» Balance Tone Drone Reeds High Resolution (In Stock)
Gerry,
Holy Mackerel. Even at my amateur level I can say these drone reeds are amazing! Thanks for the recommendation.
Frank
Thank you 50 times!!!
The new Balance Tone drone reeds arrived and they work great. Strike in is wonderfull and the sound is great. Thanks again to Gerry for convincing me to try these. And I am amazed that after I ordered them on a Saturday afternoon the arrived on Monday.
Thanks again,
Steve
Hello Gerry,
The new Balance Tone Drone reeds came a day early! While I have only had a short assessment period this afternoon I can quickly say the following:
1. These play right out of the box, obviously tested before packaging.
2. Getting them to respond to equal weight does require very fine adjustment of the bridal - so, extremely small increments makes a significant difference. Bridal moves easily, but holds firm. This takes patience, but the effect is worth the effort. The shut-off feature also facilitates final set-up.
3. Once all three drones were set up, these make for the best sounding pipes in 50 years of playing, with a tone quality and effortless playing hard to beat!
Thank you for recommending these!
Regards,
Baden
Balance Tone Drone Reeds High Resolution (In Stock)
Quantity in Basket:
None
Price:
$125.00
Shipping Weight:
0.25 pounds
Highland Reeds Balance Tone U S A Drone Reeds
These unique drone reeds come ready to play. However depending on the drone characteristics and the actual blowing strength of your pipe, small adjustments may be required to obtain the optimum sound from your drones. Designed and manufactured by Bruce Hitchings.
We at Pipeline Bagpipes think these reeds are outstanding.
From Bruce:
When I started my company many years ago, I took a scientific approach from the outset. I continue to strive to produce a synthetic reed that does not only equal cane in harmonics but surpasses cane.
In addition, I have a sound analyzer on my computer. It's a piece of software used by most classical musicians and opera singers to make sure they are obtaining the best harmonics. I have used this to test reeds and have made many adjustments to my own reeds to produce higher harmonics (most other synthetic reeds do not achieve this particularly the carbon fibre tongue ones). Also, most other synthetic reeds constantly leak air. Mine do not and I would never play a reed that was leaking air.
An advantage of synthetic reeds are, of course, that synthetic is not subjected to climatic changes in the way cane is. I have a vintage set of MacDougall pipes which my great-grandfather brought in the 1800s. Naturally, for much of my life I played cane in these pipes – we didn't have synthetic reeds in those days – but these days I test all my own synthetic reeds in these pipes – all of them prior to despatch.
Reed Seat
There has never been a standard diameter for bagpipe reed seats; therefore you may have to apply hemp on the reed seat to ensure you have a firm, secure fit. If not, this will give an unsteady tonal quality and the reed could stop. Before applying hemp, take the reed seat apart from the reed body by sliding it off. Fit the reed seat by itself by pulling waxed hemp through the small groove/slit in the shoulder, then wrapping it around the reed seat (the groove will hold the end of the hemp in place). Leave a small gap/space at the end so when you squeeze it into the drone, the hemp does not come off the end. The reed seat properly fitted should be screwed all the way into the drone until the shoulder is firmly fitted against the botttom of the drone. The reed body can now be refitted by sliding it back onto the fitted reed seat . Care should be taken not to bump/move the reed when fitting it into the pipe.
Reed Adjustment
The reeds come with the bridles set to suit a medium strength pipe. Balance Tone Reeds can be adjusted to optimize sound quality and to suit your blowing strength. Mniscule adjustments to the positiion of the bridle have a significant effect on the strength of the reed and tonal quality. If you blow a strong pipe the reed may stop. If this happens, adjust the bridle upwards (lengthen the tongue). Conversely, if you blow a light pipe, the reed may be too strong, so shorten the length of the tongue by moving the bridle downward. There are two small raised lines on the side of the reed body (above the aperture in the image). It is recommended that the bridle stays between these lines for optimal functionality. Once the bridles are adjusted, the next step is to get the drone tops tuning just above the bottom of the hemp on the tuning pins. Lengthening the reed will lower the tuning position of the drone top on the tuning pin, and shortening the reed will raise the drone top on the tuning pin. The recommended position on the bottom tuning pin of the bass drone should be shorter (between 30 and 40 mm in length). Adjusting the length (lengthening/shortening) is done by moving the position of the reed body on the reed seat.
Finally, the volume can also be adjusted by rotating the blue plug to reduce the reed aperture, making the drone quieter. It is recommended however, that the aperture be left fully open, as this usually produces the optimal tonal quality.
