Help needed ! new kaba gaida player

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madhat bel

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Mar 6, 2015, 9:41:10 AM3/6/15
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Hello to all gaidars. My name is Matyu and I am from bulgaria but I live in the US.I will make this post in english so it may help other people understand.
I just got a brand new kaba gaida from smolyan, made by hristo topchiev. the Gaidunitsa is made of bone and horn, really beautiful piece but I can't really play.
I know the curve and the basic tone but it looks like the gaidunica is leaking air, or it needs a lot of air ( I mean A LOT) to play. I can hear a hissing noise, its almost like the puskun is not working right!
But the master that made it called me on the phone the same day I got it and he said that he played with it and tuned it and it was all good. I pulled the piskun out to see how it works and now its really hard to make a sound for more than few seconds before I get too tired of constantly blowing.
I practiced the elbow teqnique with the drone only and I can keep it going with the right presure and do the elbow-mouth coordination really good and for long time. then I plug the drone hole with a cork and put the gaidunitsa only. Air starts gushing out and I have to squeeze realy hard to get a tone or two.
What could make my brand new kaba gaida not work?
 Please help...
Thank you

Dimitar Vassilev

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Mar 6, 2015, 9:45:33 AM3/6/15
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Hi,
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you need another bagpipe from another master - preferably from Kostadin Ilchev/Stefan Yanev/Nikolay Kabaivanov
Mr. Topchiev is notorious for making nice furniture. Video would help as well.
BR,
Dimitar

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madhat bel

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Mar 6, 2015, 10:52:07 AM3/6/15
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 Is it that bad ? I spent some money on it and I dont know if I can get it back so..

Cvetelin Andreev

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Mar 6, 2015, 3:26:29 PM3/6/15
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Hi Madhat,

Sometimes it happens that the reed gets open too much and requires too much air. It is wooden so you never know. Thus I recommend when buying gaida to get a spare pair of reeds. The best thing here is to send it back (or at least the chanter) to the master so he can fix it.
 
There are some techniques to fix the problem with the too much air required by the reed (never worked for me in the long run). If you think nothing else can be done you could try:
- if the threads are too tight, try to loose them
- put tallow (or other oil for reeds) often and tight the reed tongue with some threads. Tight the reed tongue every time after you finish playing.
- try to make the tongue thinner on the upper side with a sharp knife and sandpaper. Do not forget to put tallow or oil after that

I would recommend to buy gaida from our site www.kabagaida.com. The master is Nikolay Belyashki - one of the best in my opinion. You will get:
  • Video demonstration before payment and shipping
  • 1 Year Warranty for all parts (Shipping taxes not included)
  • Made on request. The instrument is specially made for you.
  • Free Support (basically it is me and Kostadin). Great forum in English (here), Video tutorials, Scores and a handbook in English (coming soon)
  • One Free lesson. 1 Online lesson trough Skype or Youtube for a Traditional Rhodopean folklore song.
I'm sorry for telling you that but many people get misguided by the price and buy cheap bagpipes that are not intended to play with. Quality always requires its price and regarding the bagpipes of Nikolay here is what a guy from US, collects all kind of bagpipes, said: 
"... . I liked it so much I took it to bed with me ! It was in perfect tune as soon as I played it, and your Youtube video covered all the things I'll need to know. ... I must say it is the by far the best gaida I have, and I have around ten of them. Really it stands as a work of art all by itself ... I would like to send you and the master a small cash gift too. I really think the gaida is underpriced. I think the value is much greater than 1000$. The attention to design and detail is extraordinary ... "

The gaida itself is model Kaba Gaida - Horn Drone Rings, Horn Chanter and costs 950 BGN.
Inline image 1Inline image 2Inline image 3



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madhat bel

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Mar 7, 2015, 5:16:22 AM3/7/15
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Well I learned my lesson, my gaida is cheaper than this masterpiece but still plays. I will learn on it and then I will make my own.
I am visiting my family in bulgaria now and when I go back to the US I have a shop with all kinds of woodworking tools and machinery
I also have a vast collection of elk antlers and exotic hardwoods. I like to experiment a bit

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Cvetelin Andreev

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Mar 7, 2015, 3:42:12 PM3/7/15
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That's great. Please share if you have some questions about making the kaba gaida. Me and the master will be glad to help you.

Костадин Маринов

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Apr 6, 2015, 4:41:45 PM4/6/15
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Hi guys,
Since the thread is in English, I am just going to continue in English ...

I got my hands on a nice old Kaba Gaida that I am trying to bring back to life and start learning.
My question is pretty silly, but could you help me figure out if the Chanter is in D or E?
I tuned it nicely to D, giving clear sounds on all the notes from C to the higher A, but below C, things are shaky ...
When I tune it to E, the lower notes are played nice, but I cannot reach the high notes.
Is there some dimension that would help me figure first what is my chanter, so I know what I should be tuning it to?
Thanks in advance!

Поздрави,
Костадин

Dimitar Vassilev

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Apr 7, 2015, 3:50:46 PM4/7/15
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use tallow and slide the reed in the chanters nest to find the best position for each tone.Apply wax on the chanter holes as last resort
Използвай лой за мазане на конците на пискуня. Връткай пискуня в различни позиции да видиш как звучи. Ако не помага слагай и малко восък/лой по дупките.
На твое място бих заложил на ми и вдигнал малко конците.
If I were you  I would bet on E and elevate the threads.
E chanter is usually around 34 cm in length.
Ми гайдуницата обикновено е около 34см дължина

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Костадин Маринов

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Apr 7, 2015, 5:43:48 PM4/7/15
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Див Планинец,

Благодаря за инфото ... жалко, така добре бях успял да го настроя в Ре :)
Просто игнорирах долните дупки, тъй като за първата сюита, така и така не се ползват :)

Даже и ручилото с пискун в най-горно положение и разтегнато максимално звучеше в Ре с две октави по-ниско!

