Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"?

CeltInBirks · 02-28-2010, 04:53 PM

Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Does it get a little easier to blow after it's been played a while?
Blessings!
Celt

Sgt Daniel I Fulton · 02-28-2010, 05:18 PM

to answer your question in a word yes!

search the forum on things to do to break it in. but some things you might wanna try before you get into carving the reed to much and stuff like that is

take the drones out of the stocks put in your rubber stoppers and just play the chanter reed for a while. Do this a few minutes a day on the new reed till it starts breaking in. I usually have 2 reeds going at a time a new one and one that is broke in just so i have a spare.

Andrew Lenz · 02-28-2010, 05:34 PM

Here are a few more unorthodox ways of breaking in new reeds:
http://bagpipejourney.com/articles/m...-breakin.shtml

Most blow in a reed by simply playing it in the pipes for short periods until it reaches a good state—usually on the order of weeks, depending on how often and long it's played. Many pipers first scrape/sand the reed until it's slightly harder than is desired knowing that it will ease with time.

Andrew

Bruce Neill · 02-28-2010, 09:32 PM

A reed does need break in time so search it out, and Andrew has loades of great advise and guidance you can't go wrong.

Bruce

kyp crawford · 03-01-2010, 12:11 PM

From my experience it takes about 6-10 hours of combined playing time on a reed to break in. Awhile back I replaced a dead reed with a Shepard medium and as time progressed I did minor adjustments, sanding, shaving, squeeze this, pinch that, etc. I would play between 15 minutes to half an hour almost on a daily basis. Right now the reed is just about there. The fine adjustments and tuning are very minimal now. I am very close in reaching my "comfort zone" concerning pressure and sound.

PMT · 03-02-2010, 02:30 PM

Absolutely. Different reeds have different playing in times. A ridge cut reed for example will blow in very quickly. There are short cuts, but just playing gives best results and longest reed life.

JRM · 03-03-2010, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMT

Absolutely. Different reeds have different playing in times. A ridge cut reed for example will blow in very quickly. There are short cuts, but just playing gives best results and longest reed life.

Couldn't have said it better.

jackhawkpiper97 · 03-06-2010, 03:41 PM

Yes
A reed needs to break in and you do that by playing it
All it has to do is settle in the very unique environment in your chanter, your chanter stock, your bag, your moisture level etc.

After playing for a week at about 15-30 min a day then it should have broken in and if it is still uncomfortable then I would sand it
That is how I have done it and that is how i was taught to do it

Also yes a reed gets easier as you play it for longer
This happens when the pores of the reed are filled with moisture and dont allow air into themselves

Jack

Piperchase · 08-22-2017, 06:42 PM

I know it's an old thread...

After a break in then the chanter should be heard with the drones?

Right now my drones are all I hear and nothing from the chanter .

Nathaniel · 08-23-2017, 08:42 AM

If you break in a reed, i think it only gets a little easier. So i bet it is best to get a reed fairly close to your comfort level of strength.
After it breaks in, hopefully it is more consistent and you will know what it does after 10 minutes of playing.

02-28-2010, 04:53 PM	#1
CeltInBirks Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SW of Portland, Oregon Posts: 159	Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Does it get a little easier to blow after it's been played a while? Blessings! Celt

02-28-2010, 05:18 PM	#2
Sgt Daniel I Fulton Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 194	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? to answer your question in a word yes! search the forum on things to do to break it in. but some things you might wanna try before you get into carving the reed to much and stuff like that is take the drones out of the stocks put in your rubber stoppers and just play the chanter reed for a while. Do this a few minutes a day on the new reed till it starts breaking in. I usually have 2 reeds going at a time a new one and one that is broke in just so i have a spare.

02-28-2010, 05:34 PM	#3
Andrew Lenz Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 10,492	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Here are a few more unorthodox ways of breaking in new reeds: http://bagpipejourney.com/articles/m...-breakin.shtml Most blow in a reed by simply playing it in the pipes for short periods until it reaches a good state—usually on the order of weeks, depending on how often and long it's played. Many pipers first scrape/sand the reed until it's slightly harder than is desired knowing that it will ease with time. Andrew __________________ Andrew T. Lenz, Jr. www.BagpipeJourney.com - Reference for Bagpipers "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." ---Mark Twain

02-28-2010, 09:32 PM	#4
Bruce Neill Forum Gold Medal Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ontario, OR USA Posts: 570	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? A reed does need break in time so search it out, and Andrew has loades of great advise and guidance you can't go wrong. Bruce __________________ The Original West V Piper.

03-01-2010, 12:11 PM	#5
kyp crawford Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Gold Bar, Wa. USA Posts: 296	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? From my experience it takes about 6-10 hours of combined playing time on a reed to break in. Awhile back I replaced a dead reed with a Shepard medium and as time progressed I did minor adjustments, sanding, shaving, squeeze this, pinch that, etc. I would play between 15 minutes to half an hour almost on a daily basis. Right now the reed is just about there. The fine adjustments and tuning are very minimal now. I am very close in reaching my "comfort zone" concerning pressure and sound.

03-02-2010, 02:30 PM	#6
PMT Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 2,456	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Absolutely. Different reeds have different playing in times. A ridge cut reed for example will blow in very quickly. There are short cuts, but just playing gives best results and longest reed life. __________________ www.schoolofpiping.com

03-06-2010, 03:41 PM	#8
jackhawkpiper97 Forum Clasp Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: USA Posts: 905	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? Yes A reed needs to break in and you do that by playing it All it has to do is settle in the very unique environment in your chanter, your chanter stock, your bag, your moisture level etc. After playing for a week at about 15-30 min a day then it should have broken in and if it is still uncomfortable then I would sand it That is how I have done it and that is how i was taught to do it Also yes a reed gets easier as you play it for longer This happens when the pores of the reed are filled with moisture and dont allow air into themselves Jack __________________ Serving Jello with a ladle since... forever Last edited by jackhawkpiper97; 03-06-2010 at 03:43 PM. Reason: needed to add more info

08-22-2017, 06:42 PM	#9
Piperchase Forum Member - Shy or Quiet Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Missouri Posts: 7	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? I know it's an old thread... After a break in then the chanter should be heard with the drones? Right now my drones are all I hear and nothing from the chanter . __________________ guitar players go for a nickel a gross. Bagpipers can name their price.

08-23-2017, 08:42 AM	#10
Nathaniel Forum Gold Medal Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southwest, USA Posts: 607	Re: Does a new chanter reed need to "break in"? If you break in a reed, i think it only gets a little easier. So i bet it is best to get a reed fairly close to your comfort level of strength. After it breaks in, hopefully it is more consistent and you will know what it does after 10 minutes of playing.