I figured Inveran should be the next chanter I add to my modern chanter review. I haven’t yet because I need to make sure something is a reed issue and not a chanter issue before I make a final verdict. Right now, I’ve quite a bit of tape on high G and it’s making it difficult to settle the note, so hopefully this reed is just ill-suited. The reed required some tape on the McC2 as well, so this is probably the case. Below you’ll find recordings of it using that same reed as the Gael/McC2 comparison earlier, again recorded in Marr bagpipes with Redwood tenor and Selbie bass drone reeds and also in my 1950’s Henderson’s which are giving me fits at the moment, but they always have, though intermittently. I’ve got a synthetic bag on them now and I’m wondering if that’s the issue, so I’ll have to hemp them up for my Gannaway and see if they still do their weird thing. Crozier Cane tenor and Ezeedrone bass drone reeds in there right now. You’ll have to cut me a little slack, I gave blood on Wednesday, and the second recording was after a picnic where I wore myself out, I think I cough in the recording too, oops. Oh yeah, the chanter is poly, and it arrived in the mail today! It is Inveran’s new Donaldson Master chanter.

Marr – Swallow’s Tail and Rakish Paddy

Henderson – Swallow’s Tail and Rakish Paddy

Well, during the drone optimization party referenced two posts below this one, I switched back to Kinnaird tenors and a Wygent bass, but the Wygent bass was being temperamental and making tuning my E really hard, so I went with an all Kinnaird set up. I think this Wygent bass reed is just worn out, it’s really old. As usual, a blackwood Colin Kyo chanter with Gilmour reed backed by a magnificent stand of Tim Gellaitry blackwood drones. PURE MAGIC, I say.

74th’s Slow March, Scarce O’ Tatties, Queen of the Rushes, and Fraher’s Jig

I was about to put them away when I felt compelled to play this tune, so the first part is me putting the chanter in the right spot, if you were wondering.

Bessie McIntyre