Replacement drone reed bridles?

[piper Q]

I know more than a few of us have run into issue with the rubber bridles either tearing or splitting on our drone reeds.

Aside from purchasing a new set of drone reeds due to a bad bridle, what have you you tried which as worked well?

I'm going to try using automotive O rings an a Balance Tone, where the bridle is torn and has developed a buzz. I Am curious to see how this will work.

[el gaitero]

Originally Posted by piper Q

I know more than a few of us have run into issue with the rubber bridles either tearing or splitting on our drone reeds.

Aside from purchasing a new set of drone reeds due to a bad bridle, what have you you tried which as worked well?

I'm going to try using automotive O rings an a Balance Tone, where the bridle is torn and has developed a buzz. I Am curious to see how this will work.

O ring(s) can work ok....but in my experience..try to use a few rings that will provide a width similar to the original bridle...and small enough to provide similar compression on the tongue. So on, like, an Ez drone reed you might use 3-4 thin O rings..but very tight ( get small diameter) ..vs on a e.g. kinnaird reed using a single fat O ring. On a ‘fat’ reed body I’d say rule of thumb is an O ring about 1/3 smaller dia. A bit of trial & error.

[fredolin]

Hi, I got very good results in using a piece of silicone rubber tube just cut in the size of the original bridal. Worked on all types of drone reeds I "repaired" this way, such as

- Ezeedrone reeds
- Balance Tone reeds
- Henderson Harmonic drone reeds
- ...
I would say it works on any type of reeds with rubber bridle.
I think it is better than a o ring because the pressure on the reed is more adjustable as the surface of the silicone rubber grommet is not as punctual

I also got very nice results on the old cane reeds with silicone bridle: very stable in comparison to hemp bridle, just give it a try

[jackhawkpiper97]

Originally Posted by fredolin

Hi, I got very good results in using a piece of silicone rubber tube just cut in the size of the original bridal. Worked on all types of drone reeds I "repaired" this way, such as

- Ezeedrone reeds
- Balance Tone reeds
- Henderson Harmonic drone reeds
- ...
I would say it works on any type of reeds with rubber bridle.
I think it is better than a o ring because the pressure on the reed is more adjustable as the surface of the silicone rubber grommet is not as punctual

I also got very nice results on the old cane reeds with silicone bridle: very stable in comparison to hemp bridle, just give it a try

How have you determined the diameter of the bridle? Trial and error, rules of thumb, etc.?
Jack

[fredolin]

Originally Posted by jackhawkpiper97

How have you determined the diameter of the bridle? Trial and error, rules of thumb, etc.?
Jack

I have used several different tubes of silicone rubber, about 5 mm to 1 cm in inner diameter. Choose a diameter a bit closer than the reed body, it will work.
The reed will behave as new, as far as the tongue is ok :-)

[el gaitero]

Originally Posted by fredolin

I have used several different tubes of silicone rubber, about 5 mm to 1 cm in inner diameter. Choose a diameter a bit closer than the reed body, it will work.
The reed will behave as new, as far as the tongue is ok :-)

This is a good idea...getting the right size is difficult. Some years ago I replaced the bridles on a popular brand reed with what I thought was a good fit O ring ....it didn’t work well at all...so I reached out to the maker who sent me the original type bridles.
They were about half the i.d. of the failed O ring I initially tried. I really worked up a sweat getting the OEM replacements on....while the maker effortlessly uses a 4 fingered plier-like stretcher to expand their small bridle and slip it on the body.

The tool they use is actually one meant to ‘humanely’ castrate ewe’s etc. by slipping on a very small and tight ‘bridle’ where appropriate.
Methinks it would certainly take one’s breath away if not raise a sweat.

[zarb]

Originally Posted by el gaitero

This is a good idea...getting the right size is difficult. Some years ago I replaced the bridles on a popular brand reed with what I thought was a good fit O ring ....it didn’t work well at all...so I reached out to the maker who sent me the original type bridles.
They were about half the i.d. of the failed O ring I initially tried. I really worked up a sweat getting the OEM replacements on....while the maker effortlessly uses a 4 fingered plier-like stretcher to expand their small bridle and slip it on the body.

The tool they use is actually one meant to ‘humanely’ castrate ewe’s etc. by slipping on a very small and tight ‘bridle’ where appropriate.
Methinks it would certainly take one’s breath away if not raise a sweat.

I would assume that they spent very little time castrating the Ewes =. I have done this on Rams, however. I suppose you may have been confused by "Ca the Ewes" the old classic tune.

[Garry]

Originally Posted by zarb

I would assume that they spent very little time castrating the Ewes =. I have done this on Rams, however. I suppose you may have been confused by "Ca the Ewes" the old classic tune.

Short for "Call the Ewes"

[el gaitero]

Originally Posted by zarb

I would assume that they spent very little time castrating the Ewes =. I have done this on Rams, however. I suppose you may have been confused by "Ca the Ewes" the old classic tune.

Right., ....ex-post-facto rams...... ouch.

[Matt Weasner]

Originally Posted by piper Q

I know more than a few of us have run into issue with the rubber bridles either tearing or splitting on our drone reeds.

Aside from purchasing a new set of drone reeds due to a bad bridle, what have you you tried which as worked well?

I'm going to try using automotive O rings an a Balance Tone, where the bridle is torn and has developed a buzz. I Am curious to see how this will work.

I'm sure you can find the right o-ring if you search enough. Try and contact the manufacturer of the reeds though, too. Some may at least be able to tell you proper dimensions, etc, and shorten the search, and some may just send you a few replacements (for a nominal fee) or offer to repair the reeds. I've been through both scenarios over the years. Worth an ask, anyway.

Best,
Matt

edit - oops, sorry duplicate suggestion!