Mr.Gumby wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:40 am
You will probably be better off taking the Kwisthout chanter you have to a reedmaker and get it reeded properly. It will serve you while learning until you know what you like and you can change then.
It's not going to happen. The pipes are always going to respond to the atmosphere they are being played in. The degree to which they do may vary but respond they will.
Some times it's best to accept your reed isn't going to play well under some circumstances and put it aside rather than touch it, attempting to adjust. A good reed, treated well, played regularly and minimally handled may serve you for decades.
This is also an option. I just remember doing some googling after I got it and most people didnt exactly praise kwisthout chanters for being great. But it could still be fine with a proper reed. My thought on getting a new chanter is that if its better chanter from a maker whos known for making good reeds, and for my area, then I wouldnt have too much to worry about. But I guess a good reed maker setting up for my current one wouldn't be much different as logn as the chanter isnt actually worse. Besides probobly saving a lot of money, which is always nice.
And yes the atmosphere is going to effect it but it would be nice if it was effected less haha. Which is what spruce and synthetic reeds seem to do.
Not touching it is also good advice. My hope is that someday when I get something actually set up right, to just not touch it. My room is also humidified in the winter and AC'd in the summer so the environment should at least be fairly consistent.
pancelticpiper wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:12 am
Yes if beginners could be got to not touch their reeds! But the temptation is irresistible, especially from experienced Highland pipers who take up the uilleann pipes and imagine that they can use their Highland reed-shaving techniques on uilleann reeds.
Sadly reeds have a tendency to not come in the chanter haha. So it has to get touched at least once. Carbony seems to come reeded for some reason (of the few videos I've watched un UP unboxing) but most seem to not. But if it was set up to just be put in and not need any assorted other touching, would be excellent.