Identifying Drone Reeds

The first drone reeds (and chanter reeds for that matter) were made of phragmites australis, the native cane of Europe. However, since this type of cane is very sensitive to humidity, another type of cane, arundo donax, native to circummediterranean areas but now introduced to temperate regions, is used in modern times. (These two types of cane are not to be confused with bamboo which is a different species of plant.)

This drone reed is considered the best sounding. Unfortunately, cane can be very unpredictable in different weather conditions, hence the push for the development of more stable synthetic reeds.

These two tenor reeds shown here have plastic bridles. Traditionally, these would have been hemp. The reed on the left has a hair wedged under the tongue to allow it to sound more easily. The tapered tips have been sealed with wax. You may sometimes see these reeds cut with an inverted tongue—the base of the tongue away from the reed seat—though this is not the traditional orientation. (A bass reed is not shown here as I don't own one.)

*Reed Donor: John Conley of Medicine Hat, Canada

UK Patent 14,366 states:

"A bag-pipe drone reed f as shown by Figures 6 and 7 is made from a tube of vulcanite or the like; a. plug g is secured or inserted into one end thereof and hemp h or the like is wound round the other end. A vibrating tongue i is cut as shown and a tuning 'bridle' j is mounted over the tube to embrace same."

For the uninitiated, Vulcanite is a hardened rubber. Yes, a synthetic reed a century ago!

Information provided courtesy Christopher Bayley.

UK Patent 217511 states: "Double reeds for drones - bores of standing parts increased slightly and sliding parts considerably in diameter to reduce clogging."

Basically a modified chanter reed used as a drone reed. Obviously, this was not the greatest idea ever patented.

Information originally provided courtesy Christopher Bayley.

Thanks to Ronald Zissell of South Hadley, MA, who at my request, made a custom replica set which is shown to the left.

The first modern synthetic drone reed—or at least partially synthetic as the tongue is actually true cane coated with water resistant polyurethane. The body is injection-molded black plastic and has rubber tuning plugs to adjust the pitch.

**Rereleased in 2005 in a modernized form by Robert Crozier.

Website: www.rossbagpipereeds.com
(Note that Geoff Ross has sold the drone reed portion of his business, so the above website is only for historical reasons.)

Picture provided courtesy Sean Hannaway.

*Reed Donor: Bill Farr of Portland, OR.
*Reed Donor: Mike Spencer of Medicine Hat, Canada

A modified copy of the Ross reed, though the plastic was less slick and had more give—less likely to crack with pressure. Ribbed/threaded tenon for easier hemping and insertion into the drone's reed seat.

Picture provided courtesy Tim Sullivan.

*Reed Donor: Caven Keith of Santa Cruz, CA.

A modified copy of the Ross reed. Red plastic body, with a threaded tenon for easier hemping and insertion into the drone's reed seat.

(The tongue on the left is a replacement secured with user applied shrink tubing. The bridles are not original which were probably black rubber.)

Norm Kyle died in 2000.

*Reed Donor: Mike Spencer of Medicine Hat, Canada

A very original design unlike anything prior to its introduction. Shepherd's first synthetic drone reed design was entirely plastic. The body was made of injection-molded black plastic with easily replaceable white plastic tongues. This is good since the tongue is relatively easy to break! Very easy to maintain, once set these can go a year or more without maintenance. Not as adjustable as some other reeds, nor as close to the cane sound as some others.

For the very first issue of these reeds, the tongues (of the same soft material) were glued to the body of the reed.

(Peter Crisler, with no affiliation to R.T. Shepherd Co., makes replacement tongues of a more durable material, pink and yellow in color depending on its use with the tenor or bass drone reeds.)

Website: www.shepherd-bagpipes.com

Elsewhere on this site: Andrew's Bagpipe Shepherd Drone Tip

*Reed Donor: Eric Mrozek of Gardena, CA.
*Reed Donor: Bill Farr of Portland, OR.

