Is is possible to optimize a reed for playing quietly during the early learning period, in order to avoid trauma to the neighbours?
The type of reeds I use allows me to slide the bridle down to close and quiet the reed. In absence of that, I’ve read here about players wrapping mylar tape around the reed or a small rubberband to mute the sound. If you use the “search” feature you can find a wealth of info posted on this subject. You might start here with a thread called “quieting the pipes.”
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=42915&highlight=quiet#42915
Some other thoughts on the issue:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=31221
Concert chanters will always have certain punch to their volume. That being said I did manage to make some softer reeds, which I feel are also more responsive to play. Double bonus I suppose.
I often hear pipers make mention of “not disturbing the neighbors”. How many of your neighbors have complained? Maybe knock on a door and nicely ask if they’ve been able to hear you playing. I really doubt that the volume of even a stiff concert pitch chanter is going to make it through your walls and into their house. I could be wrong. Apartments are a different story, of course. After so many years of highland pipes, I’m sure my neighbors are downright glad to have me playing uilleann pipes.
Wrap a pipe cleaner around the reed in such a way that the reed is not in contact with the wire but only with its soft parts.
Cheers,
Hans