What do you guys think about the future potential of synthetic chanter reeds. I’ve not seen any currently being made for Uilleann pipes that I’m impressed with. But Highland Bagpipes have been successfully outfitted with synthetics, so have single reed instruments such as clarinets and saxophones. Do you think there’s any hope for Uilleann pipes? Will pipe makers be able to use the synthetics developed for single reeds? I’m interested in what more experienced performers and pipe makers think.
Everyone hopes, but very few are hopeful.
Perhaps that’s a good way to sum it up for now.
A synthetic reed with the sound of a cane reed (or even similar to a cane or elder reed), but without the tweaking needed due to weather/humidity changes would be wonderful.
Unfortunately most synthetics sound very synthetic. The synthetic that seems to work for sax/&c needs to be cut with special machines, and I don’t really see any manufacturer interested in making UP reeds with that material (I think it’s a kevlar derivative).
It’d be nice to find a synthetic reed to cut down on the tweaking factor. Honestly, though, there isn’t all that much tweaking involved in a cane or elder reed.
What might be a more interesting question to ask yourself is “Why?” Why a synthetic reed? The only reason I can think of is greater stability, and you can achieve that with Cane/Elder.
If someone came up with a synthetic that sounded as good as cane or elder, I’d purchase it or make it. The problem I see right now is that no material exists that has the same tonal quality. Or if it does, it is impossible to cut/make on your own.
Just a few thoughts,
Dionys
Why?
Why not?
I say bring 'em on…
Honestly right now the only reason “why” I can think of is stability, and stability isn’t an enormous issue.
Cost isn’t a major factor. You can get good reed tube for $1-2/tube from most piping clubs (cheaper if you order in bulk from the growers), brass tubing for a dollar or so. Enough in supplies to make 5 reeds (depending on how good you are) for a couple of dollars. I suspect synthetic reeds are quite a bit more expensive as they are now.
As for why not:
Cane is a renewable resource. Plus the cane itself is biodegradable. I don’t know if california or spanish growers have to use pestacides (I suspect not considering how the cane grows). They may have to use fertilizers which does have a negative environmental impact.
Most available synthetics these days have serious environmental impact in terms of production, aren’t biodegradable and simply aren’t up to snuff as far as sound.
If someone comes up with a synthetic option that sounds as good as cane or elder, I will be at the front of the line to try it. Will I embrace it? If it is an excellent reed that out-performs cane or elder in every aspect I might embrace one. Simply to have a backup for cane or elder reeds should I be in some bizzare situation where none of my reeds work.
Dionys
P.s. All my opinions, of course.. Feel free to disagree.
Synthetic reeds? Let’s get some sympathetic ones first!! What would we have to moan about if we had a lifelong untroublesome
reed? Even if it were made, you still have to have the knowledge to design reeds to work in individual chanters, you couldn’t churn out a standard. (I was once told by a certain pipemaker that he had designed the “1 size fits all” reed, I tried it in two different chanters. Uhuh. In yer dreams!)
Cheers
Alan
…
Has anyone noticed the plastic usally recommended for making synthetic reeds on some of the pages? Beer cups! Are they trying to suggest something? I had a bit of luck with the yogurt cup design, but beer cup plastic works better. I haven’t tried to make one since I got a working cane reed.
Marc
come now Dionys,
I don’t think anyone buys the “cane is more eco-friendly” thing.
I believe the economic impact of cane vs. synthetic would be absolutely minimal compared to the other things we do to the environement.
just counterpoint…
Jeff
[ This Message was edited by: anima on 2002-11-19 18:40 ]
I came accross the one size fits all reed, probably by the certain maker that Mr Burton mentioned. It did play in both chanters I tried it in. Trouble was that it sounded equally bad in both!
On 2002-11-20 08:59, piperben wrote:
I came accross the one size fits all reed, probably by the certain maker that Mr Burton mentioned.
Oh please call me Alan 
Cheers
Alan
The ironic thing of it is that here, in Southern California, Arundo Donax is considered a serious, invasive aquatic pest along our river’s and is the subject of eradication campaign’s to keep it from clogging up the system’s & reduce the fire hazard.
http://www.vom.com/sec/restoration/Arundo/arundo_handbook.htm#B
http://smslrwma.org/ADBiology.htm
http://www.oc.ca.gov/hr/volunteer/bryantranch.htm (school kid volunteer’s hacking down Arundo)
John I must have lost something in the thread? Are you gonna make reads out of insects?
Slan go foill
Liam
“John I must have lost something in the thread? Are you gonna make reads out of insects?
Slan go foill
Liam”
LOL Those are California bug’s on that cane, Liam. By the time they reach Scotland they’ll have to take off their little Wayfarer sunglasses, and the culture shock will render them harmless. 
In response to the rather nocuous comments made by Mr. Popejoy I should very much like to know at what point piping was reserved for the financial elite. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to many among the piping community that there are those of us who can’t afford custom pipes with ivory trimmings and keys of precious metal. However I don’t believe this the case.
No doubt the vast majority of pipers who’ve been so blest as to have a set tailored to their whims have felt the monetary pinch. The difference is that you were able to tighten your economic belt and move on whereas the rest of us would have gone into hock.
Sir, I pieced my set together from whatever I could find. The bag is made from an old piece of naugahyde, the drones from PVC, and the bellows from an air-mattress pump and a rotting board I found in my basement. I do indeed have a Pakistani chanter and inside, lo and behold, is a plastic reed from Bagpipes Galore. It may not be much to look at but, quite frankly, I didn’t build it to pander to your aesthetic fancies. I built it because I love the instrument and I love to play, and I’ll guarantee that my set is worth a lot more than yours. If it’s this or nothing, I’ll choose this. Because you see, Mr. Popejoy, I am a piper. What are you?
Perhaps the sentiment being expressed was “it’s a crime that decent sets of pipes are not available at a decent price” rather than any malice being intended towards the piper.
Many of us have started out on less-than-decent sets [comparitively speaking] and eventually moved up the piping property ladder.
I personally would wish that no-one had to do that. To generalise, I think the enthusiastic beginner is the person who most deserves an instrument that sounds good.
And I don’t know Mr Popejoy to be a malicious “poster” in any way…so I’m sure he meant no offence.
Boyd
“…I pieced my set together from whatever I could find. The bag is made from an old piece of naugahyde, the drones from PVC, and the bellows from an air-mattress pump and a rotting board I found in my basement…”
Are you serious?
Padraicc…you’ll find this forum is a free and open discussion…and WELCOME!
Kevin always offers good balance in his comments and has perhaps saved many poor pipers the added expense ($$$$$$), and heartache, in getting their inferior pipes reworked.
I’m guessing it won’t be long before you’ll want/find something better. But till then, enjoy your set-up.
…
Paidraic has raised a good point.I have seen plenty of “Fancy or Pretty” looking sets which sound absolutely no better than their “Ugly Duckling” cousins!Some in fact have sounded worse.So what do you use as a guide,I think the sound and ease of playing far outweigh the looks.When you listen to a CD whats more important sound or the set you cannot see!
I remember a practice set with a bag made out
of a rubber hot water bottle back in Moate and I tell you what it was more airtight than probably a lot of yours out there.
So dont be fooled by looks alone!!!
Slan go foill
Liam
[ This Message was edited by: Uilliam on 2002-11-23 03:17 ]