Reed based on Shepherd's original synthetic drone reed, but he had the ends threaded so you could screw them into the drone seats—after tapping them out—if desired. Unlike the later version these did not include a tuning plug. "PAT. PEND." is embossed on the back.

The company "Kyle of Agryll" was named after the street his shop was on.

Norm Kyle died in 2000.

*Reed Donor: Island Bagpipe, Canada.

Kyle's second reed based on Shepherd's original synthetic drone reed, still with threaded ends but added on this version is an adjustment plug similar to the Ross reeds, but with a pointed end. "Pat. F2170420" is embossed on the back. (The black rubber O-rings shown are not original.)

The company "Kyle of Agryll" was named after the street his shop was on.

Norm Kyle died in 2000.

Picture provided courtesy Jim Skinner.

*Reed Donor: MacDonald Highland Outfitters, Canada.

A very original design unlike anything previous to its introduction, pioneered the threaded tuning screw and a cellulose polymer body.
The body of the reed is made of a cellulose (wood fiber) polymer dark red-tan in appearance, has adjustable black threaded tuning pins and a brass reed-seat. The tongue is permanently integrated into the reed body, replaceable by sending it into the manufacturer. Each reed is handmade. This early version has black tongues, black adjustable bridle and a dark body.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy of The Truth About Rocket Reeds.

*Reed Donor: Carrie "The Redhaired Piper" MacDonald of Sudbury, ON, Canada.

Henderson's first synthetic drone reed was the first copy of the unpatented original Wygent Synthe-Drone reed, though the manufacturing techniques were different (cheaper mold-made body vs. Wygent's hand-machined) and resulted in different sound. Mark Wygent understandably wasn't very happy about being copied as it was ethically questionable, but there wasn't much he could do since it was legal. Many suppliers and pipers were confused due to the similarity.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Identical to Henderson's first synthetic drone reed but with a color change. Perhaps to provide a easy visible difference between his reeds and the Wygents upon which they were based.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Skinner.

Made on demand, very few of these reeds were made. This was probably the first to use a cane body with a synthetic tongue.

Version 1: Cane body, plastic tongue. (At left)

Version 2: Metal body, plastic tongue. Diagrams are available at the following link:

http://www.daye1.com/bagpage/artdron1.gif

Website: David Daye's Bagpipe Page

Picture used with permission of David Daye.

Synthetic composite body, transparent plastic tongue and black tuning screw. Based on the original unpatented Wygent Synthe-Drone reed, these reeds include a few modifications, including a transparent tongue and rubber seat end.

The bass reed is available with an inverted tongue.

Website: www.pipedreamsreeds.com

Picture provided courtesy Tim Sullivan.

*Reed Donor: Douglas Murray of Altaville, CA.
*Reed Donor: Eric Mrozek of Gardena, CA.
*Reed Donor: Janet Fraser of Toronto, Canada.

Aluminum tongues, treated cane body. Refined in 2001 with a more durable plastic tongue.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

Aluminum tongues, treated cane body. Refined in 2001 with a more durable plastic tongue.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

Second generation to the original Synthe-Drone. Synthetic wood-composite body for tenor; "enhanced material" for bass reed; polycarbonate reed seat; dome-headed black tuning pin, plastic tongue; rubber boot and brass ring comprises permanent bridle at base of tongue; adjustable synthetic bridle. The body orientation is reversible, that is, the tongues can be inverted to open toward the drone top. Each reed is hand-machined.

Website: www.wygent.com

Double-tongue model—twin opposing plastic tongues. Synthetic wood-composite body for tenor; "enhanced material" for bass; polycarbonate reed seat; dome-headed tuning pin; rubber boot and brass ring comprises permanent bridle at base of tongues; adjustable synthetic bridle. Tongue orientation is reversible. That is, the tongues can be inverted to open toward the drone top. Each reed is hand-machined.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy Matt Willis.

