Chiff and Fipple Forums

I bought one of these ( a big thanks to Big Davy for flagging them although I missed out on the d version ). I wonder though if anyone on this board bought one with the prior knowledge of the correct hole placement and might be willing to share that information? I was unaware Howard even made chanters in this key.

Alternatively is there any interest in sharing experience of best guesstimates? I did a bit of research on b chanters on the Sean Reid Society webpages but there are discrepancies of up to 3.5 mm in hole placement and up to 1.2 mm in hole sizes. I can try to tabulate and put them up if anyone is interested?

If anyone else is out there, maybe we can help each other out and not have to try to "undrill" with superglue, sawdust and bits of black electrician's tape?

I bought the last two. I'll be measuring the bore and looking for something similar-ish from SRS and NPU data, and then just carefully experimenting. Happy to swap data.

Cheers
Richard

Hi Richard,
Most gracious of you to reply. I'll post where I'm at rather than pm you lest this is of interest to others. The SRS site gives measurements for a Coyne and a Kenna in the key of B.
Both measured 17.5 inches, which from the photo on ebay looks about right.

Finger holes (from top/diameter in mm) COYNE then KENNA

Back D 134/4.7 132/4.7
C# 152/4.7 155/4.5
B 187/4.3 187/4.92
A 222/4.3 222/4.62
G 267.5/3.8 264/4.0
F# 297/4.4 295/4.5
E 330.5/3.8 330/3.75
D# 366/3.8 367/4.95

As you can see these give the discrepancies I noted in the original post.

I'm a beginner on the pipes but I do a bit of woodturning and became interested in making ornamental mounts for a plain stick practice chanter I started on. Then I made a couple of square bore chanters from Craig Fischer's plans. My plan was maybe to try make a similar square bore model in B on which I could experiment. I have my lathe and drill press but no reamers etc. so the unfinished Howard was perfect for me. Nor do I have probes etc to do accurate measurements in the bore. However I thought even if I stuffed up and it was unplayable, for 20 quid it would look nice hanging on the wall beside my fiddle. Additionally I wont have mine till my sister in Yorkshire takes delivery and forwards it to me Down Under so I decided to put out feelers prior in case anyone had one of the finished Howard Bs and might share data. Thanks again for your response. Hope the above saves you some time. Looking forward to further co-operation.

Best regards
Gerry

Following. I got a couple to experiment with .cheers

You are welcome Will (in both senses). Let us know how you get on?
Cheers
Gerry

The chanters arrived very promptly. First observations:
1. The length is 440mm, about 5mm shorter than all the various plans I've seen.
2. They may not have had their final reaming. I have what I believe to be a decent set of B reamers. Of course bores vary quite a bit but none of my reamers can be inserted as far as I'd expect, by about 15-20mm.
3. The reed seat has not been cut.

One of the chanters has a back D hole but it's about 120mm from the top rather than around 135mm which I'd expect. A mistake?

Cheers
Richard

Received mine today: one appears to be ebony and the other ABW. No holes at all.

Interested in how the rest of you get on with your efforts.

Hi Richard. Sounds/looks like a lot more work needed than I was expecting for sure. AFAIK my sister hasn't taken delivery but thanks for the heads up on the possibility of mystery holes already present and the other factors. I've emailed her and she can maybe show me the stick on Skype or something when it arrives. I'll post the results as and when.
Best regards meantime.
Gerry

Richard Evans wrote:One of the chanters has a back D hole but it's about 120mm from the top rather than around 135mm which I'd expect. A mistake?

Cheers
Richard

Have you tried putting a reed in the chanter, if you can get it to play a bottom note (B) see what note the drilled hole produces.

RORY

Have you tried contacting Brian?

m coulter wrote:Have you tried contacting Brian?

I haven't, no. I don't know him personally so have no contact details. Added to that I suppose I reasoned if he had retired to the extent that a 3rd party was selling off the factory inventory, he could do without the likes of me pestering him.I do have one of his low whistles but I wouldn't describe myself as a valued return customer
It's worth a shot though I suppose if anyone does have contact details.
Cheers
Gerry

As you say, worth a shot.

Website is still up and running:

http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/shop/uille ... s_main.htm

Have you tried contacting Brian?

I suggest reading a thread headed 'CP :Brian Howard', posted in March 2016 : here.

Draw your own conclusions about contacting Brian after that.

Sad news, I didn't realise what had happened. Hope he is recovering.

I saw Brian recently and Skype with him now and then. He's still making reeds and full of life!