Search found 4365 matches

by Lorenzo
Mon Dec 21, 2015 9:26 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: B Pipes Playing in Bb
Replies: 12
Views: 4376

Re: B Pipes Playing in Bb

All very interesting, but I like the highly sophisticated, and scientific method, called trial and error best! Yesterday I tried this same reed in my Kennedy B chanter, and it also played in Bb w/o filling any tone holes. I did narrow the exit hole though, very slightly. This low pitched reed thing ...
by Lorenzo
Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:49 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: B Pipes Playing in Bb
Replies: 12
Views: 4376

Re: B Pipes Playing in Bb

Saved me from buying a set just to hear the difference... I am not so sure a shorter chanter tuned down will give you the same tonal effect as a longer chanter. You may have to buy a Bflat yet. Good point. And that raises other questions. Doing the same thing to a B chanter of another maker would l...
by Lorenzo
Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:19 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: B Pipes Playing in Bb
Replies: 12
Views: 4376

Re: B Pipes Playing in Bb

Unless the guy was playing with a fixed pitch instrument I thought his expectation was unwarranted. If the set played in tune with itself I would have been happy. I agree. I use to wonder what was meant by the description "this chanter is most comfortable just south of B" or "that's ...
by Lorenzo
Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:01 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)
Replies: 39
Views: 19983

Re: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)

Great to hear your of progress and to read your description, donpiper. I've gotten sidetracked, so no video of the new reed yet. Keep up the good work!
by Lorenzo
Wed Dec 16, 2015 5:36 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: B Pipes Playing in Bb
Replies: 12
Views: 4376

B Pipes Playing in Bb

Lately I've been wondering what Bb pipes sounded like (falling lower and lower). So, just guessing, I made a longer reed for my Hunter/Lawrence B set, partially filled the upper sections of a few tone holes, shoved a small roll of card up the bell, added some weight to the drone reeds, and somehow i...
by Lorenzo
Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:32 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Syringa
Replies: 21
Views: 8896

Re: Syringa

After a couple years experimenting, and hundreds of reeds, I now firmly believe Syringa (aka Mock Orange) philadelphus lewisii to be superior to Elder. I just reeded up another set of B drones and am truly amazed at how good they sound, and how trouble free they remain through various changes of tem...
by Lorenzo
Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:05 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)
Replies: 39
Views: 19983

Re: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)

Belly blanks are typically arranged so that the grain structure of the finished viola top is the same as it would be in a reed... I hadn't considered using viola or violin tops as a good source of spruce. Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder what the best spacing is for growth rings on a slip...I th...
by Lorenzo
Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:05 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)
Replies: 39
Views: 19983

Re: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)

I will use some close grained Italian spruce... I had to make sure I knew what Italian Spruce was as we've been discussing several different types. This is interesting: The Truth About Spruce - all spruce in Europe is likely the same species, just known by different names, and grows slightly differ...
by Lorenzo
Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:36 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)
Replies: 39
Views: 19983

Re: Spruce Chanter Reed (demo)

Has anyone else tried making spruce reeds? I've just made another one out of Engelmann and am liking it better than the first. It's brighter, perhaps the wood is not as soft as the other piece--which sounded kind of woody. This one has all the tonal colouring off the knee you'd ever want. Spruce pro...
by Lorenzo
Mon Jun 22, 2015 6:41 pm
Forum: Traditional String Instruments
Topic: Shady Grove
Replies: 1
Views: 4491

Shady Grove

Just introduced my new acoustic bass guitar to my clawhammer banjo and this is what came out...a dreamy, progressive, almost Irish version of an old traditional tune.

https://soundcloud.com/laurenced-1/shady-grove
by Lorenzo
Wed Jun 03, 2015 12:35 pm
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Reedmaking dingus
Replies: 17
Views: 4935

Re: Reedmaking dingus

Another thing that works pretty good is ultra thin, tight fitting, surgical gloves. Brush off any dust that may collect and it's good as new again. Touch a damp sponge...even better.
by Lorenzo
Sat May 23, 2015 9:54 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Flat high G fixes
Replies: 36
Views: 7881

Re: Flat high G fixes

Maybe a "Sticky" topic here about adjusting tuning note by note would be of help. Over the years hundreds of threads have popped up here about subjects, many full of useful advice, only to vanish back into the aether. Sticky topics (which always remain at the top of a message board's list...
by Lorenzo
Sat May 23, 2015 9:46 am
Forum: Non-Uilleann Piping
Topic: Tracks from a New Border Pipes Album
Replies: 1
Views: 3989

Re: Tracks from a New Border Pipes Album

Nice! I like your website layout...it's easy to navigate. Your pipes are sounding great as is your flute! Nice sound on that contra bass drone too! :wink:
by Lorenzo
Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:52 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Yesterday's Field Trip (search for Mock Orange)
Replies: 0
Views: 1169

Yesterday's Field Trip (search for Mock Orange)

I saw nearly all the bushes and weeds I've tried in the past, and found a look-a-like for the "real" Syringa (or Mock Orange) for drone reeds. I haven't identified this "mock" Mock Orange yet, but the main difference is this look-a-like blooms about a month earlier than the one I...
by Lorenzo
Thu Apr 23, 2015 12:02 am
Forum: Uilleann Pipe forum
Topic: Syringa
Replies: 21
Views: 8896

Re: Syringa

Ted is the expert, but I think about 3 years curing green stuff. The best cane will be found already dead...and standing for a year or two, then harvested. It will have softened and started breaking down. About 90% of the cane in CA is too hard for uilleann pipes. Gotta know where to find the soft s...