Another question.
I’m getting my first set of u-pipes real soon, and one of my final decisions is between a narrow bore and concert d chanter. The main place I’ll be playing the pipes is in our church, which is basically a high school auditorium (seets a few hundred at MOST). I’m nervous that a regular concert d chanter will blow the place away, much less drown out the other musicians/vocalists who I am playing with. Are my fears warranted? I’ve never heard the actual volume difference between the two types in person, so I’d LOVE some feedback from someone who has!
Also, I’d really like my set done in cocobolo with boxwood ferrules, and Davy Stephenson said that it would be no problem to make them, but a past thread was bashing cocobolo as a finicky wood. Anyone have any first hand experience with it? It’s too bad because I love the rich colors and grain. Hopefully all will work out…
Don’t worry about the concert D chanter flattening people up against the walls like a set of Highland pipes. It’s still an indoor instrument, after all. At their loudest, they’re typically no louder than a pair of fiddles.
I think you should listen well to examples of both instrument types before making a decision.
My Cocobolo chanter seems least affected by temperature & humidity changes (to my other chanters). I’m sure the bore design also has something to do with it.
I’ve heard Cocobolo makes great knife handles and that it’s somewhat dishwasher resistant. Now… don’t go throwing your chanter in hot water just to test it’s durability.
It’s been mentioned several times that freshly turned Cocobolo dust can cause severe respiratory discomfort and posion ivy-like symptoms when in contact with the skin… especially with repeated exposure. No complaints from playing or normal handling, just dust and airborne particles.
Dear Joey,
Don’t worry about volume. I play regularly with the choir at church and no one has complained about volume. My highland pipes on the other hand…well, sod 'em if they can’t handle a bit of competition lol.
You’ll be fine with uilleanns and perhaps even wish for a microphone.
Joey (probably short for Joseph…good name),
I own a cocabola concert chanter and have not had any problems with it at all in this California heat and dryness. As far as volume, I have been honored enough to play a few times with friends at different churches and other occasions. Let me say that as mentioned before, you will probably want a mic. I played last saturday night with some friends at a coffee shop. It was a totally acoustic non-mic show with my pipes, a fiddle, a mandolin, and guitar. I could barely here myself at times (and we were in a small room). So don;t worry at all about blasting anyone. Hope that helps
GOD bless
Joseph
Go with the narrow bore. You will have to drive a lot more air through the concert chanter. Add drones onto a concert chanter and you will be pumping like a mad-woman. I would advise getting a narrow bore chanter and learning to tune your reed louder (open the reed). If you need volume, a good microphone and a small amplifier will pick up your pipe pretty well.
Virgil is talking as though he had a very bad experience with his set.I have Rogge Narrow bore chanter agus Concert pitch.THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE IN THE PRESSURE REQUIRED.NONE WHATSOEVER.There is a difference in the sound of course, but ANYONE out there who is having to use more than moderate pressure on their pipes has themselves either a leaky set or, as is quite common, a pup set.If we start talking microhones and amps etc on a set then the plot is lost afore we even start.The pipes are an ACCOUSTIC DRONAL INSTRUMENT.I play concert pitch regularly at weddings funerals etc.Most people in a church actually want to hear the music being played so they listen to it not get up and dance about or chat amongst themselves!If you get a flat set then start messing about with the reed to increase the volume your gonnae start changing the pitch and hey you might even end up with a different instrument altogether!Slan go foill
Liam
[ This Message was edited by: Uilliam on 2002-08-23 03:51 ]
Thanks, everyone, for your help. My choice is getting clearer - I was just afraid there would be a very distinct volume difference between the two. Doesn’t sound like there normally is, though.
Thanks again. You guys all rock (or whatever the equivalent is in “pipe-ish”) Can you tell I’m an American?
Joey,there is a distinct VOLUME difference betwixt concert D and narrow bore D.The narrow bore is verging on being a flat set.It sounds quiter and the drones are far more softer and mellower than concert pitch.You would be hard pushed to be heard (if you wanted to be?)at a largish session.What I was referring to in my earlier mail was the NON difference in the pressure required.
Slan go foill
Liam