Second octave G is sharp

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi list,

on my narrow bore D chanter (Rogge), the second octave G is sharp with X|XXX|OOXX. X|XXX|OXXX is far better in tune, but sounds a bit dull and quiet. The reed plays fine otherwise. Does this “issue” depend on the chanter, or are there fixes that can be applied to the reed?

Thanks,
Gabriel

2

I had this problem for a while in my reedmaking endeavors. I think I fixed it by doing something to the staple… :confused:

3

perhaps a narrower staple, there are soem other things you can do, but depends on how the rest of the reed is playing. IF g,a, and b are all quite sharp…go for a new staple or push the reed head further on to the staple by millimeters…

DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS if you have not spend many hrs messing with reeds. As Peter Hunter says, “mess with your 2nd reed, not the one yer playing!”

wise man he is!

4

The tuning with standard fingering is pretty good otherwise, high a and b work fine. It’s just that second G which is sharp.

Is it also possible to make the staple “narrower” by inserting some kind of rush, or has the entire tube to be narrower?

I certainly won’t mess around with my reed as it’s the only one I have. So the only eligible messing-around is is which can be reversed.

5

Yes. Try a piece of a paperclip, bent a little so it stays in. Make sure it doesn’t extend past the staple into the reed head.
I wouldn’t expect this to actually fix this particular problem, but it is reversible, so go ahead and try it.

I’m thinking your problem has more to do with the shape of the staple eye than the diameter of the whole staple…

6

I would rush the staple first as it is easily reversable. The entire octave may be sharp, but you can adjust for specific notes by adjusting the distance up the staple where you place the"fold" and the length and amount there.

I use 18 ga. copper wire and mess with folding it so that has more wire in where you would guess otave G would lie, I would guess about 1/2 way up the staple (YMMV), perhaps close to the area where the “squish” starts to make the eye. Keep it out of the eye area as that is where octave E seems to live on my sets.

Are the notes octave A or B hard to achieve/keep sounding? That is one staple eye trouble I have had. Opening it slightly cured it on one reed I made.