There’s no substitute for sheer hours at the workbench, which is exactly what I’ve been putting in as of recent. This expenditure is due mainly to my tenor reg on my B set. I kept getting inconsistencies in the structural integrity of my reeds which compromised responsiveness. I’ve made hundreds of reeds and can only figure that impatience had crept in. I needed a step by step, detailed method to “get my head on” correctly. I remembered that my Tim Britton “My Method” book was chock full of detail. I had picked up a copy of it’s 4th revised 2005 Edition at the St. Louis Tionol a couple years ago but I had not used it yet… soooo I thought I’d give it a go.
What I built was a very nice responsive reed. No leaks, great crow, perfect head size which I controlled by plugging in my own widthetc, AND a bridle, which his book provides instruction for despite his not using them himself. I believe that there’s an idea that is still floating around about Tim’s book; that it is only useful for his chanter. I believe this may have been more the case with Edition 1 printed in ‘84. However, the equitability of the book in its present edition should be noted. As well as clearer and more detailed instructions, the newer edition includes more discussion of alternate reed styles, tuning, the effect of weather and a trouble shooting section.
Now, Tim’s finished reed head is measuring slightly under 1”. Quite “standard,” I found the directions very simple and informative. I just narrowed the slip to about 10.5mm as per his addendum for regulator reeds (the book is not metric btw) and off I went. Tim requires extremely tight winding with Nyltex. I ran out of it, so I scored the staple (so the reed head would not slip ala C. O’Briain in the NPU tutorial) and wrapped it as tight with the waxed thread NPU sells. I put a bridle on, scraped, and then it was back to trying to tune the reg. Reed mission accomplished.
I wanted to recommend the book to anyone interested in a straightforward logical and controlled approach, especially those who’ve hit any reed structural speedbumps along the way. Increasing that reedmaking library never is never a bad idea for the reedily obsessed!
I think you,ve been watching too much Star Trek !!!
RORY
I think I’ve been watching my regulator a bit too much!
Can’t figure out what Tim does in wrapping reeds up that’s so different from others. Maybe you were psyched by following his instructions, giving you confidence that was necessary to making a good one? Sounds a bit mystical, but then you have Liam O’Flynn adjusting his chanter reed by taking it out and staring at it…
He does lay out some good advice on making sure the sides are tight so the blades are closed. Doesn’t everyone say that, though? Biz-are.
The other day I tried to cut a bed for a reed on only one blade. Never tried it before. Reed wouldn’t make a sound, I smashed that one with the staple still in the chanter and a hearty expletive. Won’t be adding that trick to my method.
I think I have an older edition of that book.
The only thing about it I find less than helpful (and the reason I don’t usually refer to it much) is his tendency to recommend using the shortest little bits of cane possible.
I, at least, would rather have a little leeway and margin for error!
Other than that, as far as I remember, quite a useful book.
Congratulations on your success!
Tim wraps his reeds lightly at first to get it to adjust to “it’s new identity.” 20min later, he cranks the Nylex VERY tight, turning it translucent. If you don’t do this, at somepoint the blades will come right off the staple (happened to me). Since my hands get enough abuse (insert jokes if need be), I’d just assume score the tubing staple ansd wrap at “tight enough” pressure after dipping the tails in either alchohol, or if in October, Witch Hazel.
Kev, ;tis not so much that I’m psyched-just that I KNOW there are other budding reedmakers out there that would benefit from the proverbial handrail (detailed steps).
As far as slip size, 3.5" is small, but so what really? If you follow the steps, you’re grand. If you make mistakes, or are trying to hybrid a bunch of receipes, tyou’ll no doubt run into a wall.
O’Briain, Hegarty, Hunter, Britton, Koehler, Dooley, Daye, etc. all great reed makers with well over a 100 yrs of combined experience. Each has something great to offer. There is obviously no single truth. The idea is to find what works for you. That’s the fun, and the fun can only be had if the bore is right. Right?
Otherwise, say “slán anois” to the fun, your sanity, and any hopes that you might ever develop a skill with positive results that as Cillian says on the DVD, “..will make you the complete piper!”