How long have you been playing your chanter reed for?

benwalker · Post by **benwalker** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:50 am

I think the longest I got out of a chanter reed was about 2 years.
My current reed seems about to give in (had it about a year but played the sh*t out of it)
Wonder who holds the record?

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:01 am

20 years now but recently I decided a chanter made to the latest design would be a bit of a boost. The maker agreed and duely started work on the new one so in some six weeks or so I'll have a new chanter. A bit like replacing the car before the petrol runs out but what can you do?.

John O'Gara · Post by **John O'Gara** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:25 am

Into my 3rd year with a Charles Roberts reed.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:52 am

The longest I have had a reed last was approximately 1 year or so.... I keep handling them carelessly, dropping them, smashing them...

Yesterday I was putting the windway back on, when I sneezed suddenly, resulting in the windway splitting the reed right down the middle of both blades to the binding... pity, it was a great reed.

But, I have loads of them, and currently the one I have in my chanter is a good one that will become really good once I have played it in for a couple of months.... that is, if I don't accidentally step on it or something similar.

Richard Katz · Post by **Richard Katz** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:05 am

I am still playing my original Charles Roberts reed that I received with my pipes in 1998. It has performed flawlessly for almost 8 years now. I have tried a few others, but none compare.

carel · Post by **carel** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:27 am

In the beginning (4,5 years) I was handling them carelessly
My pipemaker (mr van Daal) told me to leave them alone
Now I am playing his chanterreed for 3 years
I wonder if I need a new reed after I get 3 more keys

123454321 · Post by **123454321** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:03 pm

My original reed I played for about 1.5 years, my new reed, .5 years.

boyd · Post by **boyd** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:43 pm

5 years.
The spare is a bit like Michael Owen abroad.....keeps asking for a free transfer so it can get playing!!

B

seisflutes · Post by **seisflutes** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:26 pm

Nearly 2 years so far, and it shows no signs of giving out yet. I keep wondering how long it will end up lasting, and hoping it will be a long time, because I'm sure it will be a very long time before I'll be able to make a decent replacement.

tompipes · Post by **tompipes** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:42 pm

The one I have now I made 3 years ago. The one before that was 9 years on the go.
It'd be still going if it wasn't cracked ina car crash. I broke a leg!
Tommy

uilleannfinlander · Post by **uilleannfinlander** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:58 pm

Dunne made reed now 1.5 year with his chanter, ever no" biiig" problems , just something local humidity effects ...... after quite hard season here with cold temperature +
quite dry air , reed is now, with bridle adjustings going well, but abit "maintenance"with back D against moving with between two octaves ,,,
gurrrledeeeddd ..., very sensitive with pressure.(Lower D and others just fine).. reed lips are really thinshaved.

simonknight · Post by **simonknight** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:09 pm

Current Seth G concert D reed going for 4 months and it's still getting better.

Playing a reed in my C Angus chanter that dates back to 2003.

The reed in my Herriott and Alan Northumbrian D chanter is dated 1992 and works very nicely.

magroibin · Post by **magroibin** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:03 pm

Well...I've been playing my reed for about an hour....and LOVING IT!

'Tis in my newly aquired Kirk Lynch narrow bore D chanter. I believe the reed is by Alan Burton.

Wow!!! Now I guess I've officially gone over to the narrow side of the dark side.

Paul

P.S. My concert chanter reed is 8 years old...that's how long I've had my Lynch concert set. I've newer reeds for it but I keep going back to the tried and true.

eskin · Post by **eskin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:48 am

4 years on my first Kirk Lynch reed, until I took it to Swannanoa back in 2002 and it couldn't handle the moisture of North Carolina and exploded. Second reed going on nearly 3 years now, built by David Coultrup here in SoCal.

Fergmaun · Post by **Fergmaun** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:34 pm

Andreas Rogge B Plumwood chanter with first reed lasted from
Dec 2001 - April 2005 (4 year 4 months). The reed I am using now is by A Rogge at Cultra Tionol Sept 2005. I have also B reeds made by Alan Burton March 2005, Alan Ginsberg Sept 2005, my own reed Sept 2005.

Andreas Rogge D Plumwood chanter with first reed lasted from
Jan 2004 - May 2005 (1 year 4 months). I have new Rogge D reed made May 2005 and also reeds by Alan byrton and 2 by myself Sept 2005/Jan 2005.

Andreas Rogge C Snakewood chanter with first reed lasted from
Sept 1997 - May 2003 (6 years 8 months). Got new reed made by Rogge Oct 2004 and I didn't make any reeds for theis chanter. The full set C snakewod was sold in April 2005 to Andy May Northumbrian smallpipes player with the C reed made in Oct 2004.

Cheers

Ferg