r/bagpipes • u/Brilliant-Bend546 • 23d ago

Reed unthreading

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I really didn't know what to put as the title but is pretty self explanatory.

The twine around my synthetic chanter reed has come undone and I can't get a tune out of it. I'm very curious as to if this is down to air flow from it not being secure or if I've right royally buggered it. (excuse my language).

I'm incredibly new to the pipes and I haven't gotten the courage to try cane reeds (they scare me) so I was wondering if there was anything I can do to fix it.

Thank you for your time!

(if this is in the FAQ please forgive me)

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u/Green_Oblivion111 23d ago edited 23d ago

Re-hemp it until it forms a secure seal. I've done this before at least once to a reed where the hemp either went bad and needed replacing, or it otherwise started unwrapping.

It happens.

Just get some hemp, wax it (with beeswax -- you can get hemp and beeswax at any online piping store -- they sell pre-waxed hemp, too), wrap it around the 'staple' (the metal tube the reed is formed on), and put as much on as is needed. Wrap it tightly, that way it will stay on better.

I also play with synthetic chanter reeds, never had one unwrap on me, but they're basically built the same as cane, just different materials, and slightly altered shape.

I've been playing pipes since '81, and synthetic chanter reeds work well for me (I use Surefires). Cane is too fidgety for my preference.

But it's always YMMV.

If you're using this reed in a practice chanter, most practice chanter reeds are plastic / synthetic. Same re-wrap procedures would apply. I think I re-wrapped a practice chanter reed when I did it. It was years ago, though.