When putting a reed back in its seat, look at from the side as well as front, to insure it isin’t leaning forward to a great extent. Sometimes a double reed will fit best in its seat with one of the blades facing forward; the ends of the bridle will serve as an indicator of which side should face you. Learn to gauge whether a reed is sitting in its seat crooked sideways as well.
Sometimes the tone of a drone reed will change due its tongue striking the walls of the stock when rotated to a certain angle.
Huh ?
Sometimes the tone of a drone reed will change due its tongue striking the walls of the stock when rotated to a certain angle.
Not sure why, but I’m both superstitious and practical about how the reed
sits in the seat. I’ve noticed the same thing…gotta keep the reeds straight
up, all way around, all year round. Anyone keep the edge of the
baldes facing them? Seems strange. It’s always the back side facing me,
for me…the gap in the bridle. It just don’t seem right unless it’s right
inside.
Reminds me of a guy back in college days…he said he couldn’t sleep if
the bed was diagonal to the walls! 
The hemp binding around the top of the chanter or drone may also cause the head to sit slightly off the axis of the bore.
When in doubt, once I’ve seated the reed I lay the top of the chanter or drone along the edge of a flat surface and rotate it to make sure that the reed doesn’t touch the surface at any point. That way you can be sure that no part of the reed will come into contact with the chanter head or mainstock.
I’m not anal retentive or obsessive compulsive. And I’m not paranoid schizophrenic either, WHO SAID THAT??? I CAN HEAR YOU!!!
Eh…A bit of beeswax on the string will provide staunch sealing, too. Sometimes reeds work their way loose after months of shuddering. Some elder twigs are bent like bananas, too, it looks really screwed up. Sometimes I’ll make a staple that’s a bit crooked, myself, an indicator that it’s time to do something else…
Wasn’t me! 
Don’t worry, sounds like you were just having a “duh” moment, and don’t we all have those from time to time? 
djm
Sometimes the tone of a drone reed will change due its tongue striking the walls of the stock when rotated to a certain angle.
…
And this can happen with chanter reeds, of course…
Ah yes, that unmistakable grinding sound when the windcap is twisting against the lip-edge of the reed… ERRRRRRRR…
It’s enough make one cringe.
Stay tuned,
BrianC
[quote="brianc
Ah yes, that unmistakable grinding sound when the windcap is twisting against the lip-edge of the reed… ERRRRRRRR…
It’s enough make one cringe.
Stay tuned,
BrianC[/quote]
It makes me cringe, for certain. It’s worse than sharp, lacquered nails dragging on a blackboard.
[quote="Pat Cannady
It makes me cringe, for certain. It’s worse than sharp, lacquered nails dragging on a blackboard.[/quote]
What color laquer?
Royce
Another tip on centering chanter reeds before putting the cap back on that I use all the time… look up the chanter from the bottom end and make sure that the light coming through the reed lips is centered in the bore… Of course this works best if you don’t have a popping valve (none of my chanters do…)
What color laquer?
Royce[/quote]
Why, dragon lady red, of course.