Today was my first day really playing the Naills (e.g., not just drones alone). Fantastic. With Ezee Drones, they sound (and play) just like I remember my teacher's pipes (his everyday pipes were DN1s; these are DN3s). Very nice blended sound with good volume, but lighter and crisper than my McCallums. They're also noticeably steadier and easier to tune while creating more interesting and complex harmonics. I need to figure out a moisture control rig, since the plastic replacement stock that came with the pipes won't work with a Trap-Dri bottle. The stock seems to be made specifically to fit a tube trap. However, I think I might be able to fit the bottle on on using a short piece of plastic tubing.
Two quick updates.
Good news! I'm apparently registered with the EUSPBA! I'll be starting to register for competitions this week. Right now, the plan is to try and do one per month starting in March.
I dragged everything out to my practice spot on Monday with the intention of doing a chanter shootout to figure out what I want to use for competition this year. Long story short, the shootout was over before it began. I brought all four of my current wooden chanters with me, but the only one I played was the new (old) Naill. I picked up a plastic Naill solo chanter back around 2003, at the behest of my teacher. Unfortunately, while I liked the sound, neither he nor I could get it to tune. In retrospect, it probably needed a little carving. However, I didn't have enough experience to know that. A few weeks ago I lucked out, and ended up with a 2007-ish wooden Naill (e.g., the newer version tweaked by Jack and Terry Lee) for a little less than half the going rate for a brand-new Naill. As soon as I got it reeded up, I knew it was the one. Even mouth-blown, it was easy to tell that it was more harmonic than any of my other chanters. I spent about two hours playing the Naill with a MacPhee reed and - like my Kron - it just seems to work for me. However, the Naill balances with my drones better, and interacts with them more, than the Kron does. The Naill is now #1, the Kron (at #2) is my backup chanter, and the McC2 is relegated to 3rd place, with the McCallum Mk. 1 at a distant 4th. I may end up selling the McC2 and Mk. 1 sometime this year. I'm still getting going - waiting for the EUSPA to send me a member number so I can start signing up for competitions. As I wait, I've been working on my pipes. I've moved from my older Ross canister bag to a Bannatyne hybrid. I like the feel, but need to find something stronger than Bannatyne's bottle trap for moisture control. I've switched my drone reeds from Croziers to a Henderson deluxe bass and Ezeedrone tenors. They're a bit finicky compared to the Croziers, but sound good. I'm still figuring out the chanter.
I have four contenders (my wooden chanters): a McCallum band chanter, a McCallum McC2, a Naill, and a Kron Medallist. I see a shootout in my future. Right now, I'm leaning towards the Kron. It has a nice, sweet sound and, while it's not as harmonic as the Naill or McC2, it's the easiest of the three to work with. Since I'm just getting myself going, I'm thinking that will be a plus. |
AuthorI've been playing since 2001, and am based in central Maine. Archives
October 2018
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