Does anyone have any suggestions - I’m looking for an ebony or boxwood (quiet and mellow sounding) chanter in D (not fussed about whether it’s narrow or wide bored) with a Cnat key. I’ve seen reccomendations in the forum for Pat Sky’s budget chanter, but am willing to spend a little more for the sake of getting a really good chanter that I’ll be happy with in the long run. *However, on the subject of Pat’s chanters, I’d be interested in player’s comments on playability, tuning and tone of his chanters as I’ve not heard any recordings of them.
At the SF tionol, I heard Pat play a D chanter of his own make based on a Rowsome (Willie or Leo, I cannot remember) that sounded marvelous. He’s been at the trade a really long time, so there’s little doubt you’d be dissapointed. Good luck on your search.
Tony,
I did send an email to Ian yesterday (assuming his email address hasn’t changed in the last three years) requesting a reed that is ideally on the soft side so I’ll see how that works out. I also sent some very precise specifications of what has yeilded the best results for me incase he can suggest where I can make changes. I am hopeful that he will make a well tuned reed without the problems that my own reeds cause in his chanter (he’d know best what works in his own chanters).
However, I am still interested in a quieter chanter with that sweeter sound that you get from ebony and boxwood so I’ll keep my eyes open for what’s out there. The most beautiful chanter I ever heard was a Craig Fisher narrow D (Australia), but I don’t know how to get hold of him to enquire about price.
If you looking for good boxwood ones, Eamonnn Curran and Mickey Dunne
are good choice.(listen Leonard Barry :mind the pipes" played with boxwood chanter)
There’s a guy here in Brisbane with a Simack Chanter. I played it the other night and it had a nice mellow reed in it. I asked him if it was made by Ian MacK, and he said he made it himself because all his Simack reeds were quite awful - seems to be the going opinion. If you want I may be able get you his contact details (if he’s willing, that is) to see what he did to make a nice reed. After playing it, I was actually contemplating purchasing a Simack chanter.
Goldy,
I think you won´t get a satisfying answer to your question via a public list. Your problem, however, is very interesting for me because I had a very similiar discussion with s. b. at a tionol over here last weekend. And now, of course, I am very interested in your opinions.
I (personally) don´t believe in seeing a chanter as a unique and constant entity like a flute or whistle but favour the conception of a chanter+reed - combination. This comes a bit closer to a stringed instrument (but not that far, of course). Imagine now a fiddle or guitar without pegs. The knowlege of getting fine music (at any humidity and temperature) out of a chanter is in the UPiper´s brain (his/her ability to change the reed´s setup) and not so much in the chanter. The piper wants to and should very well be able to make reeds him/herself and wants to solve any problem at once and not weeks, months or even years later by the pipemaker. The ability of reedmaking is part of the playing (IMO). Reedmaking, for example, is (however much more standardized) a part of the schedule of any oboe or a basson player (unlike clarinet players; every eechot can screw on a new blade). When listening to “piping novices” those make the fastest progress who are able to make their own reeds. Only when they have solved all their tuning (and playability) - problems they will be able to care for the sound. I think that it is not so much the stick (given flat- or concert-pitch bore; however flat- more influential) but much more the reed that makes the sound.
To make a proper reed you must but be able to depend on the quality of the chanter. The Quality of a good chanter is deceicive by the time it takes to make a completely satisfying reed for it. Pipemakers will be more than happy to get back (their) early (or Monday) sticks to guarantee this by rereaming. I trust the MacKenzies will help you. Non-biased reedmakers (non-publicly) will be able to tell you wich ones are the best.
May the sound be with you! But never forget: Dangerous the Dark Side is!
Hans
Two suggestions for makers who IMHO make quiet chanters (please bear in mind that draw references from my Thompson chanter which is classed by the Pentagon as a WMD and which is closely related to the machine pistol of the same name - but I still love it):
Neil O’Grady (NFL, Canada)
BC Childress (Maine, US)
Of the foregoing, Neil is probably the cheaper. He makes very good chanters but as yet is still ‘under the radar’.
nick whitmer chanter,could be the one,short wait time,nice mellow tone,sweet.e note tends to be a little sharp,fixed with a little tape,good to go. can hear one on clips n snips .iam always looking for a better chanter,but iam happy with this one for now. nick is hard at work to improve on an already good stick. good luck to ya.
I’d recommend that you give Ian a ring. He doesn’t check his emails all that often (computer eliterate he is). His wife gives him a lot of help when it comes to emails . Give him a ring at his blackwood residents. If he is not there his daughters will give you his mobile.
One of the nicest reads that I have (made by Ian) sits very low into the chanter. The dimensions are 48/50. I’ve found the reed is a little hard to blow if its open. However I’ve moved the bridal way down to the hemp and it’s sounding lovely . It has a little bit more volume than what you’d probably like. Considering that however it has a lovely sweet tone.
Cheers L42B
PS: What type of chanter is it?
PSS: Feel free to PM me if you wont any more help. I’m sure Tony would be able to give you a hand as well.
if you do not make reeds at the professional level, i am all for having 2 chanters. it is no slight to your simack. its more like not putting your eggs in one basket. its a great feeling to be able to sent a chanter off to be re-reeded and not to have to rush the reed maker. and different people reed different chanters well.
i got a second concert chanter from preshaw. its very sweet. a similar one has been reviewed recently on this board. not cheap but in my opinion well worth the money.
. Give him a ring at his blackwood residents. If he is not there his daughters will give you his mobile.
. It has a little bit more volume than what you’d probably like. Considering that however it has a lovely sweet tone.
