One thing that I've noticed when I look at pipe bands' website is that they usually spec exactly what chanter and reeds the band members should have.

This got me wondering...I can see how standardizing all the stuff would eliminate variables and make preparation for competitions easier...how it would give a "unified" sound, as it were....but what has been the experience of our piper members when they just get together and "jam" with others who have different set-ups than they have? Does it cause pleasant or unpleasant results? Are there harmonics set up that create dissonance or do things sort of fill in across a wider range or frequencies and timbres and give a fuller sound?

Best

AA