Made with either a carbon fiber tongue (originally) or later, a glass fiber tongue. Body is phenolic or glass-epoxy (G-9, G-10, LE-phenolic, and XX-phenolic). Originally custom made to tune in each buyer's pipes by Mark Lee in small numbers, Rocket availablity has been inconsistent over the years as Mr. Lee's priorities change. Removable black nose cone contains a small opening from the acoustic chamber of the reed and can be filled with material—an artist's kneaded eraser is recommended—to raise the pitch. The cone has also been known to collect moisture. The first pioneer of carbon fiber drone reeds.

*Over the years: available, not available at all, available, available just with a new set of Kron pipes, available to all again, it changes as time goes on. Currently available through dealers but only recommended by Mark Lee for certain makes/models of pipes. The current only two dealers are:
Tartantown (British Columbia, Canada)
The British Shop (New York, USA)

Details on Rockets' composition.

Website: none.

Picture provided courtesy Sean Hannaway.

Henderson introduced this second synthetic reed to replace their first. The second generation has no head on the tuning pin, instead a hex-shaped slot was located on the end. Shown is a revised second generation set with a standard screw driver slot on the end of the tuning pin. Red molded plastic body, clear plastic tongue, black adjustment and permanent bridles.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

*Reed Donor: Eric Mrozek of Gardena, CA.

Indian & Cairns Synthetic Drone Reeds.*
Designer: Colin V. Cairns and Iain Indian of Australia
Introduced: Very late 1990s, perhaps 1999.
Price:~$23US.
Availability: Discontinued.

These reeds have a rather unique design. The tongues are coated wood, the bodies molded acrylic. There are caps at the bottoms of the reed which can be removed from the barrel in order to install one of the curved plastic inserts which enable one to alter the interior dimensions of the reed, thereby altering the pitch. The inserts are designed to be trimmed by the piper to create the desired pitch.

Website: none.

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

Very special thank you to Kay McMann for an unused image.

*Reed Donor: Rory O'Moore Pipes and Drums of Morris County, NJ.

Coln Cairns passed away in 2014.

Clear plastic body, possibly acrylic. Available in three strengths.

Website: www.cleartonereeds.co.uk

[Mr. Turkington contacted me in August 2008, he is going to provide more information soon.]

Picture provided courtesy Dave Mason.

Dark grey plastic body with yellow plastic tongues and a rubber O-ring for a bridle. Come with a spare tongue.

Website: www.rghardie.ukf.net

Picture provided courtesy Malcolm MacKenzie.

This drone reed has tongues held in place on a peg with a rubber retainer and a similar rubber bridle. The tuning plug is white plastic with a slot for a screwdriver. The body is black plastic. Appear to be a combination of the Shepherd and Henderson designs. This company is the manufacturer of the synthetic pipe chanter reed: "The Clanrye."

Website: www.bagpipers.co.uk

Picture provided courtesy Steve MacLeod.
(Reeds shown owned by Jack Bainbridge.)

Soutar Synthetic Drone Reeds.
Designer: Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews, Scotland
Introduced: Late 1990s.
Availability: Yes.
Price: £17.00 (Approximately $35 US.)

These black plastic reeds are similar in basic design to Shepherd's original synthetic drone reeds, but use a different method of securing the tongue. Features a clear synthetic bridle.

Website: www.duncansoutarofstandrews.com

Picture provided courtesy Brian McCarthy.

Shepherd's second synthetic drone reed was also entirely plastic. The body is made of injection-molded black plastic with easily replaceable angled tongues. Black plastic notched ring functions as a bridle. The reeds ship with a split white plastic spacer ring, the widths are the factory default settings. These can be removed to adjust the pitch by loosening the locking collar and moving the main body of the reed along the "telescopic tuning pin" then relocking the collar. (Note reed on the right with ring removed.)

Website: www.shepherd-bagpipes.com

Picture provided courtesy Rick McFarlane.

*Reed Donor: Rick Morgan of Pensacola, FL.

