I just got my humidifier and humidity meter in the mail today in prepration for the pipes I will be getting (due to arrive in another few months).
So, what’s the ideal humidity for a set made of ebony (from Seth Gallagher)???
Ideally, your humidity will be close to that where the pipes were made or where the reeds had a final adjustment. Your goal is to stabilize the humidity level and avoid the high and low spikes, which in technical terms, “makes the reeds go wonky”. In my house, the level varies from about 55% to 65%. Anything about 10% above or below that range is usually enough to bring on the wonk.
Enjoy your Gallagher pipes. He makes a fine instrument.
Ebony is not the issue. As Illwinds points out, its how the reed is affected. I have found the tougher a new reed is to play in at first (within reason) often indicates how well the reed will hold up. My reeds do well from RH=40-60%. A bit of tweaking extends the range another 10% either way. Beyond that, tuning starts to go, and tone suffers.
djm
The ebony will move a bit with humidity too, it’s not just the reed.
Bill
you will have to play with it when you get your pipes.
unless you paid serious bucks for your meter, they are not always the most accurate. i purchased a humidifier and a bottom-of-the-line meter about a year ago (the humidifier was also for human comfort). i humidified the room to the recommendations of people on this forum, and my reeds actually played poorly- i had then, as i still have, 2 good reeds in 2 chanters, and they both went to hell. (presumably your instrument is more accurate)
so when you get your pipes, experiment. unless your climate is subject to real extremes, you might be fine without the humidifier. other pipers in NY can help you. although its not ireland, i suspect there are far worse U.S. locations than NY at least in terms of reeds.
people tend to look at humidity and how your reed plays as simple relationship with a dependend ant indenpendent variable. the truth is that the reeds display signifigant hysteresis, and also respond to many other variables we cannot control. dust content has to be a factor, for example.
i am not putting down the attempt to control and measure humidity. just saying its not that simple.
a maker,for example, has to measure and control. but i suspect that they too apply alot of unconscious experience and are aware that its only 1 factor.
i thought seth galaghers usual chanters are of blackwood. ebony will be beautiful. what was your thinking? is it a a full set?
oh, stupid me. just reviewed your posts. its a practice set, good call.
btw, if your honey doesn’t like a soprano whistle, guess what she will have to say about the pipes. at least the first few weeks.
“Chanters, drones and regulators are turned from ebony. They are accented with imported synthetic ivory and brass ferrules. Bellows are made from cherry with an extra-heavy-duty leather gusset, and combined with the elk-tanned leather bag, provide a leak-resistant air supply.”
From Seth Gallagher’s web site.