REEDS & REEDMAKING
Reed making for the concert or flat chanter, drones and regulators (including E flat).
Allan is one of a very small number of highly skilled reed makers for the uilleann pipes, and provides reeds for many top Irish players.
Highest quality uilleann pipe reeds are available, made from the finest materials.
Allan prefers to have your chanter
to custom-make the chanter reed for it,
but he is willing to send reeds by post if the client prefers and is able
to make the fine adjustments themselves.
FOR ALL ENQUIRIES ABOUT REEDS, PLEASE CONTACT ALLAN BY POST, TELEPHONE, OR EMAIL (Contact details are on the Home page)
REEDMAKING VIDEO
Allan has recorded a long and informative
video guide to making reeds for the uilleann pipes.
It is over 2 hours long, and gives instruction about the whole process.
It covers all aspects of reedmaking, from the basic materials and tools to the fine adjustments for tuning and voicing. The video is now available as a DVD, cost £25 GBP total including postage worldwide. To buy it via PayPal, click button below (Please note purchase will be via 'C.R. Knowles') :
Please note purchase will be via 'C.R. Knowles'
Some Tips on getting & keeping your pipes playing
Heat
is your enemy!!!!!
Don't leave your pipes in a direct heat source, such
as in sunlight in the back of a car, near a radiator or stove, under stage lights
etc. - this will affect your reeds badly either temporarily or permanently.
If you live in or are playing in a hot and dry climate and your reeds begin
to choke up, leave your pipes in a bathroom overnight (but not in the bath!!)
with water in the bath. Keep a large piece of peeled cucumber or potato in your
case. Soak the inside of your bellows just before playing or remove the clack
valve holder and put a piece of wet rag or sponge in the bellows and replace the
clack valve.
If your reed slips don't make that characteristic "clink"sound
when you drop them onto a hard surface then the cane is probably underseasoned;
microwave the slip for about 4 to 5 seconds and leave to cool, it works.
Split
your slips out of the cane tube as soon as you can and leave to settle down for
as long as possible. Make reed blanks and leave them for days, weeks or even months
before you cut the head down and voice them. Never try to get the best out of
a reed on the day that you make it, give the cane time to adjust to its new form.
Time and patience pay off.
if your pipes begin to "act up"at
a smoky, sweaty session or wherever resist the urge to "fiddle"with
your reeds; rather leave your set to sit and rest for a few minutes or so, or
even put them away and leave them overnight if you can- its amazing how often
they come back to themselves without drastic adjustment.
After
a while a chanter reed may become leaky with age, then coat the binding with nail
varnish or glue.
Use oboe reed wire (available from woodwind suppliers) to
cure any air leaks just below the bridle, the classical woodwind players do it
to get a bit longer out of a reed so why not us pipers.
Keep all keys 100% airtight (very important). There is no need to re-pad with leather, sealing wax and heat any more, just use an old computer mouse pad to cut the pads from and glue them on. If a regulator key begins to leak use an elastic band to seat it properly until you can fix it. Leaks are the other great enemy (apart from bodhran players of course ;-)
-
Allan