Chanter reed selection can be tricky. The first thing to realize is that all chanters and reeds are a little bit different in the way they are constructed. What this means, simply, is that not all chanter reeds go well in all chanters. It’s important to know the make of chanter you play and to find out what reeds go best in it.
My chanter reeds are a little pricier than those of most retailers. That is because when you order your reeds and tell me the strength you want I sit down with my box of reeds and make sure you get reeds that go in your chanter at your desired strength.
You may have found in the past that when you order an easy reed it is still too hard for you. With my pipe-teaching experience, I’ve developed a good sense for the strength of reed that suits what the customer has asked for.
At the risk of being accused of trying to sell you more reeds, I want to suggest that you not order less than three reeds. Personally, all of my life I rarely ordered less than 6 for my own use. Reeds change when they are played, so it’s hard to predict how they will turn out once they are blown in. When I ordered my six, I invariably found one or two were absolutely brilliant and those two would last me the whole year. Would I have gotten those two if I had only ordered two? Maybe, but who knows? But the shelf life of the rest was excellent.
You can order your reeds from the shopping cart below.
-
Chesney (Brass or Copper Staple)
This Chesney is the workhorse in my reed stock. It’s the most versatile reed I know, and one of the best tonally. It goes in lots of chanters and the reed responds well to shaving. Some of you who order an extremely easy reed from me may notice that I’ve shaved one or two to get them to your desired strength. You have to select either the brass-stapled or the copper-stapled. The brass-stapled is the most versatile and is best for the hobby piper. The copper-stapled is generally a bit stronger, has a flatter top hand and is favoured by many top bands.
$24.50 -
Chesney Solo
The most popular reedmaker on the planet has ventured in a new direction with this blue-wrapped reed aimed at soloists.
The company describes the reed as “providing the soloist with a reed that is rich, comfortable and free – yet also retaining full clarity. Designed using our own copper staple with a focus on also producing a solid Pibroch high G.”
Personal playing experience with this reed suggests they have done just that.
$24.50 -
‘Murreed’ by Alastair Murray
A successful competing solo piper well known for his lovely bagpipe, Alastair Murray makes reeds that cater first and foremost to the solo piping community, though some bands have discovered Alastair’s reeds as well. They are sweet, vibrant and stable.
$24.50 -
Megarity
Steve Megarity has been making high-quality reeds in California for decades. They serve both bands and soloists. They go in a wide variety of chanters and are known for their power and longevity.
$24.50 -
Melvin
Adrian Melvin has been making chanter reeds for some years, and these fine reeds are finding their way into the chanters of top bands and soloists the world over. This is a copper-staple ridgecut reed with a vibrant and full top hand. Well made and versatile, these reeds suit a band environment as well the soloist.
$24.50 -
Melvin Bb
This slightly flatter reed by Adrian Melvin is designed to go in pipe chanters pitched in Bb. Like his regular reeds, Adrian’s Bb model is crisp and stable.
$24.50 -
Broadley’s Bagpipes
Ross Watson brings decades of skill and experience from the now-defunct R. T. Shepherd company, making chanter reeds very much in the Shepherd tradition, along with chanters and bagpipes. Obviously they go well in Broadley’s chanters, but they seem versatile and worth a try in other chanters as well.
$24.50 -
G1 Platinum
Though designed specifically for the G1 Platinum chanter, this reed is finding its place in other chanters both for bands and soloists. Like the Warnocks it is a ridge-cut reed with an incredible response in the chanter. Very vibrant and very stable. Band discounts are available.
$24.50 -
Sounds Supreme (John Elliott, Ontario) – Moulded Reed
This is John’s ‘moulded’ reed. That is to say, it has no sharp, ridgecut shoulders. Moulded reeds are sometimes not as blatantly loud as the best ridgecuts, but they can provide a sweeter sound, and a great drone blend. Moulded reeds also tend to be more free of squeaks than ridgecuts. If you are a piobiareachd player, your best bet to get a stable piobaireachd high G is a moulded reed, and this is a good one. This is a good solo and band reed, and I recommend it more than any other for use in the McCallum C1 and C2 band chanter.
$24.50 -
Sounds Supreme (John Elliott, Ontario) – Ridgecut Reed
This is John’s ‘ridgecut’ reed, which has a bit more response and presence than his moulded reed. This is a good solo and band reed, and it goes well in a variety of chanters.
$24.50 -
Frazer Warnock Practice Chanter Reeds
All McCallum practice chanters go out with a Frazer Warnock reed. They are full, in tune, vibrant and resilient.
$12.50