There is a relationship between, volume, tone, and ease of play . A reed that produces loud volume, has a better tone, is more stable… but is harder to play. This is ideal for recording, but too loud to play with others. Conversely a reed that is easier to play, produces less volume, is weaker in tone and more unstable.
The ideal chanter has a good tone, is easy to play into the 2nd octave, at a volume around that of a fiddle.
The culprit in all of this is the cane. Somewhere in the midst of say 100 finished reeds lies that tiny strip of cane that produces the ideal chanter reed; volume, tone and ease of play…all balanced with the drones and regulators if you have them.
Mind you this is a formula for madness. We need an emergency hot line for pipers on the edge.
I find that the biggest source of madness are the times I have made 2 reeds from the same cane tube, within a day or 2 of each other and then one works and the other is a complete dud.
I have taken the bad reed apart and measured it and can’t find anything I have done wrong.
But I still find making reeds very relaxing, only wish I could find something repeatable in my failure analysis.
I think it was Rorybellows who most recently pointed out that at the end of the day we are are at the mercy of a couple of bits of dried grass. . .or as Kinch would say, some splinters of wood.
Bob
I have a set up now that I am very happy with - a newly acquired late Feb. 2004 Dave Williams D chanter that came with a Joseph Smith reed and is sounding wonderful now after I’ve adjusted the bridle and sealed the edges of the reed with bee wax. It is loud enough for sessions, yet sweet, and plays very easy, and is very responsive, and most important, very in tune without any tape involved so far.
What a difference it makes to have a chanter and reed set up that plays in tune the whole register. I don’t know how long this will last, but just now it’s playing fine.
Actually, I’ve had several reeds over the years that have been jewels.
But Love grows old,
And waxes cold.
My current ‘flame’ is over ten years old. . .but I still cringe in memory of the moment’s indiscretion that cost me the lovely reed I had before this one.
Ah, well, plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
