From: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com (bagpipe-digest) To: bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: bagpipe-digest V1 #222 Reply-To: bagpipe-digest Sender: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk bagpipe-digest Wednesday, December 15 1999 Volume 01 : Number 222 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 17:32:05 -0000 From: "Peter Anderson" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Piping at Hogmanay - -- Peter Anderson Mr White wrote in message news:835nh0$ni8$1@news1.cableinet.co.uk... > Peter, > > I noticed you gave your location as Surrey in the UK ... > > I moved to the Woking area in February from the US and have been attempting > to get my piping chops back after a 12-year layoff. Would you happen to > know anybody in the general area of Woking/Guildford that would be > interested in giving me some lessons? It's one of my New Year's (or shall I > say Hogmanay) Resolutions to be able to call myself a piper again! > > If you could put me in touch with a decent (and fairly patient) teacher, I > would appreciate it. I do read music and have a couple of method books plus > Scots Guards, etc., but could use some refreshing on fingerings and > technique. Also, I find lessons to be the best inspiration for practice. > > Thanks in advance for the help! > > Stuart Goodburne > Mr.White@cableinet.co.uk > > > You have come to the right place - our P/M is an ex-Scots Guards P/M, we have in our band an ex-Scots Guards piper who gave up piping in 1958 (that is not a misprint) and took it up again about 18 months ago. He is a super piper and very good with students. What is even more interesting about this guy is that he was one of the band that sat in the desert in the 1950's and transcribed the tunes from scraps of paper to what is now Scots Guards Book 1. Taught by J.B.Robertson he has many stories to tell. We had a guy visit our for a few weeks when he came over from Kentucky (we found him from this Ng) and in Jan we have a visitor from The City of Washington PB who will be with us for 9 months. I will email you privately with details ect > > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 14:07:29 -0400 From: "dnimmo" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Piping at Hogmanay Hugh Hamilton wrote in message ... >Mmmm > > >On chatting to some of the pipers locally - Midlands of England - who are >good enough to play at New Year, I have noticed that few of them are >playing at Hogmanay - New Years Eve - they have mentioned that a lot of >events have been canceled - too expensive etc > >Is this happening elsewhere?? Program on Canadian TV last week, re the New Years ski packages at Whistler Mountain, a large resort just north of Vancouver............typically condos were $1000 per night with a 5 night minimum stay and the New Years Eve dinner was $2000 per plate ! ! all these things were reporting sold out last Spring, but when it came to writing the cheques (required 3 or 4 months in advance), there were suddently vast vacancies everywhere ! They spoke of decreasing the minimum to 3 days ! and are anticipating a "public relations nightmare" when a party at dinner discover that the next table paid half, or less, than what they paid. (and the condo owners don't get the vast returns promised by the rental agency) Here in Nova Scotia: You can still get tickets at local Legions and Community Halls for a dinner dance for $40 to $60 CAN per couple..........or pay $400 per person double occupancy at one of the "name brand" hotels downtown Halifax...................... We are doing a private house party, but with catering brought in champagne included and a piper playing Auld Lang Syne at midnight, for $50 a couple...............hmmm...... it is a simple tune but I'd better get practicing..........my fee for playing?............an extra glass of champagne !................... most of my friends are spending it at home with friends or neighbours. David - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 14 Dec 1999 19:23:11 GMT From: jginmd@aol.com (Jginmd) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Regarding Blowing Tone The more time you spend in front of a judge fooling with your horn the more sound you offer up for critque. If you are a serious competitor you know this. It can work in your favour or very much against you. Taking too much time in front of a judge farting around with your tuning and tape will only piss the judge and the other competitors off AND make the event run late. I am more impressed with someone like Duncan Bell who walks up to the boards says what he is going to do then does it. No fiddling around warming up, pinching reeds changing tape, blowing