29 - synthetic drone Reeds

As with the pipe bag, drone reeds have gone very “high-tech” over the past several years. The good news is that they keep getting better. The bad news is that they’re expensive… and they keep getting better! It’s very frustrating to hand over $150 for the latest and greatest synthetic reed, and then three months later someone has come out with a reed that’s even better.

The first commercially-made synthetic reed was invented and produced by Geoff Ross of Australia. The Ross reed employed a plastic body with a laminated cane tongue. A rubber plug allowed the user to adjust the pitch and loudness of the reed. Interestingly, in the years since this reed was first introduced, it has periodically fallen in and out of favor. This reed requires some skill in selecting the proper tongue and in tweaking it into top performance. In the proper hands, these reeds can be set up to produce a truly superior sound, especially the bass reed. At least two other manufacturers have introduced products that are very similar to the original Ross drone reed.

The next breakthrough came from Mark Wygent in Philadelphia. Mark introduced a reed with a composite body, plastic tongue, and threaded plastic tuning screw. These reeds gained immediate attention and respect and similar reeds started showing up from other makers. The basic style and functionality of this reed design has endured, however the materials have evolved to include carbon fiber and glass fiber tongues.

Mark Lee (USA) introduced his Rocket reeds and pushed the envelope further yet. Mark’s concept was to manufacture reeds on a custom basis, created specifically for your bagpipe and particular blowing strength. The Rocket’s shape gave the reed its name. The sound and performance gave the Rocket its reputation. Mark machines his product to exacting tolerances (2/10,000 of an inch). The tongues are pre-set and adjustments are minimal and mostly unnecessary. Mark was the first reed maker to use carbon fiber, and then later, glass fiber for the tongue material.

Scotland, not to be outdone, has produced several innovations as well. R. T. Shepherd & Sons introduced a reed with a telescopic body, to change the pitch of the reed.

All in all, synthetic drone reeds have had a tremendous impact on piping. I have played most of the makes currently on the market. As a general statement, I believe that the advantages of synthetic drone reeds over cane drone reeds are undeniable.

1. They are easy to adjust. By manipulating the rubber bridle or the rubber tuning pin, one is able to adjust the pitch. The bridle will also regulate the amount of air required to produce the proper sound. The reeds behave like cane reeds in that if they are overblown, they will stop sounding.

2. They are not easy to damage. The construction of the reeds is sturdy. Most of the materials used will last indefinitely if handled correctly. If they do become damaged, replacement parts are readily available.

3. They are easy to care for. Although they resist moisture, however condensation can build up on the reed during prolonged use. The solution is simple. Remove the reed, blow the water off, wipe with a soft cloth or tissue, insert and play.

4. They remain steady throughout long periods of uninterrupted playing. The materials used are water resistant, so there are no problems with water-logged reeds. They are also more tolerant of changes in temperature. This contributes to the overall steadiness in the sound produced.

I refer to synthetic drones reeds as The Great Equalizer. They will help inexperienced pipers produce a better and steadier drone sound than cane will allow. The learning curve is relatively short and the variables are limited, relative to cane. The will also make a lesser set of pipes sound and behave to an acceptable level. On the other hand, synthetic drone reeds have yet to fully capture the sweet natural sounds produced by a good set of cane tenor reeds or the depth and richness of a good cane bass reed. In terms of “sound” cane reeds played by an accomplished piper in a superior set of pipes still sets the standard.

You can dramatically change the personality of your bagpipes by your reed selection. I know that I can improve the overall sound of my bagpipe by mixing different synthetic reeds or by mixing cane and synthetic reeds. For instance, several top pipers play synthetic tenor drone reeds and a cane bass drone reed. I also know top pipers who play one brand of synthetic tenor reeds and a Ross style bass reed. It is entirely acceptable and in many instances preferable, to mix your drone reeds in order to achieve superior results.