Made in very limited numbers, only about three dozen sets, these have a XX garolite body. A brass tubing insert functions as the tenon. Slotted Teflon tuning screw in the opposite end. G-10 phenolic tongues are bent and heat set then glued in place on the flat tongue bed. Double rubber o-ring bridles.

Website: n/a

Characteristics unknown.
I e-mailed David Chesney on repeated occasions with zero response: 4/22/02, 8/2/02, 9/18/02, 2/13/03, 2/1/04 and again on 2/27/05 after he left the Warnock company.
Note: David Chesney ran the Warnock Reedmakers Ltd. on behalf of the Warnock family for almost 20 years ending in February 2004 when he left. Since then the Warnock family has resumed control but no longer makes synthetic drone reeds.

Website: [Later on.]

Blue "custom-mix" synthetic body (not plastic) with clear plastic tongues. All made by hand and matched to form a balanced set.

Website: www.bagpipemaker.com

Picture provided courtesy Dave Baltes

Incorporating all the features of the "Standard" version with the addition of end tuning plugs.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Frank McCabe Jr., East Kilbride,Scotland

Constructed from a combination of plastic, rubber and heat shrink. White body, black tongue, black tuning screw. Molded then hand assembled.

Website: www.kilberry.com

Picture provided courtesy Kilberry Bagpipes.

This refined version replaced the original design's aluminium tongue with more durable plastic tongue on the treated cane body. The tongue is pre-formed remain at the correct vibrating angle. Rubber reed seat, adjustable bridle/tongue stabiliser arrangement. Manufacturer claims that they will sound at exactly the same pitch as when last played. Hand-crafted as a pre-tuned, matched set.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Frank McCabe Jr., East Kilbride,Scotland

This refined version replaced the original aluminium tongue with more durable plastic tongue on the treated cane body. Incorporates all the features of the "Standard" version plus a means of extending the internal chamber for tuning.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Frank McCabe Jr., East Kilbride,Scotland

Incorporating all the features of the "Standard" version with the addition of an end plug which doubles as a tuner and an air reducer. The diameter of the plug head is marginally less than the bore diameter of the average drone stock thus limiting the volume of air reaching the reed itself.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Frank McCabe Jr., East Kilbride,Scotland

This removable cap fits snugly onto the end of the "Standard" and "Telescoping" versions of the reed and like the plug in "Variation 3," it limits the volume of air reaching the reed.

Website: <planning stages>

E-mail: fmccabe_reeds@hotmail.com

Picture provided courtesy Frank McCabe Jr., East Kilbride,Scotland

Made in very limited numbers, these have a XX garolite body with an integral tenon. Slotted Nylon tuning screw in the opposite end. While thinner than in previous models, the tongues are still G-10 phenolic that are bent and heat set then glued in place on the flat tongue bed. Double rubber o-ring bridles.

Website: n/a

Originally introduced in 1995, this is a 2001 edition set of Synthe-Drone Reeds. As shown here, the more recent sets include a cream-colored bridle and yellow tongue. Wygent continued to experiment and improve his original design which included a hand-tied permanent bridle. Wygent did manufacture several sets with flexible bridles, and a few with cable ties, as an experimental substitute.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy Matt Willis.

Identical to the standard (September 1999) DuaTone reeds with the exception of having the manufacturer installed option of glass-fiber tongues (not carbon fiber). Manufactured from a continuous filament, and set in a silicone resin binder, the playing angle of these tongues is thermoset. This reduces the likelihood of the tongues settling to a relaxed or flattened condition to nearly zero.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy Ron "Ringo" Bowen.

White synthetic body, transparent tongue. Black rubber O-ring bridles. Metal tuning screw. Bass drone has an inverted tongue.

Website: n/a

[David Caldwell will be providing details soon?]

Picture provided courtesy Rebecca Fogarty.

*Reed Donor: Bill Farr of Portland, OR.