water out of over warmed-up drone reeds, no bridle adjustments or hair insertions. Like any other experienced competitor, he goes, he plays, he leaves. This idea of being prepared is not a new topic. Piper and drummer has had bits about it in the past and it is a common complaint among judges and games people. >Oh - shaken.. not by the comment <>, as I mentioned, we found >it, >(and a number of other comments) to be quite funny - but then I started to >think, what if others take this stuff seriously?.. And there I was.. > >>I laughed too, at the 'Prepared' comment. But you seem overly shaken by >>'whoever' said "[she] just wasn't prepared". I don't think it's funny to watch your daughter try to get her act together (unforseen events not withstanding) while the world waits. I think it is disrespectful to the judge and the other competitors. I don't think that's funny if it can be helped. I wish the two min. scratch rule was enforced. If (you can't get your shit together) you aren't prepared you're out. JGS - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:02:31 -0500 From: "Maeve" Subject: (bagpipe) True confessions I have decided something over the last few days and need to clear my conscience with a confession. And I'm curious to see if there are any more "sick puppies", like myself, out there. Here it goes . . . .sit tight! . . .. I like setting up pipes and playing with reeds more than I like playing them!!! GO FIGURE! This reality hit me the other day when I was playing with the cane reeds in Angus. He was going SO nicely with my Wygents that I couldn't figure out WHY I would go about making changes! Then there was the parade Saturday night. A friend asked me to be part of the flag corps for a local pipe band. We were on the field, awaiting the start of the parade, when I heard this horrible, familiar squeal. Looking over my shoulder, I could see a couple of pipers toying with drone reeds. I walked over and said, "Trying to set up Wygents in Dunbars?" Startled, they affirmed that I was correct. "Mind if I try?" I asked. The one fellow told me that he had these reeds for a year and couldn't get them to play. I took the bass drone reed, tweaked it a little and handed it back. They plugged it in and it played. Curiosity overtook me again and I asked if I could try his pipe. The middle tenor was corked and I played them for a moment. Since the parade was about to begin, I told him that if he meet me sometime this week, I would set them up and have them playing for him . . . . it was ALL too familiar . . . been there, did that, won't go back! Poor guy! I'm meeting with him Thursday night! AND . . another friend just got an set of Wygents to try. Not having any spare time for himself, I told him that I would do the break-in and set up for him (being the Wygent Drone Queen of the South!)! Is this sick???? And I now have my cane reeds singing beautifully, drones are tuning about where I want them to tune, and this is just in time for the NEW drone reeds that will be arriving! GEEZ!!!! Does anyone else enjoy this same passion for challenges?? Anyone want their reeds broken in??!??! :) :) :) :) :) :) I have to quit this and do some practicing before too long!!! Orlando is coming up . . DAVE!!! :) - -- Love and Light be with you, Maeve . . . in sunny Florida http://people.delphi.com/terralyn terride@sanctum.com "Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess." --- Oscar Wilde - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:15:20 -0500 From: Chris Hamilton Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Regarding Blowing Tone On 14 Dec 1999 19:23:11 GMT, jginmd@aol.com (Jginmd) wrote: >The more time you spend in front of a judge fooling with your horn the more >sound you offer up for critque. If you are a serious competitor you know this. >It can work in your favour or very much against you. > Taking too much time in front of a judge farting around with your tuning and >tape will only piss the judge and the other competitors off AND make the event >run late. I am more impressed with someone like Duncan Bell who walks up to the >boards says what he is going to do then does it. No fiddling around warming up, >pinching reeds changing tape, blowing water out of over warmed-up drone reeds, >no bridle adjustments or hair insertions. Like any other experienced >competitor, he goes, he plays, he leaves. This idea of being prepared is not a >new topic. Piper and drummer has had bits about it in the past and it is a >common complaint among judges and games people. Yup, I agree 100%, John. Sometimes games committees will state that a tuning limit (ie, 5 mins) will be enforced, then they don't enforce it. This was the sorry case a two or three