Използвам свинска мас, която е по-лесна за намиране тук ... мисля че за сега върши работа ...
Ще пробвам да я настроя в Ми и ще видя как се държи ...
В Ми, трябва да изкарва нотите в следния ред, предполагам: А3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 F#4 G4 A4 B4 ?

Прикачил съм и снимка на гайдуницата с метър до нея, ако това дава повече яснота, но до горния край на пискуна са 35см.
Диаметърът на тръбата е 6,5мм ...

Поздрави,
Коста
IMG_4670[1].JPG

Костадин Маринов

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Apr 7, 2015, 5:48:08 PM4/7/15
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Също, ако сравнявам с инфото от този сайт, без да знам колко е достоверно, и меря до седлото на пискуна, имам разстояние от 31см, което както се вижда на сайта е за ручило в Ре:
http://www.shopbulgaria.com/bulgarian-gaida-bagpipes-4601/151/bulgarian-traditional-kaba-gaida-in-d.html

Поздрави,
Коста

Dimitar Vassilev

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Apr 8, 2015, 1:50:49 AM4/8/15
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Имаш 33 см от долната част до шийката включително. Можеш да пробваш настройка ми бемол. Аз съм с 34см и свиря в ми бемол, ми и фа без грижи. Само сменям пискуните и въртя позициите. За маста - овча или телешка.Със свинска става единствено да мажеш конците и пържиш филии. Тез от рогатия добитък са по-твърди и пластични.
В ми строят е следния
долно си, до, ре ми, фа, сол сол диез, ла, си
B, D, C, E, F, G,G#,A,B
При ми бемол
Bb, D, C, Eb, F, G,G#,A,Bb
Със здрави

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Костадин Маринов

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Apr 8, 2015, 4:14:00 PM4/8/15
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Благодаря за инфото!
След около 1-часова борба успях да настроя гайдуницата в Ми :)
Бемола ми изглежда малко сложен, за сега ще се старая да съм в Ми или Ре.
Мислиш ли, че е възможно с по-дълъг пискун да ползвам същата гайдуница и за Ре.
Както споменах преди, Ре-настройката беше добре от долното Си нагоре, само Си, Ла и Сол бяха малко спорадични ...

Поздрави,
Коста

Dimitar Vassilev

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Apr 8, 2015, 4:52:50 PM4/8/15
to Kaba Gaida on behalf of Костадин Маринов
Няма сложни работи, има недомислени такива. Сиромах човек жив дявол. Повечето неща съм прихванал от Венцислав Андонов и Петър Янев. За ре имаш два варианта   a) с по-дълъг пискун.
б) пробваш да вдигнеш пискуна нагоре - т.е да не е на 100% поставен в гнездото и да видиш как ще звучи. Придърпвай по малко и пробвай след всяко дърпане как звучи с меха. Същото важи и за бручилото. Няма нищо сложно в ми бемола, просто си иска време, правилния пискун, игра с конците и местоположението.
Аз понеже съм мързелив си взех един един тънкописец и си турих маркер на гайдуницата и пискуните и понаписах кое къде седи и в какъв тон свири. Не е 100% гаранция,че ще остане така нали е дърво, но е по-лесно.Накрая буташ всичките комплекти в кутии от витамини и си готов.
Относно долните тонове, понякога можеш да сложиш малко восък и да видиш как ще звучат.
Митко

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Костадин Маринов

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Apr 8, 2015, 5:28:36 PM4/8/15
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Добре казано :)
Май, цялата ми дилема дали гайдата е в Ми или Ре и била неоснователна!
Восък, разбирам, за там където има дупки ... но най-ниския тон, долното Сол не излиза, в най-добрия случай е Сол диез ...
Ако пък смъкна конците до най-долу да свири долното Сол, тогава не свири горното Ла, а май то е по-важно, че се ползва по-често.
Като цяло, в Ре, ми допада повече гайдата и мисля да я изучавам така. В крайна сметка, нали песните се свирят по един и същ начин, без значение дали гайдата е в Ре или Ми?

Поздрави,
Коста

Dimitar Vassilev

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Apr 8, 2015, 5:33:57 PM4/8/15
to Kaba Gaida on behalf of Костадин Маринов
Оставаш да свири на сол диез и слагаш малко восък отстрани на дупката да я направиш сол. Би трябвало да стане. Щом ти допада в ре, значи ре. За песните е така, просто трябва да обръгнеш малко и да можеш да различаваш в какво свирят колегите, за да се включиш. За фа ти трябва доста майсторство, понеже там всяко мърдане на пръстите се чува - висок тон.

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Костадин Маринов

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Apr 10, 2015, 2:35:03 PM4/10/15
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Митко,
Благодаря за съветите!

Весело посрещане на Велик Ден!
Поздрави,
Коста

Dimitar Vassilev

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Apr 11, 2015, 10:57:45 AM4/11/15
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И на теб Коста,
можеш да пробваш и още нещо: Настройваш в ми и слагаш едно малко топче восък на езика на пискуна  - ще падне в ми бемол.
Нататък ще си видиш кое как.


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