Henderson carbon-fiber tongue drone reeds. The second drone reed to use a carbon-fiber tongue, after Mark Lee's Rockets. Red model. The different color bodies for these reeds indicates different internal bore size—thus different pitch. Red has the largest bore, blue is intermediate, and white has the smallest bore.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Maeve DeHetre.

Henderson carbon-fiber tongue drone reeds. White model (inner diameter: 0.225"). The different color bodies for these reeds indicates different internal bore size—thus different pitch. Red has the largest bore, blue is intermediate, and white has the smallest bore.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Bill Carr.

Henderson carbon-fiber tongue drone reeds. Blue model (inner diameter: 0.27"). The different color bodies for these reeds indicates different internal bore size—thus different pitch. Red has the largest bore, blue is intermediate, and white has the smallest bore.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

*Reed Donor: Kip Nead of Aptos, CA.

Composite-body reeds. Innovations: injection-molded tongue, patented T-joint tongue/body attachment. Translucent tuning screws, transparent plastic bridles, black tongues.

Website: www.neilselbie.com

Picture provided courtesy Bob Henderson.

*Reed Donor: Mike Painter of Crystal Lake, IL.

This body is machined, not molded like previous Harmonics reeds. In order for the reed to be more easily distinguished from it predecessor, the body color was changed to green very shortly after improvements were made.

These reeds are now available only with a white body.

Website: hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

The reed bodies are handmade of polypenco. Reed tongue is a poly/plastic material and is replaceable, though replacement should be rare. New patented adjustment system—the portion of reed with the tongue threads into reed base, turn to adjust in or out.

See an early protoype of this reed.

Website: www.duncansoutarofstandrews.com

Picture provided courtesy Chris Weidner, Lookout Mtn Hightland.

Similar in appearance to Rocket Reeds but there is an adjustment screw located inside of nose cone, a feature designed by Don Smith. The reed bodies of the Rocket Reeds and the Pure Tone Drone Reeds are both glass fiber.

As of Fall 2002, there were three generations of these reeds. Internal dimensions were refined for the second generation resulting both a different volume and a slightly higher pitch. The third generation replaced the glass fiber tongues with a carbon fiber/glass fibre combination.

Website: n/a

Picture provided courtesy Don Smith.

KBC is an abbreviation for Kevlar, Brass, Carbon fiber, which are significant components of these reeds. Kevlar body, totally lined with brass, carbon fiber tongues, inverted bass, tuning plug. These reeds include the first known appearance of twin metal locking stabilizer/tuning rings. (Later Ross Omega reeds display a similar—but independently developed—concept utilizing metal clips.) According to the maker only 25 sets were made along with six single bass reeds. Also the first known reed to include a hole in the tuning plug through which a hex wrench (or nail) can be passed to help adjust the position the plug.

Picture provided courtesy Jean Allioux.

Black Delrin plastic body. White plastic tongues. Rubber for reed seat. Double rubber-band (tan color) bridles for tongue adjustment. Teflon tuning screw. Metal foil near reed seat—could be identification sticker or brass collar of some sort.

E-mailed him several times, latest again on 11/5/02, 2/1/04 then once more since.

Website: [After I get more cooperation.]

Henderson carbon-tongue drone reeds with adjustment screw, intended to replace the previous generation which included three different models with different diameters instead of an adjustment screw.

Additional modifications include a tongue that vibrates in a different way which makes the reeds easier to set and they also take less air than earlier Harmonic Deluxe models.

Website: www.hendersonreedmakers.com

Picture provided courtesy Jim Hudgins.

This is the first reed to offer volume control via the white plug opposite the seat—this plug closes/opens the aperature under the tounge. These reeds also have the capability of being shut-off using the aperture adjustment. Pitch can be adjusted primarily via the pins at the seat or, if necessary also with the white end plugs. White tuning plugs feature a hollow core which can be filled to further raise the pitch of the reeds. Another innovative feature is an extended seat tenon functioning as a small watertrap in the reed seat to stop any condensation from running down the drone and affecting the reed. The tongue bed is angled, while the glass fiber tongue is straight. Small grooves in the tongue seat help prevent moisture build-up. The body is black injection molded plastic.

