Drone tuning low; HELP

[David Hagen]

I have a set of c.1920 Henderson pipes. The tenors tune in the right place,
but I have never been able to tune the big drone higher than one finger width.
I have tried several techniques, and none are effective. If I pull the top
section down, the bottom does not come up very far. Then it starts to growl loudly.
I have seated the reed further out of the drone, but it doesn't lift it; instead
it cuts out.

I've had this set of pipes for five years, and I'm sure the problem is in the bore width.
The bottom section of the bass has a wide bore (wider than most pipes that I've seen),
and the middle section is a new replacement. The tuning position has not changed due
to the replacement, so I'm wondering if the problem lies in the top or bottom half.
Yet I'd perfer not to replace anymore of the drone.

Were drone reeds made differently when my pipe was made?

If so, who should I contact to order one (provided that will help)?

I'm sick of people harping on me b/c of the tuning position of bass drone, so if anyone
can help, I'd be forever thankful.

Thanks in advance,

Ne Oublie,

Andrew L. Hagen

[Bill Boxall]

In [(INT) REC.MUSIC.MAKERS.BAGPIPE] on <17 Mar 95 13:02>, David Hagen wrote to
All:

DH> I've had this set of pipes for five years, and I'm sure the
DH> problem is in the bore width. The bottom section of the bass has
DH> a wide bore (wider than most pipes that I've seen), and the
DH> middle section is a new replacement. The tuning position has not
DH> changed due to the replacement, so I'm wondering if the problem
DH> lies in the top or bottom half. Yet I'd perfer not to replace
DH> anymore of the drone.

Hi, Andrew... Hard to say, actually. Have you tried different bass
drone reeds? Moving the bridle to lengthen or shorten the tongue will
sharpen or flatten the reed. The top section of your base should be
placed so that one or two wraps of your hemp is showing. The bottom
section of your bass drone should tune 1 or 1 1/2 inches above the
ferrule. This will maximize the harmonics from the bass drone. If
you've determined that it isn't the reed, then check the bore in all the
sections of the drone. Make sure it's smooth, and straight. No warps.
Make sure the hemp fittings on your tuning pins are even, so that drone
sections don't wiggle. This will affect things. Lastly, get yourself a
dial caliper and measure the inside diameter of the different sections
of the drone. On an old set of Hendersons such as you have, the inside
diameters of the bass drone should be as follows:

Bottom Bass impedance chamber: .340 to .343 (max)
Intermediate Bass resonance chamber: .725 to .730 (max)
Intermediate Bass impedance chamber: .381 to .404 (max)
Top Bass resonance chamber: .725 to .730 (max)
Top Bass impedance chamber: .560 to .565 (max)

All measurements are in inches. If you're unfamiliar with the above
terminology, the thin chambers in the drone are impedance chambers, and
the thick ones are resonance chambers.

Well, that's all I can think of! Hope you get them working. A nice
sounding set of Hendersons is a hard pipe to beat!
Cheers...
Bill

[Dr Gilbert MacKay]

I had the same problem with my Henderson set about twenty-five years ago
and had it fixed permanently by having a new bottom joint made by Hardie
in Glasgow. Another option may be to experiment with plastic reeds which
seem to be be a bit more tolerant of adjustment. You could also try
putting in a tenor reed: this will work sometimes, but the tone is rather
thin.

Good luck

[MoscowSam]

> If you prefer, cut the reed off 1/8 inch at a time with a small, very fine
> tooth, sharp saw and trim to the correct angle with a very sharp knife.
> Then re-hemp and try it. Keep doing this until you get it to tune where
> you want it.

Yes. I find that an "Xacto" saw used in model building, and other arts
and craftsy endeavors, works very well

PiperSam

-----------------------------------------------------------------
PiperSam: Sam Scripter, Moscow, Latah (I run slower) County, ID
PS, Border Highlanders, Drums and Pipes
scri...@uidaho.edu No "spuds" here!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[David C Daye]

In article <Pine.3.89.9503290...@orifice.psych.uidaho.edu>,
Kenneth G. Gordon <ke...@orifice.psych.uidaho.edu> wrote:

>I repeat, for a bass drone tuning low, get the best bass drone reed you
>can find, set it up as best you can so that it sounds best, etc. Then
>CHUCK IT IN A PENCIL SHARPENER AND MAKE IT SHORTER!

This works well but for a limited range. GHB drone reeds seem to require a
minimum length of "stem" for mechanical support of the blade. When the
stem gets too short I've had marginal success adding a 2nd or 3rd bridle
firmly wrapped on the stem between the working bridle and the reed base,
but there are limits, and I've passed 'em many's a time! :( Reed just
dies, becomes a valve.

Seems I've heard of several makers offering replacement bottom bass drone
sections for old pipes such as Hendersons. I know Gibson did at one point,
seems I've heard Dunbar-Eller does/did, and someone else mentioned Hardie.
I heard a Gibson playing in a very nice sounding Henderson bass, tuned
well out on both slides.
--
David Daye "Good reeds will get you through times
Highland & uilleann pipes of bad gigs, better than good gigs will
Columbus, Ohio USA get you through times of bad reeds!"
day...@osu.edu

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

I repeat, for a bass drone tuning low, get the best bass drone reed you
can find, set it up as best you can so that it sounds best, etc. Then

CHUCK IT IN A PENCIL SHARPENER AND MAKE IT SHORTER! Use one of those
LARGER pencil sharpeners which take multiple sizes of pencil, and get a
SHARP one. Use care so that you don't otherwise damage the reed.

If you prefer, cut the reed off 1/8 inch at a time with a small, very fine
tooth, sharp saw and trim to the correct angle with a very sharp knife.
Then re-hemp and try it. Keep doing this until you get it to tune where
you want it.

The reason I used a pencil sharpener is because I had trouble
getting the taper even if I used a knife.

It DOES work.

(Andrew?)

Later.