In the old days, before synthetic drone reeds, a great deal of care was taken to select the right reeds for your drones. I can remember large boxes of reeds arriving for the band and then the hunt began. Usually, following a thorough search, a piper would settle on a set of reeds and perhaps a backup set. Then came the task of breaking them in, making proper adjustments, and then maintaining the reeds so they would perform properly when called upon. This was a skill that each piper had to develop as part of the overall responsibility of being a piper. Knowledge was passed on from piper-to-piper and the astute mastered all the small tricks.
Today we have highly sophisticated reeds made with G-10 fiberglass and Carbon Fiber along with other modern materials. These synthetic reeds have come closer and closer to mimicking the sound and behavior of cane, however, in my opinion, that goal is so far proven elusive.
The basic design of the reed (seen in the image above) is pretty standard, although nuances are multiple and varied. I am certain that continued research and development will close the gap between synthetic reeds and cane reeds.
Let’s define optimal efficiency as that point where the reeds is taking the least amount of air in order to sound and behave properly. Much will have to do with the strength of your chanter reed, however with that being “constant” your drone reeds should be adjusted to operate in concert with the chanter reed. This means that They strike-in properly without squeals, double-toning, or otherwise. It means they settle quickly to produce the correct sound. It also means that they are balanced to consume the least amount of air possible, as stated above.
Let’s talk about general adjustments what will affect efficiency.
- The size the of the thru-bore
- The size of the intake port
- The length of the tongue from the bridle to the end of the tongue
- The “lift” of the tongue
- The weight of the tongue
In all instances refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. You may find additional “tweaks” to the reeds that improve efficiency for your particular bagpipe. Some reeds allow adjustment by moving the bridle. Other reeds may have tiny grub screws that will allow you to lengthen or shorten the tongue and also to raise or lower the lift.
There are other factors that will have an impact on how much air your drones consume. Drone regulators date back to the early 1800’s. You will find pictures of Donald MacDonald bagpipes with regulators inserted into the bottom of stocks. This is meant to reduce the amount of air entering the stock and can have a dramatic effect on drone efficiency and reed behavior. Some reeds are known to squeal on start-up. Regulators are sometimes helpful in reducing or eliminating this unwanted sound.
Another factor is the size of the bushing at the top of the bell. A too-large bushing will produce more sound but will also take more air. Generally, the bushing for the bass drone is larger than those of the tenor drones. I’m not suggesting that you fiddle with these sizes (I have) but to just be aware that they are a factor in the overall efficiency of your drones.
When adjusting your reeds for efficiency, you should also be adjusting them for sound. It’s a balance and one should not be pursued at the expense of the other. Patience is required and adjustments should be made in small increments.