Website: www.highlandreeds.com

Picture provided courtesy Bruce Hitchings.

*Reed Donor: Eric Mrozek of Gardena, CA.
*Reed Donor: Bruce Hitchings.

Composite body, white plastic tongue, clear rubber bridle. Teflon tuning screws with a uniquely large head. Black tape for the permanent bridle of the tongue seat.

Website: [After I get more cooperation.]

*Reed Donor: John Delaney & The Glor na nGael band of Long Island, NY.

Conceptually similar to the Ross reeds introduced in 1985 utilizing a cane tongue and a plastic body, but are fitted with the double-bridle system allowing for finer tuning. The Mk1 reeds, are blue. A later version of these reeds feature a single black O-ring.

Website: [website gone]

Picture provided courtesy Scott Nicolson.

*Reed Donor: Chris MacDonald of Beaverton, OR.

Based on the Shepherd SM-90 reeds, but has a sloped tongue bed with a straight clear polycarbonate tongue (instead of a flat tongue bed and an angled tongue). A clear permanent tongue seat bridle. Computer machined tan body, black telescoping seat with locking collar.

Tongues were changed to carbon fibre late-spring 2005.

Website: www.murrayreeds.co.uk

*Reed Donor: James Murray.

A derivation of the second gereration Henderson Harmonic Deluxe carbon-fiber tongue reeds, but uses a tuning plug instead of a tuning screw. Manfactured by David Naill & Co., who also makes the Murray Henderson synthetic drone reeds.

Naill later released this reed under their own name.

Website: www.AppsReeds.com

Body is Wygent's exclusive cellulose-based composite material. The carbon-fiber black tongue is a proprietary blend, manufactured to Wygent specifications and is permanently thermoset with a slight curve. Compared to earlier Wygent reeds, the body is slightly longer, the bridle is slightly wider and the reed is more stable. Each reed is handmade, tested in a drone and personally adjusted by Wygent.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy Mark Wygent.

Body is G-10 glass-fiber resin. The carbon-fiber black tongue is a proprietary blend, manufactured to Wygent specifications and is permanently thermoset with a slight curve. The seat and tuning screw are interchangeable to invert the tongue orientation if desired. Compared to earlier Wygent reeds, the body is slightly longer, the bridle is slightly wider and the reed is more stable. Each reed is handmade, tested in a drone and personally adjusted by Wygent.

Website: www.wygent.com

Picture provided courtesy Mark Wygent.

Unique patented design where the bed of the reed curves down to allow the flat carbon-fiber tongue to vibrate. Avoids the problem of a settling reed tongue. The bed of the reed may be adusted by screws located on the underside of the reed. Replacing the traditional bridle is a metal tuning clip adjusted by a screw. Pitch is adjusted by a soft rubber tuning plug (unthreaded). Combines metal, carbon-fiber, rubber and plastic.

In January 2005, Geoff Ross sold his portion of rights to the Omega Reeds to Robert Crozier. The reeds will be known as Crozier Omega Reeds.

Website: www.crozierbagpipes.com

(Was: www.rossbagpipereeds.com)

Picture provided courtesy Steve MacLeod.

Similar to Rocket Reeds but they differ in several ways. First, the carbon fiber tongue material is different. Second, the tongues are curved along their entire length instead of heat bent. Third, these are CNC machined to ensure they are identical. Finally, there is an adjustment screw located inside of nose cone. The reed bodies of the Rocket Reeds and the Kinnaird Carbon Fibre Reeds are both glass fibre.

Mr. Kinnaird is a Mechanical Engineer, has studied muscial acoustics and is the P/M of Saskatoon Police Pipes and Drums.

Website: www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Picture provided courtesy Ron Bowen.

This second generation of Allioux's drone reeds replaced his previous KBC reeds.