years ago at Altamont / Capital District. Certain, and more than one, individuals tuned for, I kid you not, 10 (TEN) minutes for their H&J contest, while others of us were waiting to go on trying to keep our pipes at their peak. A gentle reminder to the steward resulted in a "Yes, I'll speak to them" and then nothing was done. The judge looked annoyed, but he too didn't do anything about it. The weather conditions were not adverse, in fact it was a beautiful day. Yep, if you're not pretty much in tune and "all systems go" when you step on the boards, either talk to the steward or the judge to see if you can play later, or pack it in that day. Just a pet peeve of mine. Chris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chris Hamilton -- ToneCzar@erols.com City of Washington Pipe Band http://toneczar.freeservers.com/ - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:31:09 -0500 From: Bentley Wall Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Rowan Tree (facts) The original medical sources I listed went on to say they hadn't tested them really. As in the nonmedical science community, whenever things haven't been tested they usually rate them as overly hazardous in the cover your ass way of doing things. This is not to say that the berries are mildly toxic or not. They merely said that when in doubt, take precautions, and they hadn't tested them officially to the point where they could state with certainty that they were NOT mildly toxic. Also, many natural things are mildly toxic until they are cooked. So, in the case of your recipes, which I did not look up actually, cooking things may make them OK whereas eating them off the tree may not. I do not know. Anyway, I was not stating that they were toxic. I was just pointing to a few internet sites where there was some basic information. I hope this clears it up. Thanks for the additional information. Someone will undoubtedly try the recipes and let us know about the toxicity....although....if some of the 'cooks' I know prepared the items, they would be toxic in the end whether or not the berries were at any time toxic themselves! : ) Bentley Wall "Ewan A. Macpherson" wrote: > Bentley Wall wrote: > > > when asked (again) what the hell a Rowan Tree was...I decided to post > > this. This info has been gathered from the web. The medical section > > was from a place that specified no redistribution so I took most of the > > medical stuff out and left mostly just the general knowledge stuff in > > there. > > Hey most of the medical stuff was the same as every other kind of mildly > > > > toxic plant or berry (don't eat it; if you do see a doctor right away) > > Really? I've eaten rowan jelly many times with no ill effects. > Here's a recipe: > http://oregonlive.com/gardening/vern/garvern981224.html > > This site also lists the berries as edible: > http://www.u-net.com/trees/p5-25.htm > > -- > Ewan Macpherson > http://www-personal.umich.edu/~emacpher/pipes.html - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 23:44:18 GMT From: "Ron Bowen" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) Mark, you're twisting this into something that it is not! This is not a slam against you or your reeds. Hell, I like them! No, at this point they are not my first choice, but this doesn't make me, or you, bad people. And it doesn't mean that your reeds aren't the perfect choice for the next guy. I apologize for not sending them back for further adjustment. I explained earlier that I hadn't gotten a chance to give them a fair assessment because we were in the middle of the competition season. I don't like to fool with a set-up that's working for me. Have you ever been the guy in the band to blow the attack? Me neither and I wasn't about to push my good fortune. Since the season ended, I've played them quite a bit, in several different sets of pipes with different chanter reeds. My observations are what they are. Pretty needless shots you take. Considering the praise that I was heaping on you and the reeds, I hope you don't treat all your customers that way. No games are being played. I don't want your money. Besides, if you sent money, I'd have to give it to the guy who bought the first set of reeds, which I returned to you following your generous offer to exchange them for reeds "set" for me and my pipe. Finally, I'm having "no time" with John, good ol' or otherwise. Haven't seen him in weeks. Suggesting that John and I are having any "time" with this or any other topic is just to simplistic, if not opportunistic. So let's call a truce and just focus on issues of piping and piping products. So, let's pretend that I'm a valued customer. Other than telling me to send the reeds back for adjustment, what can I