Just joined today. Glad to be amongst y’all. I have a Vignoles UP set that I’ve had problems playing. I really wish I knew if the (cane) reeds I have are “up to snuff” or if it’ll never play with what I have (Mr. V. made me a reed to go with the one I already had). It’s a long story but at one time a gentleman in Ireland (McCalmont) was to try my current reeds and attempt to fit a set of synthetic (chanter) reeds. I know from what others say the sound isn’t as good but if you can’t play you can’t play. I’m not so sure I want to learn (have time to learn?) the “age-old art” of making my own out of cane. I’m already “age-old” (at least to my kids!) Can you help a brutha’ out. Thanks for letting me join your fine establishment.
welcome Straightedge:
You need to find a reedmaker near you. I don’t know offhand who might be closest. I think the folks on the list will agree that it’s a really good idea to attend one of the tionols/pipers’ gatherings soon.
Plastic/synthetic reeds: short answer is forget it. I have never, ever encountered an acceptable plastic reed for uilleann/union pipes. There are one or two perhaps-apocryphal accounts of individual plastic reeds being made and working more-or-less OK but nobody has come up with a plastic UP reed for general consumption. That said, I’ve never heard of a reedmaker named McCalmont.
Even a plastic reed (if one could indeed be fitted to your chanter) would require adjustment, so this would be no panacea. Basically you need to find a good reed for your chanter, and the material of its manufacture is, I think, irrelevant. If anything, looking for a plastic one will just compound your difficulties. Bear in mind that UP reeds are mostly custom-made jobs, they are not as a rule interchangeable between different makers’ chanters. When you do go to a reedmaker for help, it would be advisable to have M. Vignoles’ suggested reed and staple dimensions on hand.
Best regards,
Bill
Thanks Bill. I guess it’s like the plastic reeds I’ve bought for my sax–didn’t like 'em, don’t use’em. Maybe you or someone can help me with a name of someone close to the Louisville-Cincinnati-Indianapolis triangle who plays and “creates” reeds.
I guess I’m slightly overwhelmed with not only the difficulty of learning this instrument but making seemingly unending adjustments to it’s basic part. I can get sound/notes and in tune but not upper scale no matter the adjustments. (I’m no quitter, though…)
Dave
From Seth Gallagher’s web site, [u]Contacts in Ohio and Indiana[/u]
Yes - only worse, I think, because at least the synthetic sax reeds “sort of work”. Not sure I’d say the same for any plastic UP reeds I’ve encountered.
Maybe you or someone can help me with a name of someone close to the Louisville-Cincinnati-Indianapolis triangle who plays and “creates” reeds.
I guess I’m slightly overwhelmed with not only the difficulty of learning this instrument but making seemingly unending adjustments to it’s basic part. I can get sound/notes and in tune but not upper scale no matter the adjustments. (I’m no quitter, though…)
Dave
If you’re using the correct fingerings and the upper octave is still way out of tune with respect to the first, then the reed and/or staple is probably the wrong size. Make sure you’re A=440-ish before drawing too many conclusions though - could be the reed is seated too deeply or shallowly in the reed seat. Also if the reed is too open or too closed, all sorts of problems will result which will be apparent to an experienced player but not necessarily to a novice. If the second octave is flat relative to the first overall, then that suggests that the staple and/or reed head is too small; sharp second octave suggests the opposite.
Some reedmakers use standard ‘hobby tubing’ with a 4mm or 5/32" inner diameter for their reed staples. If your chanter design doesn’t like those dimensions, you may need to find someone to make larger or smaller staples. (IMO most chanters work better with a slightly conical staple anyway).
Bill