Balance Tone Drone Reeds: Features & Setup 

Thanks for your question. We'd be glad to help. It sounds like you're actually inquiring about the Lyons/Hylands In-Line Drone Valves with the Ross system. Can you give us a call at 1-800-931-5010, if you still need help with this?

+Wayne Lucas same as mine couldnt sound better

+The random one The Balance-Tone reeds are a great option--easy because they're efficient and set up well out of the box. Plus, the tone is very good and the design has evolved to produce ever better harmonics. Thanks very much.

Thanks for your question. There are a few possible causes/fixes for double-toning reeds: 1- Bagpipe bore size, especially older pipes - Experiment until you find the reeds that work best with the instrument. 2-Technique - Changing pressure or too aggressive a strike-in can cause double-toning. A change in strike-in can help. 3-Reed Out of Adjustment - The reed may be opened up too much and inefficient. Bridle can be moved to just before the reed shuts off. 4-Drone tuning in wrong position on tuning pins - Tenors should be tuning near the hemp line, bass top on mid-section hemp line, and bottom joint about 2" off the projecting mount. I hope this helps. If you'd like to talk more, give us a call at the store 1-800-931-5010.

I should add that drone valves can also address this problem, as they regulate the amount of air reaching the reeds. Thanks!

Thanks for your question! He is demonstrating the airtightness of the reeds, which indicates how efficient they are. When the pressure is high, the reeds can't vibrate, so they shut off. Some reeds might "leak" or allow air to pass through, which would allow the tongues to vibrate again and make noise. In this case, the reeds don't allow air to pass through, so the pipe stays inflated and silent. The benefit here is that the reeds are air-efficient in normal conditions, so all of the air you're putting through the reeds goes to sound. Inefficient reeds make you work harder to keep the reeds going.

Thank you very much for your answer. Now it makes sense to me. :o)

Thanks very much for your question. We have found them a good match with all the pipe brands we carry, including Naill. I hope that helps!

ok it does help, thx alot

+Jon in France Sorry, we just saw your comment. I hope you've found the issue and are happily playing, but if you still need assistance, it's best to email or chat with us through our website, www.hendersongroupltd.com, so we can provide the best information for you. If this is a new set from a known pipemaker the fix should be simple. Have you check the blowpipe valve to be sure it closes completely? If the bag is leather, it may need to be seasoned. Just a few quick ideas.

Wonderful! It's amazing what a new set can do. We're glad it solved a problem and made piping more enjoyable. Thank you!

It's funny,I've argued with people about this,piping should be fun, granted you still have to learn,and play,but it shouldn't be a struggle,with reeds,both drone and pipe chanter,I quit playing a "hard" pipe chanter reed because it wasn't enjoyable,and from what my friends in higher grades have told me,it's not necessary to play a 2 x 4 chanter reed,and it's not healthy,ok I'm done ranting.....

Mark Lamont That's exactly why I've not played the pipes for years. Nobody ever taught me how to get a bagpipe to be air efficient so I struggled and fought with my pipes most of the time. Some of the biggest guys I knew had really easy reeds. I've also heard that easy reeds are harder to blow steady but that is total BS. You can't blow steady if you're struggling to get a peep out of the things. It doesn't take long to learn how to blow steady.