Hand-tooled special composite glass fiber-reinforced body (reputed to be tedious to machine and harsh on tools), carbon fiber tongues for the tenors, glass-fiber tongue for the bass. Light-weight metal adjustable tongue stabilizer rings (first seen in Allioux's KBC reeds), the stabilizer/slider ring can control the pitch as well as the angle of the tongue opening by adjusting the set-screw pressure. The tuning screws for the tenors (not the bass) are hollow and therefore can be adapted to higher pitches by filling the core with a putty-like compound, this helps maintain a reasonable length of screw extending out. An optional bass air-inverter sleeve is available which forces the air to flow around and past the base of a non-inverted tongue—reduces strike-in howl.

Each set is serialized, calibrated and played for 30 minutes each day for a week prior to shipment. Originally these were made in advance, but now are custom made by Allioux for your pipes in either a face-to-face arrangement or by shipping him your pipes for measurement and reed customization. Allioux has no plans for mass production.

The name "Ridgeway" comes from the street upon which Allioux lives.

Picture provided courtesy Jean Allioux.
(Thank you to Van Jackman for an unused image.)

*Reed Donor: Jean C. Allioux.

The body of the reed is injection molded blue plastic with a glass composite tongue which is thinner than, say, a Kinnaird or Henderson tongue. The reeds feature a flat tongue which sits on an angled body—similar to the Omega drone reed which Robert Crozier co-designed, but is a permanent fixed curve. Airtight rubber tuning plug. The back tongue support O-ring sits in a groove flush to the body—a unique design.

Robert Crozier worked with Geoff Ross assembling thousands of the Ross Drone Reeds, the first modern synthetic drone reed.

Website: www.crozierbagpipes.com

Picture provided courtesy Robert Crozier.
(Thank you to Takeshi Morishige for an unused image.)

*Reed Donor: Ian Lyons/Robert Crozier.

These are traditional cane reeds with a modern twist—patent No. 0326331.6. There is a small nylon set screw threaded into a small hole on the underside of the reed about a third of the way down. When you tighten the screw it pushes open the tongue from inside the reed. The bridle is a tiny plastic hose clamp that can be moved up or down the length of the reed. The bridle serves to push the tongue closed, the screw to open it up. A set comes with extra nylon screws and a small screw driver for adjustments. The cane has been treated with a silicone mixture to dramatically extend its lifetime.

Robert Barnes' e-mail address

Website: n/a

Picture provided courtesy Robert Barnes.

This second revision of the Balance Tone reeds featured three major changes. One is the white control plugs rotate (rather than slide in or out) to reduce the apeture under the tongue—a reed can be shut off by closing the hole completely or volume can be nominally affected by reducing the size of the hole. Second change is that the white plugs are no longer hollow. The third change was the increase of the bore in the tenor reeds to make them more mellow. As with the original reed, the tongue bed is angled, while the glass fiber tongue is straight. Small grooves in the tongue seat help prevent moisture build-up. The body is black injection molded plastic.

Website: www.highlandreeds.com

*Reed Donor: Bruce Hitchings.

Red plastic body, clear plastic tongues. Black rubber bridles. Collar slides on a long parallel tenon to set pitch.

[More information on very soon! Oct'08]

Website: [URL expired]

Picture provided courtesy Andrew MacLennan.

Bass drone reed has three tongues.

More information coming soon... Summer 2005? Nope, maybe 2006 sometime, depends on Mark.

Website: cushingbagpipe.com

These are basically the first generation Henderson Harmonic Deluxe reeds released under the Naill brand name with a green body.

Website: www.naill-bagpipes.com

Same as the Crozier Drone Reeds introduced a year earlier, but due to supply issues for glass fibre, the reeds switched to a carbon fibre tongue.

Website: www.crozierbagpipes.com

Simple and inexpensive design. No tuning plug. Black plastic body and clear plastic tongue which is inverted on all the reeds (bass and tenors). Reed tenon is very narrow compared to the rest of the body.

