Sort of a DIY/Celtic Music thing

**haukehaien** · 23rd January 07, 12:08 PM

In general those are not worth the money ... however, they can be fun, if you get a halfway decent set. The major problem is the lack of workmanship and the total lack of quality control. I say this as someone who owns a set and who has had to work to make them play better. You've got your work cut out for you, but if you take it easy and have fun, you'll like it.

Here's what I've done to mine:
New pipe bag cover and drone cord. The horrible, horrible Royal Stewart-like covers that (usually - I see that some have other tartans now) come with these made my eyes bleed, so I replaced those.
Cost: pretty cheap - I got fabric remnants and sewed them myself.
Effect: entirely cosmetic

New drone reeds. I use the brass drone reeds from Song of the Sea and love how they sound. They make the little pipes hum like the world's largest bumblebee - it's great.
Cost: ~$30
Effect: much nicer and more reliable sound.

Polishing the drone bores. I used a gun cleaning rod (.22 caliber) and varying grits of sandpaper, finishing with steel wool. I've given thought to sleeving the drones with brass hobby tubing as well.
Cost: time and effort (I had the supplies already)
Effect: nicer (and louder) sound

Drilling out the chanter stock so that I can use my Dunbar PC in it. Not too difficult if you take your time, and it sounds a lot louder than the chanter that came with it.
Cost: time
Effect: better balance between chanter and drones.

I'm currently working on modifying the original chanter to be even louder, boring it out and drilling the holes larger. So far it's going okay, but keeping it in tune is tricky.

Good luck!

**auld argonian** · 23rd January 07, 12:53 PM

Hmmmm...lining the drones with brass (or copper) tubing stock...sounds like an expedient alternative. And one of those companies that makes the tubing is here in Chicago (K&S). As I think of it, one of the nicest things about my PVC D flute from Doug Tipple (and I recommend his stuff...suh-weet flute!) is that it's PVC with a copper tubing joint. I'm dealing with about a 5/32 diameter on the drones so I'd have to drill them out and figure out which size has the 5/32 inner diameter.

And as to Atlanta, I pretty much decided that I'm goint to fly out there and rent a car for the Stone Mountain Highland Games...too many of you guys showing up for that and I want to be around to make sure that you're not having TOO good of a time. Hopefully, I'd have these puppies sorted out by then...let's see them get though the metal detector with the brass tubing inserts. TSA guy: "What the hell is this?"

Best

AA