do to correct the problems I'm having? Also, what about that pointy end? Was there another reason or were you trying to kill me with it? Why no external pitch adjustment? Sincerely Ringo wrote in message news:836hbq$r2e$1@nnrp1.deja.com... > In article , > "Ron Bowen" wrote: > > Thanks Bill, really good comments/insights. Yes I did get the reeds > direct > > from Mark and I will also confess that I have not been completely > faithful > > to them, but then I am so inclined with other synthetic reeds. With > only > > the smallest amount of tongue in cheek, I will also admit that I know > my way > > around drone reeds, both synthetic and cane. The Rocket Reed is very > > unique.... couple quick comments: > > 1) There are several techniques to flatten the bass drone pitch. > What about > > to sharpen the pitch, as in an old pipe that likes to tune low on the > pin? > > In the case of *some* old pipes which like to tune low on the pin, I'd > recommend buying reeds for *those* pipes. > > > 2) You're right about the bridle sensitivity of synthetic reeds. The > Ross > > synthetic (black plastic with the cane tongue) reed is the least > sensitive > > of all of them. I would rate the Rocket no higher than the most > sensitive > > of the lot. I guess I was more concerned about the effects of bridle > > adjustment than the amount of bridle adjustment. > > I made the reed so it can be easily taken down and cleaned. O-rings > facilitate this feature. You might not like to use O-rings. So use > black waxed hemp instead - no big deal. > > The first set of reeds you tried were made to fit Naills pitched quite > high using a very hard chanter reed. You took me up on my offer to > exchange them at no charge. I sent new reeds to you set for a "medium" > chanter reed and you emailed to explain they were squealing on strike- > in. I responded that they were still set too hard and to send them > back so I could adjust the strength. I've not seen the reeds yet, > Ron. Are you going to give me the opportunity to set them up > correctly, or shall we play this game? > > Tell you what Ron, even though you didn't buy those reeds yourself, I'm > willing to buy them back from you. You and John can have a good ol' > time at my expense. > > Mark > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 22:46:19 GMT From: markalee@my-deja.com Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) In article , "Ron Bowen" wrote: > Thanks Bill, really good comments/insights. Yes I did get the reeds direct > from Mark and I will also confess that I have not been completely faithful > to them, but then I am so inclined with other synthetic reeds. With only > the smallest amount of tongue in cheek, I will also admit that I know my way > around drone reeds, both synthetic and cane. The Rocket Reed is very > unique.... couple quick comments: > 1) There are several techniques to flatten the bass drone pitch. What about > to sharpen the pitch, as in an old pipe that likes to tune low on the pin? In the case of *some* old pipes which like to tune low on the pin, I'd recommend buying reeds for *those* pipes. > 2) You're right about the bridle sensitivity of synthetic reeds. The Ross > synthetic (black plastic with the cane tongue) reed is the least sensitive > of all of them. I would rate the Rocket no higher than the most sensitive > of the lot. I guess I was more concerned about the effects of bridle > adjustment than the amount of bridle adjustment. I made the reed so it can be easily taken down and cleaned. O-rings facilitate this feature. You might not like to use O-rings. So use black waxed hemp instead - no big deal. The first set of reeds you tried were made to fit Naills pitched quite high using a very hard chanter reed. You took me up on my offer to exchange them at no charge. I sent new reeds to you set for a "medium" chanter reed and you emailed to explain they were squealing on strike- in. I responded that they were still set too hard and to send them back so I could adjust the strength. I've not seen the reeds yet, Ron. Are you going to give me the opportunity to set them up correctly, or shall we play this game? Tell you what Ron, even though you didn't buy those reeds yourself, I'm willing to buy them back from you. You and John can have a good ol' time at my expense. Mark Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 00:47:27 GMT From: zudupiper@aol.com (Zudupiper) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: help...with Crisler tie-in >I use a wooden dowel the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the >bottom of the stock. I run the dowel through the end of the bag and >align the rod with the location of the hole. Now why didn't I think of that? Great