To make a long, unbelieveable and interesting short, boring and suspenseful, I recently have become the happy owner of a Seth Gallagher D chanter (like, as of Tuesday night).
It didn’t have a reed at the time I picked it up, and so I proceeded to make one for it. It seems to be playing fairly well in tune etc. with little difficulty. However, I’m having a problem with both E’s being sharp by about 40-50 cents. The rest of the octaves sound good and in tune.
Now I know that Seth’s D chanters sometimes have a squirrely E note - particularly a growl in the second octave. But this is my own reed, so I gotta take full credit for any strengths or weaknesses I’ve scraped into it. The E notes are strong and don’t have any hint of growl or warble to them in either octave. I’m wondering if I did something in the scrape to exasperate this situation.
I tend to use a moderate to hard cane (Seth supplied the last batch to me actually) and like a scrape with a fairly rounded end - I’d call it about halfway to 3/4 of the way towards a “U” from a “V” shape. Make sense? The staple is made per Seth’s specs.
Is this one of those instances where a roll of paper or card in the chanter between the F# and E holes would help things? Or something?
Curious as to the general consnsus of the board. Thanks guys.
Best!
Brian~
P.S. Brian C. Now I can tell you I’ve reeded a Gallagher D chanter.
Properly applied, (filling in about 1/4 of the hole at the bottom) this should to the trick. If you’re embarrased about bit of blue being seen when your finger isn’t lying across the chanter, then use a black ‘Sharpie’ and color over it. It’ll look fine, sound fine, be fine.
PS: Don’t eat any of the Blue-Tac. Unlike Play-Doh, it doesn’t taste as good.
Hi Alan,
Used a 70mm former for the inside of the slips. Works fairly well as anything much smaller, and the reed has collapsed before I can even fit a bridle to it. I used the staple eye of 0.06" as Seth suggests and I’m not getting a growl at all - just really sharp on that one note, and in both octaves. I’ve taped it and brought it down about 20 cents, but taping anymore and I might as well just tape over the hole completely.
Joe,
Thanks. I was immediately struck by the figuring in the ebony of this particular chanter. I’ve seen and played a fair amount of Seth’s and NEVER seen one that looked as striking as this. I think I’ll keep it.
Hey Bri, don’t bother with the Blu Tac unless it’s the good kind - you know…with the lead paint chips built right in! I mean, what’s the fun of ‘not eating’ it if you can’t hallucinate a bit during?!
I’ve actually got some here I can try too. And you say to fill the BOTTOM of the hole? Wouldn’t thant tend to sharpen things a touch instead of flatening?
Congratulations! That’s a beautiful chanter.
My old reeds did the same thing when I put them in my Gallagher chanter. I have been making new reeds to Seth’s specs that work better. We Western Gallagher-ites should get together for a reedmaking party soon!
was immediately struck by the figuring in the ebony of this particular chanter
Probably African Blackwood, not ebony. It does look very nice, but all the ebony I have ever seen is pitch black, with no visible grain or figuring. Whereas “blackwood” is usually more interesting in terms of grain and patterns.
And I use black femo or sculpy or some other such modeling clay to partially fill in holes when needed for tuning; it is virtually invisible on the chanter, and stiff enough to shape well and stay put for months at a time.
Seth says he hasn’t used Balckwood in ages. I’ve seen a few pieces of ebony that indeed had brown streaks - usually Gaboon Ebony as I recall, but it’s not uncommon.
Dirk, let’s DO it! Our next tionól for the Salt Lake Piping Club will be sometime in late February. Think you’d be up for a drive? You can stay with me if needs be. I have beer.
Instead of blue tack, try some wax from the outside of a round of cheese. the stuff is great. I much prefer it over blue tack…I’ve found blue tack tends to fall off and is tough to get just the right amount etc.
Davey’s right about cheesewax. I recommend the sort of cheese that has a black wax covering. I’ve got some red cheesewax in the E hole and it looks like a bit of very fresh hamburger. Ew.
I think I’ll stop at the cheese shop and buy a wheel of nice cheese - with black wax… Also, for some reason, I’m thirsty for beer. Did somebody mention beer?
Also, Brian we are hosting a tionol or two here as well. Maybe I can arrange a drive out there, or maybe you could make it out here? Let’s chat off-forum.
I’ll keep the red stuff I have just in case there’s a qualitative difference between black and red cheesewaxes.