Bagpipe Drone Comparison

[raonipaes]

The last drones seem to me what I have in mind about GHB drones....really classic;

THey are harder to tune, but for me those are the best ones

[TJProductionsGib]

Where did you buy those pipes from? :O

[J2OLDS]

@TJProductionsGib Mostly Ebay, but you've got to be careful buying from ebay or be willing to take chances.... I've been lucky so far.

[joedonaldpeach]

@J2OLDS what make are the firs set of pipes and drone reeds, love the sound

[J2OLDS]

@joedonaldpeach The first set of pipes are Sulshi's from Pakistan. The drone reeds are Balance Tones IMHO probably the best drone reeds in the world to get a new piper up and running, virtually impossible to squawk a bass drone with. I've since switched to Easy Drone reeds for this set and the sound is incomparable, but the reeds are more finicky and harder to tune comparable to the Balance Tones.

[d1v4dPwnz]

I have a gannaway bag, airstream blowstick, and warnock chanter reed, and McCallum synthetic reeds. But i have these weird drones which i dont even think are tune-able. Will this affect my playing a lot? they sound like normal drones tho. Just curious

[J2OLDS]

@d1v4dPwnz If they aren't tune-able they will definitely have an effect on your playing. What's weird about your drones ?

[d1v4dPwnz]

@J2OLDS well maybe they are tune-able but nothing twists for it to tune like i see on other drones. I just get reeds and they make the same sound they always do :P

[J2OLDS]

@d1v4dPwnz The reason why you see the twisting is because the hemp is put on in a specific way so that the drones can be turned up and down instead of being pushed... more accurate. The drone parts themselves are supposed to move up and down on the tuning pins (the skinny parts)

[d1v4dPwnz]

@J2OLDS So then what do I do? Im confused haha

[jackhawkpiper97]

On the chalice pipes, is one of the tenor bottoms thicker than the other?

Jack

[J2OLDS]

@jackhawkpiper97 nope they're all the same diameter.

[Rekatar]

what were the first set of pipes called ? what brand

[J2OLDS]

@Rekatar Sulshi

[nursien]

hello there, i got my set about a year ago, i don;t know where it's made, and i had some problems with the drone reeds... they look like shepherd imitation kind of... after a lot of effort i tuned them together but.. the 1 tenor is like choking, the other screaming and the basse in the middle. also i have to use almost all the tunning pin to tune the tenors.. i thought of canning high piched reed set, what do you think?

[J2OLDS]

It would be helpful to see a picture of your pipes.

From my experience. Balance Tone reeds are the ones that work the best with Pakistani Pipes.

If you want to pitch them up to 480hz, you will end up with the drones really low on the pins.

[nursien]

so with a high pitched i will loose in lengh or no? i got a little comfused in that part... i checked the Balance reeds and they seem very good regarding the number of ajustements you can do to them... do u know a good site from witch i can check out the prices and order values?

[J2OLDS]

Yes... your drones will be shorter.

I use Midwest Bagpipe Supply for most of my orders and usually get my stuff within two days.

[nursien]

thank you very much for your help and time!

[Offtofott]

Your videos are really interesting.

Nice work.

[J2OLDS]

Thanks !!!

[00MORDRED]

how are you stopping the different drones? you make them cut out...

thanks for posting this...

5*****

[J2OLDS]

Your welcome. Stopping the drones is pretty easy, you just block the air coming out of the tops.  The air pressure in the bag holds the tongue shut. Restarting the drones is just a matter of popping the top which temporarily equalizes the the pressure.

[askmrlizard]

The first one's bass is really buzzy

[J2OLDS]

Characteristic of Balance Tone bass reeds.

[HighlandPiper1485]

I wouldn't want any of your sets of pipes my vintage graingers work just fine

[sacredsong]

those all look like pakistani pipes...

[J2OLDS]

They all are Pakistani pipes

[sacredsong]

so you realize that those pipes aren't made out of the wood that you think they are then?

[J2OLDS]

So.... you are saying..... you know more about my pipes than I do, without ever having seen them in person??? I think you assume too much.

[transfat5532]

I hate anti paki pipe extremists... I'm pretty sure J2 knows what his pipes are made out of.

[sacredsong]

yeah i bet.

[bltrnm]

Hi, Nice to meet you!

I thougth very interesting the comparison among three types of bagpipes' drones.

My bagpipe is Pakistani feature, but I like so much. People has much precognize about feature. Each bagpipe has different sound because are different instruments. No one it´s equal each other.