idea! Zu - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 22:23:18 GMT From: markalee@my-deja.com Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) In article , "Ron Bowen" wrote: > Ken, what a great post. Especially liked your comments about what works for > one, might not work for another and about those who make broad unilateral > statements. Not sure about the "pointy end" thing. I swear by inverted > bass drone reeds. No aerodynamics there! Great stuff. Thanks. > Ringo No aerodynamics for an inverted bass? Let's take a look. The air entering the stock has plenty of time to establish a steady flow regime before entering the orifice because the free end of the blade is well away from the stock entrance. The air moving past the reed feels little resistance. The purpose of the nose-cone is the same, in addition to its functionality as means for tuning. One might argue that frictional losses are negligible anyway, so why bother? Same reason Kron bothers to make a venturi pipe chanter stock. Same reason many pipers are having their drone stocks "flaired." All decrease frictional losses. We might look at tuning the same way. If, on a cold morning, we tune at 468 Hz and are tuning two fingers off the bass bottom, and then that afternoon it's quite hot and we're tuning at 474 Hz, is the 1/4 to 3/8 inch we must tune further down the bass bottom pin really going to get your panties in a twist? And is it really going to kill the day if you have to pack the nose-cone to maintain that certain amount of hemp on your tenors? Maybe for you. Maybe for John. Mark Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 01:04:45 GMT From: zudupiper@aol.com (Zudupiper) Subject: (bagpipe) Almost Blowing Tone I spent my practice today coming dangerously close to blowing tone. A couple of times I had it for a few minutes but it got away. I'm waiting for a new bag because my current one is greasy and ineffective with absorbing moisture, and I think this is what kept me from actually blowing tone for more than a couple of minutes. I was doing a number of things at once....putting the final touches on a new reed and adjusting it for final strength and intonation. Finally got it seated just right, or so I thought. Played for a while, then I realized that I had set the chanter reed and tuned the pipes to a slightly different pressure than I actually play at. Not a big difference, but noticeable over the long haul. Also noticeable (and annoying) when most of the scale seems nicely in tune with the drones, but loA isn't. Then I realized the rest of the scale isn't as nice as it could be. Fiddle again. Once I realized that, I had to reseat the reed a little deeper and of course retune the drones. Just about the time I was finally happy with everything (after about 45 minutes), the chanter reed had absorbed enough moisture to get hard enough to make one of the drones shut off. In any case the drone reeds were pretty wet by now. Moral of the story: I shouldn't bother doing this again until I have a new bag lashed on. (Hear that, madman?) BTW, I'm no longer using or recommending the Murphy's Oil Soap-Crisco homemade seasoning. There is a learning curve here. It took a couple years and 3 bags, but I've finally seen the light. Sorry, Royce. Zu - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 20:45:01 GMT From: Bill Carr Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) Ron Bowen wrote: Snipped > The Rocket Reed is very unique.... couple quick comments: > 1) There are several techniques to flatten the bass drone pitch. What about > to sharpen the pitch, as in an old pipe that likes to tune low on the pin? Bridle adjustment to a certain extent. You can also put a small amount of the putty in the reed body, in the nose cone end. That will sharpen the reed a touch. I wonder if it's really an issue at all though. Mark custom makes the reed to the drone, so if you have a drone that tunes very low he would compensate for that in the dimensions of the reed. Bill Just for the record. I wouldn't pretend to know a fraction of what Ron knows about reeds or setting up bagpipes so I hope I'm not coming across as a "Know All". I'm just sharing what I have experienced. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 14 Dec 1999 23:52:21 GMT From: bobalewi@aol.com (Bobalewi) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Rowan Tree (facts) or fiction? If a piper were to contract arthritis and could not play because of this, the planting of a Rowan tree on the side of the house would cure them of the affliction. As told to myself by Angus J. at the College B. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 01:16:44 GMT From: zudupiper@aol.com (Zudupiper) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) > Also, what about that pointy end? Was there another reason or were >you trying to kill me with it? Why no external pitch adjustment? Arrgh! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! (Old Monty Python reference here.) I'm glad my Zu reeds were not a radical departure from industry standards or I'd be getting grilled now ; ) Zu - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 01:21:39 GMT From: zudupiper@aol.com (Zudupiper) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: True confessions > I told him that I would do the >break-in and set up for him (being the Wygent Drone Queen of the South!)! Better than being the WIcked Witch of the West at any rate ; ) If he sends me the reeds I can Zudutongue them and there won't be a breakin period. Yeah, I like setting up reeds too but it's work sometimes. I especially like taking a set of unplayable reeds, reworking them, and playing them in to the point where I'm happy with the sound. Takes a couple hours, but if does provide a nice feeling of accomplishment. Zu - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 17:28:31 -0800 From: Mike Le Boeuf Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Lochaber Oak Rick wrote: > > Thanks Mike, Ok, looks like Red Oak is definitely a miss, but. . . does > anyone out there play Cameron's Bagpipe? The Lochaber Oak certainly must > have more agreeable qualities. . . > > Best regards, > Rick > > Mike Le Boeuf wrote in message > news:3855E62E.580E@worldnet.att.net... > > LoL, I did the same thing... > > I put layers and layers of odd thick goupy finishes on it to seal the > > pores. After it looked like it was droped in glue. I have seen some types of oak that have almost no pores, but I think this is a Burl. Often there is alot of knots in the wood (I think thats all it is), but its a very strong piece of the wood. Also, A very hard Walnut wood works for Uilleann Pipe drones. so it should work for PC's. Mike - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 02:04:09 GMT From: "Ron Bowen" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) Well, Mark, looks like it's you and me. So be it! Are you telling me that you designed the pointy end for aerodynamic reasons? If so, how did it perform with a blunter weapon on the end? Would Wygent and other makers improve the performance of their reeds by adapting a pointy end too? I've always been curious about inverted cane bass reeds. I've used them for years and swear by them. I never really understood whether it was the reed, or the fact that I had so much confidence in them, that gave me 100% attacks and solid performance. Have you tried making an inverted synthetic reed, bass or tenor? Also, I don't know of anybody that makes or uses inverted cane tenor reeds. I'm curious why an inverted bass would work so well but nobody seems to be pursuing inverted tenor reeds. Maybe we could get a couple of the cane reed makers to comment. When you speak of frictional loss, how much are you talking about. I generally find that most pipers would do well to keep an airtight bag, or air-efficient reeds, let alone worry about the frictional losses of air travelling over reeds or through stocks. Brings to mind something about a perfect world vs the real world.... Your last paragraph is uncalled for...but I'll give it a go. What would you rather do when setting up a drone reed. Re-tie the bridle, chop the end off, scrape the tongue, etc. etc. or twist a screw knob in the end of the reed. Same question, which would you rather do, pull the nose cone off the Rocket Ship, slap in some putty, insert nose cone back onto Rocket Ship or..... twist a screw knob in the end of the reed. Pretty simple question. Now, try not to come up with a complicated or insulting answer. Last point... What has John got to do with this? Nobody here is spoiling for a fight. Both he and I can surely speak for ourselves. Incidentally, I don't see him on this thread (other that the initial post) which is good. I understand that he's been rough on you and others on the NG but this has nothing to do with me, or if so, please point out to me where it does. Ringo wrote in message news:836g05$psj$1@nnrp1.deja.com... > In article , > "Ron Bowen" wrote: > > Ken, what a great post. Especially liked your comments about what > works for > > one, might not work for another and about those who make broad > unilateral > > statements. Not sure about the "pointy end" thing. I swear by > inverted > > bass drone reeds. No aerodynamics there! Great stuff. Thanks. > > Ringo > > No aerodynamics for an inverted bass? Let's take a look. The air > entering the stock has plenty of time to establish a steady flow regime > before entering