Balance Tone Drone Reeds

(4 customer reviews)

Balance Tone Drone Reeds provide the piper with the ability to achieve the ultimate sound from their drones. Designed by Major Bruce Hitchings, and played and respected by thousands of Highland Pipers worldwide.

SKU: BT2 Category:

Description

Description

Balance Tone Drone Reeds provide the piper with the ability to achieve the ultimate sound from their drones. Designed by Major Bruce Hitchings, and played and respected by thousands of Highland Pipers worldwide. These innovative drone reeds are:

  • Steady
  • Exceptional in tonal quality
  • Easy to strike in
  • Easy and efficient to tune
  • Take a minimum of air
  • Moisture resistant
  • Easy to set up
  • Strike in every time

Product Data

Additional information

Weight 60 g
Product Code

BT2

Type

Synthetic

Bass Tongue

Glass Fibre

Tenor Tongue

Glass Fibre

Support

Support

BALANCE TONE REEDS
These unique drone reeds come ready to play. However depending on the drone characteristics and the actual blowing strength of your pipe, small adjustments may be required to obtain the optimum sound from your drones.

 

REED SEAT
There has never been a standard diameter for bagpipe reed seats; therefore, you may find that you have to apply hemp on the reed seat to ensure you have a firm, secure fit. If not, this will give an unsteady tonal quality and the reed could stop.

Before applying hemp, take the reed seat apart from the reed body by sliding it off. Fit the reed
seat by itself by pulling waxed hemp through the small groove/slit in the shoulder (see Figure 1). The hemp can be pulled through this (like a cotton reel) then wrapped firmly around the reed seat.  Leave a small gap/space at the open end so when you squeeze it into the drone the hemp does not come off the end.

Figure 1 – The reed seat removed from the reed body. Note the strand of hemp which has been pulled through the small groove. The groove holds the hemp in place, which aids when wrapping the hemp around the reed seat.

The reed seat properly fitted should be screwed all the way into the drone until the shoulder is firmly fitted against the bottom of the drone. The reed body can now be refitted by sliding it back on to the fitted reed seat. (Instructions for adjusting the reed body are below.) Care should be taken not to bump/move the reed when fitting into the pipe.

 

REED ADJUSTMENT
The reeds come with the bridles set to suit a medium strength pipe. Balance Tone Reeds can be adjusted to optimise sound quality and to suit your blowing strength. Miniscule adjustments to the position of the bridle have a significant effect on the strength of the reed and tonal quality.

Figure 2 – The reed body with the tongue and bridles removed to show the 2 small raised lines. It is recommended that the bridle stays between these lines.

If you blow a strong pipe the reed may stop. If this happens adjust the bridle upwards i.e. lengthen the tongue. Conversely, if you blow a light pipe the reed may be too strong. To adjust the strength, shorten the length of the tongue by moving the bridle downward.  Reeds have 2 small raised lines on either side of the reed body. It is recommended that the bridle stays between these lines for optimal functionality.

Once the bridles have been adjusted the next step is to get the drone tops tuning just above the bottom of the hemp on the tuning pins. Lengthening the reed will lower the tuning position of the drone top on the tuning pin and conversely shortening the reed will raise the drone top on the tuning pin. The recommended position on the bottom tuning pin of the base drone should be shorter i.e. between 30 to 40mm in length.

Adjusting the length of the reed, (either lengthening or shortening) is done by moving the position of the reed body on the reed seat.

Finally the volume can also be adjusted by rotating the white plug to reduce the reed aperture, i.e. the small rectangular hole in the reed body. Reducing the aperture will make the drone quieter. It is recommended however that the aperture be left unrestricted i.e. fully open as this usually produces the optimum tonal quality. Any requirement to produce a quieter sound can be made by adjusting the bridle as described above. Rotating the white plug to close the aperture can also shut off the reed.

Video(s)

Video(s)

Distributors

Distributors

One Click Purchase via Distributors:

Achiltibuie Bagpipe Specialists – Scotland

Hendersons Ltd – USA

Kilts and More – Germany

Scottlandliebhaber – Germany

The Bagpipe Shop – Scotland

Other Distributors:

Asia

Highland Supplies – Singapore

Highland Supplies – Hong Kong

Australia / New Zealand

Bryce’s Bagpipes – New Zealand

Celtic Affairs – Australia

Easton Bagpipes – New Zealand

St Kilda Retail – Australia

Central Europe

D&M Shop – Belgium

Kroashent-tro Rond-point Karamporiel – France

Scottish Bagpipe Centre – Netherlands

The Piper’s Corner – Germany

North America

Ben Bhraggie House Ltd – Canada

J Higgins – USA

Pipeline – USA

Scott’s Highland Services – Canada

Tartantown – Canada

UK

Beatstreet – Northern Ireland

Cabar Feidh Bagpipe Supplies – Scotland

Kilberry Bagpipes – Scotland

Kingdom Thistle – Scotland

R.G. Hardie & Co – Scotland

Wallace Bagpipes – Scotland

Reviews (4)

4 reviews for Balance Tone Drone Reeds

  1. Kathleen Wright

    I love these drone reeds! They play like a dream, and are so air efficient! Just got a set for a young lad I am teaching, and they should help him play a little better.

  2. Tim Pollock

    I’ve been happily playing your Balance Tone drone reeds in my pipes, and the recent improvement to the bridle make these reeds even easier to use. The new bridle–a clear plastic rather than the previous black–is easy to install and adjust. Many thanks!

  3. Mike Gilbert

    I have been using balance tone reeds for a few years now. I’ve enjoyed their sound and low maintenance. A while back I made the move to try a set of the high resonance reeds. I was amazed and the difference in sound from my Naill drones. After a lot of playing I had one bridal wrap break. Bruce was quick to send a replacement. While visiting the site I noticed a new version … the hr2. Of course I had to try it. The setup was fast and easy. The drones quickly came into tune. The new sound is another leap forward and the efficiency improvement is very noticable. I have already recommended these reeds to my student. Thanks for a great product and personal service!

  4. JEAN MICHEL PLATEN

    I’ ve been playing Balance tone drones reeds since 2006 and am most satisfied of the ir steadiness, quality of tone and their harmonics
    I’ve benn playing since 1969, and by this year, tehre aws only cane reeds, when I stuck to ” Balance tone’s “, I was amazed to find a souns quality equal to that of the cane ones, less the disadvantages viz : clogging with moisture, blocking because the same cause, so iI’m always quiet and don’t doubt of my drones, my beastie sings
    All my pupils use these reeds
    I highly recommand the Balance tone drone reeds

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