Have you used the same reeds in the three kinds?Or you ´ve used different reeds to kind of Bagpipe.

I don´t know what is chalice style, what´s the difference?

Thanks

Regards

[J2OLDS]

Chalice style = antique style without any coming or beading.

the first set you hear are Balance Tone drone reeds, The second set are Steady Drone reeds, and the third set are first generation Balance Tone drone reeds.

[00MORDRED]

i very much like the first set of pipes...

the drones sounded kickass!!!!

i may have questions in the future...

(just got my first set 2 days ago..trying to tune the drones is a bitch right now)

[J2OLDS]

For a new set of pipes it normally takes a couple of weeks for them to settle. Drone reeds take between 10 and 20 hours of play before they take a set.

What brand of pipes did you get ?

[00MORDRED]

hey 2olds!

i have McCallums,but don't worry I'm not a pipe nazi!! i don't care what kind of pipes people play...as long as they play...

i shaved a bit off the chanter reed...using sandpaper,i can tune the 3 drones together...but have not yet learned how to tune the chanter to the rest of the drones...

i tried...but failed miserably...and my chanter low G squawks BAD...like a rooster having it's way with a mad goose.

just aweful!!!!

:o)

but it's fun.

[NCPiper]

The idea is pretty good. However, without knowing the drone reeds you are using in each set, only premature conclusions can be developed.

[J2OLDS]

The blackwood pipes are using Balance tone reeds. The 2nd set rosewood is using the Bagpipes Galore! Steady drones, and the 3rd set of chalice style drones is using first generation Balance Tone drone reeds. The third set of drones is squawking because the drones are set for a 480hz chanter and the bass drone doesn't like going that high.

[whoawhoawhoaitsmagic]

Thank you very much for posting this. I, as a piper, have been wondering for several years what the sound quality was like in comparison with these three types as i have heard horror stories about paki pipe drones. I just wanted to see for myself.

[J2OLDS]

I hope it wasn't too terrifying!!!

BTW...The last set of drones, when they are fully warmed up and locked, develop a kind of bell like overtone.

[taylorbeatty37]

are you playing the hakam din pipes or is it just the hakam din synthetic bag??

[J2OLDS]

The trunk pipes just have a Hakam Din synthetic bag. By the carvings on the tuning slides and ferruls, I believe, the sticks are Mid East but I don't really know for sure.

[catholichd]

Just remember that the air pressure will change once you attach the chanter, so remember to tune the pipes with the chanter attached and sounding. And I am surprised to see that the pakis sound some what ok. Could have fooled me. Thanks for posting this bro.

[J2OLDS]

The paki drones are much quieter than the blackwood ones. I think it has to do with the bore finish and the bell chambers. The #2 drones have huge bores and take a lot of air, I might try some cane reeds with them... just to see.

[dorbie]

Warpipes have only 1 tenor and 1 bass drone. Perhaps you mean standard military pattern for the carving.

[J2OLDS]

Hey Dorbie!

What I meant by "Warpipes" is that you don't just show up at a party you ARRIVE!

They...are...loud!

[dorbie]

Ahhh... GHB, full set. The only way to pipe :-)

[TheHighlandPiper]

Great Idear to show how the different between Real Blackwood Bagpipe and Imitation Pakistani Pipes!

Both Pakistani pipes sounds not bad for this low price!

But isn´t it a different at need more pressure or more air because the bag is no quality bag?

About the pakistani Chanters?

And about the reeds they included?

And the cheaper wood does it change more the tone at changing the temparatur of the room or place or getting moistre or wet?

There are so many bad Pakistani pipes!

Slainte my friend

[J2OLDS]

Hey Highland Piper !! Actually the trunk/boot 2nd pipes are very stable I keep those in my car because they won't crack and they are cheap. The bag is a Hakam Din synthetic bag with no moisture control, they are strictly out-door pipes. The 3rd set of pipes are Mid East and they have a very good quality hide bag I've only had to season it twice in the last two years. These pipes take about 20 minutes to lock in tune. These pipes get more efficient the more I play them.

[PaulOWindsor]

Who are the various sets of pipes made by ?

[J2OLDS]

The Blackwood pipes are Sulshi. 1st generation Balance tone tenor reeds, and 2nd generation Balance tone Bass reed.

The middle pipes --- Paki unknown -- very cheap, Steady Drone tenor reeds, and a 2nd generation Balance tone bass reed.

The last pipes are Mid East. All reeds are 1st generation Balance Tones. The bass is really fussy because I haven't played this set for awhile and the bass isn't designed to play at this particular pitch.