Howard Ready Tie reeds

Patrick D'Arcy · Post by **Patrick D'Arcy** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:26 pm

So what is it to you Peter K?

PD.

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:06 pm

Three cheers for Brian Howard, I say!

j.i.

ausdag · Post by **ausdag** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:28 pm

I'm certain Alan didn't mean anything negative towards Brian.
As for my own experience with Brian and his reeds, I will admit that I haven't have the greatest success with them YET, but on the other hand, Brian went out of his way to ensure that I achieved some sort of success. He rang me one evening (England to Australia) and we had a lengthy chat about his reeds and what I could do to improve the results I was getting. I haven't had time to put many of those things into practice so I can't state unconditionally what the quality is like of his reeds for my type of chanter.

What I can say is that Brian stands by his product and goes out of his way to ensure customer satisfaction.

Cheers,

DavidG

David Lim · Post by **David Lim** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:22 am

I have great respect for both Alan and Brian. Also I will not commit myself as to whether Alan meant anything negative or not.

But, we are mostly mature(ish) adults here. Surely a bit of bitchiness or over the top praise etc. help to spice up what could be a very boring forum.

Also bitchiness (although often intended to be barbed humour) can sometimes tell your more about the "bitcher" than the "bitchee".

As long as things do not decend into abuse or bullying surely we can all deal with that?

David

Peter K · Post by **Peter K** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:41 am

It's none of my business, Patrick D'Arcy. I expect I've broken your rules by chipping in.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:37 am

David Lim wrote:But, we are mostly mature(ish) adults here.

....Them's FIGHTEN' WORDS mister!!!! Put up yer dukes!

AlanB · Post by **AlanB** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:48 am

Fergmaun · Post by **Fergmaun** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:15 pm

When I am using the Howard Ready Tie reeds I first sand the inside of the tails and shape it.

Second I cut the slip in two and lengthen the scrape to an overall scrape length of 26 mm as the scrape on the slip is to short.

Third I use Howard staples or staples from my old Rogge reeds which I tie to the two slips. I sand the reed until I get a good strong crow sound.

I use the Rogge type thin wire bridle with about 7 turns around the reed just above the scrape. I now check the crow for the G sharp and try the reed in chanter.

If to hard to blow you need more sanding on reed or maybe closing or more the wire bridle.

If in tune but to flat playing near C sharp cut the top of reed, sand and check the G sharp crow.

Hopefully you should have a good working reed.

Cheers

Ferg

DIAGONALINE · Post by **DIAGONALINE** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:52 am

It is my understanding, or misunderstanding that the Howard reed has rectangulaer shaped tails deliberately, to aid tying with less movement of the slips. I have just read that Alain Froment ties the slips before shaping/scraping. ???????????????????

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:58 pm

Fergmaun wrote:I use the Rogge type thin wire bridle with about 7 turns around the reed just above the scrape. I now check the crow for the G sharp and try the reed in chanter.Ferg

I'd quite like to see what these wire bridles look like. Anyone got a picture to url or post?

PJ · Post by PJ » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:17 pm

Peter K,

Was there ever any follow-up from the theft of your chanter in Dublin?

Peter K · Post by **Peter K** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:49 pm

PJ, no. Nothing further heard, alas, so I've claimed on the insurance and got everything replaced.

wharfedalecarving · Post by **wharfedalecarving** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:55 pm

Jay-eye,
Wire bridles. Have you ever seen a Northumbrian reed or a Scottish small pipe reed. If so then the wire bridle it is very similar to the Uilleann reed. If you do try to utilise a wire bridle make sure it is soft copper (available from Maplin's or Radio Shack). Also be carefull if you use pliers to put in the final twist to lock the wire. It has a tendency to snap off. If the copper is soft enough and of a thin enough gauge it can be twisted tight enough with just the fingers.
Joseph (the UK one)

Jay-eye · Post by **Jay-eye** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:31 am

Thanks, Joseph.
I was hoping for a bit more detail than these pics show:

I need a sharp focus, well-lit close-up.
Anyone do any better?

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:29 am

There really isn't much to a wire birdle, simply (and carefully) wrap it around the blades. I like the photo depicting 'backlighting'. I use this to gauge my scrape depth.