For full instructions and video support, visit www.highlandreeds.com
Question: Gerry, I followed all the steps in setting up the
Drone Reeds and I can play up and down the scale no problem, but when I play a
tune the drones stop; should I open up the drone reed bridles some more?
Answer: No! Don't touch those bridles; you are suffering from unsteady blowingor the clinical term "operator malfunction", now you must lean to blow steady or as it's called in piping blowing tone.
About Bruce
I was proud to be Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders from 1986 to 1992. This photograph shows me in the Pipe Major position at a parade during that period.
On retiring from the British Army I set up Highland Reeds. My drone reeds and moisture control systems have helped pipers and pipe bands achieve a superior tone and stay in tune.
| Thank you.
Bruce Hitchings MBE BEM. |
|
Major Bruce Hitchings MBE BEM was born in Huntersville, New Zealand. He started playing the pipes at the age of eleven. By the time he was sixteen he was playing with the New Zealand Champions – The City of Wellington Pipe Band. Bruce visited Scotland in 1975 with the band, and the following year, came back to compete around the Highland Games circuit for what he thought would be a couple of years.
Instead of returning home, Bruce joined The Black Watch Territorial Army as a Piper in 1977. In 1978 he enlisted as a regular into the Queen’s Own Highlanders. The following year he won the Silver Medal for Piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering. The Regiment always endeavored to have its top players compete at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meetings at Inverness where Bruce won numerous prizes including second in the March and Strathspey/Reel in 1980.
Bruce continued to compete successfully around the Highland Games when his Army career permitted. He attended the Pipe Major’s course at Edinburgh Castle in 1980-81 receiving instruction from Captain Andrew Pitkeathly and Pipe Major Angus MacDonald MBE and continued to receive on-going instruction from them until their deaths.
In 1986 he became the Battalion Pipe Major, a position he held for six years and during this time was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). The last eight years of his military career was spent in the post of WO1 Pipe Major, the Senior Pipe Major, British Army and Chief Instructor at The Army School of Piping, The Castle, Edinburgh. His main responsibility during this period was the teaching of the future Pipe Majors for the British Army and was rewarded with the Member of British Empire Medal (MBE) for services to Army piping in 2000.
On completion of his regular service, Bruce was commissioned into the Territorial Army with responsibility for the development of piping within the Reserve and Cadet Forces. After a total of 33 years service, he finally resigned his commission (Major) in 2011 and continues to be held in highest esteem in military and piping circles.
Bruce set up the highly successful Highland Reeds company in 2000 and has developed new piping products with an aim to simplify the science of piping. His Balance Tone Drone Reeds and range of moisture systems are popular with pipers the world over for both their simplicity and effectiveness. He continues to work on innovative products to make the life of the piper easier.
Throughout his career Bruce played at many prestigious events for both the British Royalty and foreign dignitaries. He remains in demand as a piper through teaching and running schools and workshops in the U.S., Germany, Austria and France on a regular basis. Bruce also judges internationally and at many of the Scottish Senior competitions, including the Silver Medal at the Northern Meetings 2013. He gives recitals in places as far afield as China, New Zealand and the USA.
In 2012 Bruce was appointed a Board Member of the College of Piping and a member of the Piping Committee for the Northern Meeting Piping Competition. He continues to be a Senior Examiner for the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) Pipe & Drums Qualifications Board (PDQB).
Bruce played at many Tattoos during his military career including being the Lone Piper on many occasions one of which was the 2000 Edinburgh Military Tattoo in New Zealand. During the eight years as Senior Pipe Major he was part of the Production Team for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. His responsibilities encompassed leading all military and civilian bands in their performances.
Applying his military career status and using his myriad of military contacts in both British and American services, Bruce is an invaluable asset in any Tattoo production. Since 2014, he was the Producer of the annual Highland Military Tattoo that was held near Inverness, Scotland and puts in uncountable hours of organization as a demonstrated born leader. In 2011 he produced the first International Military Tattoo in Las Vegas, Nevada and the New York Tattoo in 2013.
Major Bruce Hitchings MBE BEM was born in Huntersville, New Zealand. He started playing the pipes at the age of eleven. By the time he was sixteen he was playing with the New Zealand Champions – The City of Wellington Pipe Band. Bruce visited Scotland in 1975 with the band, and the following year, came back to compete around the Highland Games circuit for what he thought would be a couple of years.