the orifice because the free end of the blade is well > away from the stock entrance. The air moving past the reed feels > little resistance. The purpose of the nose-cone is the same, in > addition to its functionality as means for tuning. > > One might argue that frictional losses are negligible anyway, so why > bother? Same reason Kron bothers to make a venturi pipe chanter > stock. Same reason many pipers are having their drone stocks > "flaired." All decrease frictional losses. > > We might look at tuning the same way. If, on a cold morning, we tune > at 468 Hz and are tuning two fingers off the bass bottom, and then that > afternoon it's quite hot and we're tuning at 474 Hz, is the 1/4 to 3/8 > inch we must tune further down the bass bottom pin really going to get > your panties in a twist? And is it really going to kill the day if you > have to pack the nose-cone to maintain that certain amount of hemp on > your tenors? Maybe for you. Maybe for John. > > Mark > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Dec 1999 02:16:33 GMT From: jsloanpr@aol.com (JSLOANPR) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) >the bridle. I find that by just >putting pressure on it in the direction I want it to go seems to move >it enough to make a difference even though I can't feel any actual >movement. My experiance also, a very wee nudge goes a long way. I have never heard my ML reeds come close to anything like a squeal. These reeds have played for me and not shut off when the nose caps were full of water and my pipes sopping wet. The only reeds I have tried that were easier to strike in for me were Shepherds. Jim - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 02:28:33 GMT From: "Ron Bowen" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: REVIEW: Mark Lee's Rocket's (drone reeds) Opps! Well, Zu, don't know how, but you got me! Obviously this was intended for Zu only, but since it's posted we might as well talk about it. Stop laughing! It could have been a lot worse! Listen guys, I've got no axe to grind about this product or other products, or about Mark or Mitchell. I don't necessarily care for how they (and others) carry on, but then all I have to do it block their posts and I don't have to deal with it. My point in getting into this thread was that Mitchell asked a legitimate question and got gang-banged. Not because of the question, but because of his historical behavior on the NG. Just so happened that it was a good question, deserving of an answer. By the way, I do like Mark Wygent's new DuoTone. It does what I need it to do and sounds just like cane. Wasn't my intention to bring it up, but that's what happens when you don't pay attention. Ringo Ron Bowen wrote in message news:vGC54.3364$1j.13015@news21.bellglobal.com... > Zu, where are you when I need you?! I'm in too deep now to back down! I > basically want to get these guys talking about their products, not bragging > about them! Too much chest thumping and grunting for my liking. I don't > care for Mitchell's approach either. > > Check out Mark's answer on the inverted bass drone reed. These guys use > mumbly words. > > I haven't made the point yet, and I'm not sure that I will, however it > should not be necessary to send reeds back and forth 3 and 4 times to get > them "right". Wait until word gets out on Wygents new duotone. Have you > tried it yet? You will be amazed! > > Eat well and rest. I may need you! > > Ringo > > Zudupiper wrote in message > news:19991214201644.25743.00001108@ng-xb1.aol.com... > > > Also, what about that pointy end? Was there another reason or were > > >you trying to kill me with it? Why no external pitch adjustment? > > > > Arrgh! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! (Old Monty Python reference > > here.) > > > > I'm glad my Zu reeds were not a radical departure from industry standards > or > > I'd be getting grilled now ; ) > > > > Zu > > > > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 20:30:28 -0600 From: Tad Myers Subject: (bagpipe) Re: P/M of Minnesota Pipes and Drums steps down! For the record I had nothing to do with this posting. For those of you not in the Twin Cities, I apologize for wasting band width. For those of you in the area, I don't post things anonymously like the little coward that posted this! Tad Myers ps. Here's a question for the group...is this little turd spam poster the same worthless pond scum who has been posting all the penis enlargement garbage? I bet it is. lp2zk3 wrote: > Monday, December 13, 1999 > > To: Minnesota Pipes and Drums Board of Directors > Minnesota Pipes and Drums Membership (Please pass on to mbrs > missed via e-mail) > > Dear Friends: > > Now that we have the most recent crisis behind us, I feel that is > time that we reevaluate the management of the band. > > I have had the honor of being this bands Pipe Major for many years > and have had the pleasure of leading the band through many changes. > From 1989 to the present, we have changed the name of the band three > times, dropped the saffron kilts green hose and balmorals, competed in > Ireland and Scotland and forged wonderful relationships with the law > enforcement community. Probably the most dramatic change from the late > 80's is that both membership and finances have doubled many times > over. I look back at those years past (my first directive as PM was to > let people of gender a.k.a. "females" in the band!) and cannot believe > what wonderful progress we have made together. (And they said it > couldn't be done*) As you can see from the bragging above, I am > extremely proud of what we have accomplished! > > The band is in a wonderful position to succeed. We are financially > strong, and I have never been so confident as I am now in the bands > musical competitive possibilities. From the business side of the > organization, the Board of Directors is as fine a set of competent > people that this band could put together. Financial policies and > procedures are in place to carry us on for many years. > > So, it is time that this poorly written memo gets to the meat of the > message: I am stepping down as Pipe Major effective immediately. > > I have told myself many times that I would step down (if I didn't get > tossed out first*) when someone came along that could do the job > better and wouldn't wreck my good efforts. The fact is we have strong > players in the pipe corps, any one of them with talent enough to be a > great PM for the band. > > I wish I could have written this memo in time for the AGM, but events > with the Emerald Society and Richard Cady's other machinations proved > to take more time to solve then I would have liked. I felt it would > have been bad form for me to step down during a period of time that I > was directly needed to help "preserve and protect" the band and its > relationships with the outside community. Now that we are on an even > keel, and before something else should rear its ugly head, I am > sending out this note. Hence the word "immediately". > > I am stepping down for many reasons. First and foremost I feel a bit > guilty for not being able to spend the time needed in the recent past > to be, what I felt was necessary to be, a good PM. When I first became > Pipe Major, I was single and had plenty of time to terrorize all > parties in the piping world, both foreign and domestic, to push > forward my agenda. Now I find that I have little enough time to even > gossip with my friends! > > I have also reached a spot in my career that dictates I spend time > maneuvering for a new position. The Medicare rules in my business are > changing, and the market that I work in has become somewhat saturated. > Both issues are complications to someone in sales. All this > positioning takes time and energy that I will need to "steal" from > other activities. > > Family is also a factor. Kids sport stuff, family fishing trips > scheduled during the Chicago games etc. Guilt, guilt, guilt. > > It is with mixed emotions that I submit my resignation. As you can > tell by this poorly written memo, it is not an easy thing to give up > something that has meant so much to me and that I've grown so > comfortable with. But I also feel that the time is right for others to > take over. I can't help but feel that I am still PM out of habit. The > band needs a PM with drive and fire to take the band to the next > level. > > I'm not quitting the band, just the responsibility I have to the > band. I seek freedom from "hobby exertion" and room to maneuver. That > is all. I plan on making all the practices and competitions that I > can. I will try my hardest to give the new PM room to wiggle. (I will > try my hardest to behave myself*) > > I would recommend that Galen as VP take over as band president until > a replacement is found for band PM/President. Jessica as Pipe Sgt. > Grade III should take over my duties on the Grd. III musical front. > > Many of you I consider the best and finest friends I would ever want > to have and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the > support you have given me throughout the years. I could not have had > the success it was my luck to enjoy without you. You are truly a > classy bunch of folks! > > Warmest Regards, > > PM Charles Timmers, Ret. > Minnesota Pipes and Drums - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of bagpipe-digest V1 #222 ***************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.