Reed question

[Jack Daw]

Even most ol' timers have switched to synthetic drone reeds from cane. All chanter reeds, except for the practice chanters, remain the genuine article. Some pipers are true to the leather bag, including my instructor, but I've been using a GoreTex bag since the beginning.

Synthetic drone reeds can last years. Cane reeds last about 20 minutes...er, that is stay in tune 20 minutes, if that long. I don't know how long they last as I have never used them. (Some exaggeration utilized)

My instructor DOES recommend dipping (not soaking) a new chanter reed in scotch to help break it in. Whether it works or not; hasn't hoit.

[JS Sanders]

Designs in synthetic drone reeds have made tremendous gains the past decade. I remember the initial ones....

Synthetic drone reeds are far more stable, permitting longer playing times. Perhaps the best overall feature is that they are low maintenance compared to cane. Cane drone reeds can make a clergyman swear - loudly.

But even the best synthetics aren't quite what cane is. To my ear, cane drone reeds are just plain 'warmer' and seem to accentuate & blend with the chanter just a little bit more.

I can hear the difference probably because I started with cane and had no choice but to learn how to live with it, until better synthetics arrived on the scene.

With the functional moisture control systems in pipebags, more pipers are returning to cane because condensation isn't the bear it was. Then again, now you gotta jiggle & adjust the moisture collector.

Slainte,
steve

[kypnkilt]

I can attest that Cane drone reeds do in fact sound "better", but unless you play them everyday for 20 minutes, they will give you ulcers!

There are different degrees of synthetic drone reeds, vibrant, full, harmonic and so on. Some synthetic drone reeds sound better on some pipes and different on others. It's one of those "trial by error" kinda things. Cannings sound very nice in my Hardies (as they did on my P3 Dunbars), but the EZee's had a higher "fiddle-with" factor than the Cannings.

Anytime I start on a new chanter reed I do a few things first: Blow it first to see how hard or easy it will be, give the sound box a good "pinch", then do a quick "dunk" in warm water to give it the initial moisture...then go from there. Evereyone has their own method concerning chanter reeds I guess. I have used my method with very good success....so far.