Piping Progression

[Scottishpiper]

Personely I wouldn't bother moving up to cane reeds, ezeedrones do the job just as well - and without the hassle, pain and unreliablity of cane.

[kypnkilt]

Personely I wouldn't bother moving up to cane reeds, ezeedrones do the job just as well - and without the hassle, pain and unreliablity of cane.

Oh, but they sound so nice!!

Though I am not a fan of EZ drone reeds (I forsaken them long ago), they do fine for most in the "no hassle" department. As for cane reeds, I think it prudent for all pipers up and coming to learn to set and tune these type of reeds along their piping "career". I know many instructors that require their students to try cane at least once and get them going so that the "experience" is there if and when needed. I have one set that uses just a cane bass drone reed and it sound great! Granted, the "fiddle factor" is quite high, but it does teach us what the pipers of yester-year did. They didn't use synthetic drone reeds....they did it the hard way. I always encourage newer pipers to go cane one drone at a time just for the experience of it all. I use mostly Canning and Kinnard reeds because of the convenience, but I always have cane reeds set and ready...just in case. Have fun!!

[Jack Daw]

Cane reeds are a booger to get and keep in tune. I'd rather do 10 tax returns.

[kypnkilt]

Cane reeds are a booger to get and keep in tune. I'd rather do 10 tax returns.

Can't count how many times I've heard that before.

For those of us that have the "luxury" of having more than one set of pipes to play, reeding up one set with cane drone reeds is definitely a learning experience. Concerning cane reeds, the "trick" is to play them everyday until broke in and at least blow the drones every other day for 5 minutes or more with chanter stock corked. You'd be surprised how much they can stay in tune. But of course, if you were playing indoors only, the chances of "drone failure" is a lot less. Once you go outside....all bets are off.

However, I do encourage others to try to pop in a cane bass reed with their synthetic tenor reeds. Not as problematic as with all drones with cane. Depending on type and bore size, that particular combo can be very pleasant to hear.

[SteveB]

I am at the beginning stages of learning this magnificent instrument. As my very experienced tutor has explained to me each stand of pipes has its own character. We have examined the set, and I have a shopping list of materials that I should obtain to keep the pipes playing. Obviously spare reeds, drone and chanter, fall high on the list. The pipes originally had a set of shepherd synthetic drone reeds, which a previous owner chose to change to the EZ-drones. The set has a Shepherd poly chanter, and I will soon have a Shepherd blackwood chanter to go into the kit. I would like to have a back up set of synthetic drone reeds, and a set of cane reeds. Once I have mastered playing these pipes and learned how to properly care for them, I hope to learn the skills to work with setting up the cane reeds, and the skills to properly tune the instrument on my own.
I have a poly practice chanter, and a blackwood practice chanter. IMHO the blackwood practice chanter produces a far more enjoyable session than the poly. I have heard the difference on my tutor's pipes, as he uses the band's poly for band work, and his blackwood chanter for solo work and competition. I find the blackwood chanter producing a more resonant sound, as well as crisper embellishments. Just my opinion, yours may vary with different results.
Slainte

[Jack Daw]

I am at the beginning stages of learning this magnificent instrument. As my very experienced tutor has explained to me each stand of pipes has its own character. We have examined the set, and I have a shopping list of materials that I should obtain to keep the pipes playing. Obviously spare reeds, drone and chanter, fall high on the list. The pipes originally had a set of shepherd synthetic drone reeds, which a previous owner chose to change to the EZ-drones. The set has a Shepherd poly chanter, and I will soon have a Shepherd blackwood chanter to go into the kit. I would like to have a back up set of synthetic drone reeds, and a set of cane reeds. Once I have mastered playing these pipes and learned how to properly care for them, I hope to learn the skills to work with setting up the cane reeds, and the skills to properly tune the instrument on my own.
I have a poly practice chanter, and a blackwood practice chanter. IMHO the blackwood practice chanter produces a far more enjoyable session than the poly. I have heard the difference on my tutor's pipes, as he uses the band's poly for band work, and his blackwood chanter for solo work and competition. I find the blackwood chanter producing a more resonant sound, as well as crisper embellishments. Just my opinion, yours may vary with different results.
Slainte

The Shepherd chanter is solid, reliable chanter - good choice. The Shepherd reeds are also a good choice.

[Jack Daw]

Can't count how many times I've heard that before.

For those of us that have the "luxury" of having more than one set of pipes to play, reeding up one set with cane drone reeds is definitely a learning experience. Concerning cane reeds, the "trick" is to play them everyday until broke in and at least blow the drones every other day for 5 minutes or more with chanter stock corked. You'd be surprised how much they can stay in tune. But of course, if you were playing indoors only, the chances of "drone failure" is a lot less. Once you go outside....all bets are off.

However, I do encourage others to try to pop in a cane bass reed with their synthetic tenor reeds. Not as problematic as with all drones with cane. Depending on type and bore size, that particular combo can be very pleasant to hear.

To each his own. The reliability of cane reeds also depends on the sort of climate you live in.

[SteveB]

My tutor plays a set of Dunbars. The band chanter is a Shepherd poly, his blackwood is a McCallum McC2. His suggestion for what I wish to do with the pipes is to go with the Shepherds as I hoped to have a set that I could start with that I would keep for my whole piping career. These seem to fit the bill rather nicely. I have ordered some chanter reeds from Shepherd, as well as a moisture control system (I am a wet blower). My maintenance kit is starting to come together.
Slainte

[SteveB]

My tutor decided it was time for me to put away the small pipes and go for the big pipes. Got my drones struck in in tune on only the second attempt. Ten minutes of scales and Scots Wha Hae, with the drones staying in consistent tune. I am sooooo psyched. I actually played my set of Great Highland Bagpipes today.
Cartwheel, Cartwheel, Cartwheel. Yay!

My neighbours are in for a big surprise when I do my daily drills on them.

Slainte

[highlander_Daz]

Id have to say cane reeds for experienced pipers only unless you enjoy fidling around, they are great from a point of view they tend not to cut out due to moisture, however I wouldnt use them at a paid performance, simply for issues of stability, My Omegas are much btter from my own point of view but as with anything else its what suits the individual
happy pipeing