or metal canter (having a very smooth, even bore-surface) would sound the same like (lets say) snakewood - of course with the same reed - but I doubt whether this ever has been tested. BTW, has one of you ever heard of an UP- plastic-chanter (like in the world of GHBs). I only know of the existence of a metal double-chanter.
Best,
Hans

6

A visitor to my flat has opined that a 1 wood might produce a more satisfactory tone from my new practice set than I currently can.

7

my wood affects my playin, i cant get no where for the chanter to fit on my leg :laughing:

8

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: … personally, I’d go with a fairway wood… more loft to aid in hitting the second octave. :smiley: