I’m refitting some composite drone reeds with cane tongues–the plastic, especially in the bass drone, had a nasty tone. I’m basically modelling the tongues after the ones in the Garvie border pipes I had, which gave off a great sound and were quite reliable. Any general tips on thickness and shaping of these yokes?
Thanks,
J
tho it refers to composite reeds with blackwood bodies have a look at the detailed info on http://www.skep.com/britton/articles.htm#Drone%20Reeds
use these dimensions as a starting point and then if you need to you can tit around with them until they work!
Good luck.
Thanks, Sam–yup, I’ve seen it, it’s the most thorough and comprehensive web resource for this question I’ve seen. I was just wondering if anyone had any more street-level experience or observations on the process.
Thanks,
Josh
well, I have made the things, although as the workshop is in the cellar I was actually operating below street level . . . . I found making the brass bodies to be a faff and so only did one set. I agree that the styrene tongues give a worse tone than cane. Having said that I once came across a bass drone that leaked like a sieve and played steady as a rock with a brass / styrene reed.
Tips on shaping and thickness from a bit of a novice
If you’ve tied one on and it’s too stiff it is possible to sand it “in situ” if you’re careful - but better not to need to. They want to be a lot more flexy than the drone cane equivalent.
Don’t use utterly crap chanter cane
A good seal when snapped shut is important, if you’ve sanded unevenly you’re not gonna get it. Try sanding on a bit of glass. Keep checking with the calipers.
I wouldn’t mouth blow it - likely to warp your cane. Suck to test the crow.
Best thing is to make one and then, if it doesn’t work post the nasty things it does and someone on here will help you to get the next one better.
Good luck - you’ll find it to be an easy job really . . .
The only issue so far is that the tenor drone breaks from true pitch into the lower of the “double tone” pitches at too low a pressure–so it’s great if I’m really pushing the chanter but if I back off in the first octave it breaks. The tongue is slightly weighted. Any thoughts?
J
As an alternative to cane for the tongue on composite drone reeds, Benedict Koehler was recommending the sugar pine used in old piano keys.
djm
I’m interested in this thread. I’d like to replace my drone reeds. My bass is cane w/ a plastic tongue and it’s not bad, but I’m not too crazy about the brass/plastic tenor and bari. I was thinking either elder or composite but I need to find a good person to do it as I don’t yet possess those skills. Who’s foremost in peoples’ minds that could do it? I’d prefer if it was someone that I don’t have to send the set off to.
http://www.pipedreamsreeds.com/shop/Uilleann-Pipes-orderby0-p-1-c-254.htm I have a set on order too try out.
http://www.pipedreamsreeds.com/shop/Uilleann-Pipes-orderby0-p-1-c-254.htm Have a set on order too try out.
Whoa! 
Ezeedrone reeds worked great in my Kintail Highland pipes - they are easy to set up and even adjust for tuning and (to some degree) loudness.
Never knew they now make Uilleann pipe drone reeds…very interesting.
Chanterdan, do you currently use them?
Hi Chanterdan,please let us know how your Ezeedrones turn out.
Just ordered a set of Ezeedrones about a week back, will put a review up when i’ve had a chance to play them for a bit. They are pretty reasonable at about $92 including shipping to the states. My only reservations are how standardized they are and if they will fit most pipes, also the air pressure requirements, and how tweakable they’d be.
They have a short video to illustrate drone adjustment.
http://www.pipedreamsreeds.com/support/bagpipe_drone_video.php
One of the Glasgow pipers club has Ezeedrone reeds in his Galloway drones, they give a nice full sound and he says they are stable.
I have never seen him fiddle with them, he pulls the set out of the case, tunes the drones and gets on with playing.
David
I received my drone reeds from pipedreams,and they work very well.the tenor is a bit too large to fit in my mainstock ,so iam only using the baritone,and bass.using brass childress in the tenor.Nice warm tone in the bass ,and baritone. Yes,they are very good reeds. http://www.myspace.com/dugansrevenge