Advantages of narrow bore chanters?
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2003 4:10 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Northern California
Advantages of narrow bore chanters?
I read a fairly recent post, in which a piper mentioned a narrow bore D chanter as having the great advantage of the wonderful old pipes sound, plus being able to be used in sessions since you're in tune with the other musicians.
Could someone elaborate on this? Are there any drawbacks to a narrow bore chanter? How does the volume compare with that of a flat set? And what makers build narrow bore chanters?
thanks,
Baen
Could someone elaborate on this? Are there any drawbacks to a narrow bore chanter? How does the volume compare with that of a flat set? And what makers build narrow bore chanters?
thanks,
Baen
-
- Posts: 2926
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:20 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Cascadia
- djm
- Posts: 17853
- Joined: Sat May 31, 2003 5:47 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Canadia
- Contact:
I would really suggest that people interested in narrow bore/flat sets give them a try before taking the plunge. The advantages of a small bore set are not simply that the volume is lower, but that they require very little pressure to play compared to a concert D set, and the tone holes are much smaller, making them easier to cover, and the ornaments that much crisper. But the tone is much different than a concert D set; more nasal, and much sweeter.
As some people have correctly pointed out, you can tone down the volume of a Concert D with rushes and reed adjustments, but you will not necessarily get the same tone as from a small bore or flat set. The difference may be an acquired taste. Certainly the small bore does not have that "edge" to it that a concert D has.
Try to hear/play one and judge for yourself. Don't just go by someone else's tastes and preferences. These are definitely different. Make up your own mind first.
djm
As some people have correctly pointed out, you can tone down the volume of a Concert D with rushes and reed adjustments, but you will not necessarily get the same tone as from a small bore or flat set. The difference may be an acquired taste. Certainly the small bore does not have that "edge" to it that a concert D has.
Try to hear/play one and judge for yourself. Don't just go by someone else's tastes and preferences. These are definitely different. Make up your own mind first.
djm
-
- Posts: 2926
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:20 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Cascadia
- Lorenzo
- Posts: 5726
- Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Oregon, USA
I know Dionys likes the Angus narrow bore chanters. I've known Steve, the owner of Artichoke Music, for years (and also Bill the previous owner) and Steve told me all about this guy who was just starting to get on to Brads work back about then. Dionys knows Brad by his full name, which must be pretty well considering all the good things he's saidDionys wrote:A store here in Portland, ORegon has a couple of Bradley Angus practice sets for sale at around $1000 (and could probably be barganed down). I have played both and they're very good. I almost considered purchasing a Brad Angus set (great workmanship and sweet sound) because of his sets, location (local to me), prices and lead-time. I think the store selling them is called 'Artichoke Music.'
Dionys
-
- Posts: 2926
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:20 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Cascadia
- Pat Cannady
- Posts: 1217
- Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: Chicago
Jimmy O'Brien Moran's CD, "Sean Reid's Favorite" contains some very lovely piping on a narrow set that plays somewhere just north of D.
The majority of the album is recorded with an old narrowbore B full set by Colgan, made of some kind domestic hardwood, maybe pear. Nothing on earth sounds like that old Colgan Well, except maybe an old Kenna
I did get a chance to hear a brand new Rogge narrowbore D in recent weeks and thought it pretty sweet sounding; of course it was in Noel Carberry's expert hands, too, so that had a bit to do with my impression. As for the chanter, it was louder than I expected, but still softer than a wide D and everything was in tune. I did not get a chance to play it myself. Noel seemed to like it quite well when I asked him about it.
The majority of the album is recorded with an old narrowbore B full set by Colgan, made of some kind domestic hardwood, maybe pear. Nothing on earth sounds like that old Colgan Well, except maybe an old Kenna
I did get a chance to hear a brand new Rogge narrowbore D in recent weeks and thought it pretty sweet sounding; of course it was in Noel Carberry's expert hands, too, so that had a bit to do with my impression. As for the chanter, it was louder than I expected, but still softer than a wide D and everything was in tune. I did not get a chance to play it myself. Noel seemed to like it quite well when I asked him about it.
-
- Posts: 2926
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:20 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Cascadia
That's an old set by Robert Reid, better known for his Northumbrian pipes, with a chanter made in Delaware by two makers - O'Doyle and Someone, I think - their names are stamped on the C natural key. It's a Taylor copy, not precisely narrow bore. Jimmy still has the original Reid chanter, of course, it's pictured on the back of the CD - too bad he hasn't gotten it reeded (Reided?) up proper, or perhaps he has. Craig Fischer told me it was a really great chanter, too.Pat Cannady wrote:Jimmy O'Brien Moran's CD, "Sean Reid's Favorite" contains some very lovely piping on a narrow set that plays somewhere just north of D.