In order of recording, we’re going to first feature a set of Colin Kyo bagpipes set up with Ezeedrone tenors and a Henderson Deluxe bass. They were previously setup with Canning tenors but some felt the harmonics a bit too much so I figured I’d drop Canning’s cousin Ezeedrone in there to see, or hear rather, if I could tone it down a bit. A bit of background first however. The Ezeedrone tenor and Henderson Deluxe bass is a very popular combination. Many high level pipers use Ezeedrone tenors and a fair fraction, as indicated by pipesdrums.com survey also play the Henderson Deluxe bass. As a specific example, the McCallum bagpipes played by Angus MacColl on the Route 66 tour which were subsequently raffled and won by a young man up in Amarillo, TX came with Ezeedrone tenors and a Henderson Deluxe bass, if my memory serves me correctly. I understand the pipes came as they were played on the tour, chanter reed and all. So, this is also a test of a seemingly very standard setup amongst the big guns. I also try this setup in my Gellaitry’s near the bottom, per request. Also on request we’ll have this same set of Colin Kyo pipes setup with Colin Kyo drone reeds for a full set of CK pipes, except the chanter reed (Husk). The first slow tune of each combination is played in 4 different orientations to the microphone corresponding to the parts of the tune, that is 1) drones facing mic straight on 1st part 2) mic on left of me next to tenors 1st part repeat 3) chanter facing mic 2nd part 4) mic on my right (bass drone side) 2nd part repeat.

Colin Kyo bagpipes with Ezeedrone tenor drone reeds and Henderson Deluxe bass drone reed

Gallawa Hills and Inspector Donald Campbell (Ness)

Spice of Life, Old Chanter, Leisa McCord (workin’ on those edres)

Colin Kyo bagpipes with Colin Kyo drone reeds

74th’s Slow March and Angus MacKinnon

Kantara to El Arish (whew that was rough, stupid E grace notes), Highland Harry, Miss Proud, Newmarket House, Thief of Lochaber

Gellaitry bagpipes with Ezeedrone tenor drone reeds and Henderson Deluxe bass drone reed

Kate Martin’s Waltz, Calista Anne McLaurin, the Quaker

Wee Michael’s March and Mason’s Apron (forgot which tune was next, also tired, sorry about blowing flat at first)

Edit: 6:17 pm CDT 6-13-2013

Here is a picture of the drone reeds Angus apparently played during the Route 66 tour. I did remember correctly!

This post is all about finding a good match for the Canning tenors I have in this set of Colin Kyo bagpipes. Here is a little snippet of the low A’s from each recording in sequence. So, in order, we have 1. Canning carbon fiber 2. Crozier glass 3. Kinnaird Evolution 4. Ezeedrone (regular) 5. Henderson Harmonic Deluxe 6. old Kinnaird. Unfortunately the old Kinniard, last one, is a wee bit (more) out of tune than the rest and I actually rerecorded it but I think I was in a slightly different spot so the harmonics didn’t so the same so I used the slightly out of tune one.

combo

That sound file above is composed of little snippets of each of the files below, which comprise the same slow air played each time (Fair Maid) followed by some reel, or maybe a jig. I include the old Kinnaird twice, the slightly out of tune one (with fairly decent birls) and then another one where I goof up the repeats on a jig (and every single birl) although it’s supposed to be slightly more in tune.

canningcarbonfiber

crozierglass

evolution

ezeedrone

hhd

oldkinnaird

oldkinnairdlong (more in tune?)

I liked the old Kinnaird so much I played our band’s medley.

medley-oldkinnairdbass

In the end, bass drones will be bass drones! But man, listen to those tenors! Chanter is also Colin Kyo with a Husk chanter reed.

Lastly, here’s an older video on YouTube of me playing some of the same tunes on the same pipe, different Colin Kyo chanter though, but still Canning drone reeds.

Video!