Website: www.bagpipe.co.uk

*Reed Donor: Ralph Hepburn, Bagpipes Galore.

Based on the Rocket Reeds, but with some modifications such as a tuning screw at the end of the nose cone and twin O-rings to serve as a base for the tongue.
(In addition to the carbon fibre tongue, a Kevlar-hybrid tongue is in testing.)

Website: www.powertoneuk.com [defunct]

*Reed Donor: PowerTone.

While at first glance, these appear to be a rehashing of old designs, the manufacture is very unique. The cane tongue of this reed has been stablized with a custom infusion process to saturate it with a proprietary mixture. The body is made of maple and is also stabilized. The two ends of the bore have been reinforced with a brass lining. (Later versions do not include a brass lining for the tuning plug as the brass was occasionally slipping.) The aluminum tuning plug has a rubber washer to provide a proper seal. The tongue is secured to the body with three heavy-duty rubber O-rings. And the bridle is twin thinner O-rings.

These were Mr. Ackland discontinued these in favor of Spitfire Drone Reeds.

Website: Formerly available through TheBagpipePlace.

*Reed Donor: Terry Ackland.

Inverted clear plastic tongues. White tuning screw. The tongues for these reeds are smaller than found on many other makes.

Website: Colin Kyo Bagpipes.

*Reed Donor: Jonathan Adams.

Similar to Ackland's first reed in many respects. Along a variety of minor changes, the biggest change is the leaving the resilient rind on the cane tongue allowing for greater tolerances and efficiency.

The cane tongue and maple body have been stablized with a custom infusion process to saturate it with a proprietary mixture. Both ends of the bore have been reinforced with a brass lining which are secured with a strong adhesive. The aluminum tuning plug has a rubber washer to provide a proper seal and is more snug than with the Novacane reed. The tongue is secured to the body with three heavy-duty rubber O-rings, the last acting as the bridle. An additional O-ring is located past the end of the tongue to protect it when inserting the drone back into its stock.

Additional prototypes include African Blackwood bodies and/or carbon fiber tongues.

Website: n/a

Available from Terry Ackland.

Picture provided courtesy Rick Prosser.

A resurrection of sorts of the original Ross Reeds of 1985. Since Geoff Ross sold his drone reed business to Robert Crozier in January of 2005, it's only fitting that Robert would rerelease a version of Ross' first modern synthetic drone reed. The body of the reed is injection molded blue plastic and is slightly shorter than the original Ross Reeds giving a higher modern pitch. The tongue is prepared cane. Like the original Ross Reeds, these feature a curved tongue which sits on a flat body. Airtight rubber tuning plug. The clear rubber back tongue support ring sits in a groove flush to the body. Clear rubber bridle.

Website: www.crozierbagpipes.com

This third revision of the Balance Tone reeds was developed in conjunction with Robert Mathieson, PM of Shotts & Dykehead PB. This reed features a slightly higher pitch. As with the original reed, the tongue bed is angled, while the glass fiber tongue is straight. Small grooves in the tongue seat help prevent moisture build-up. The body is gray injection molded plastic.

Website: www.highlandreeds.com

*Reed Donor: Bruce Hitchings.

A third generation of Allioux's drone reeds, with an inverted bass as an option.

The reed body is made of a new G10/FR4 glass woven material with reinforced Epoxy binder. Carbon fiber tongues for tenors and fiberglass tongue for bass. A very unique characteristic, the tongues are side notched, resembling a paddle. The notching is customized based on the needs of the drones for which they are made. The inner bores have been reconfiguration from the previous version. Each reed has a built-in sound chamber followed by a customized 3-stage exit bore. As with the previous model (to be discontinued soon), no reeds are fully completed in advance. Allioux gives you the option of shipping your drones (preferred), or upon request, he will e-mail you a sheet with diagrams for dimensions that are required.

Picture provided courtesy Jean Allioux.

Features a carbon fiber tongue for the bass reed and polycarbonate tongues for the tenors. O-ring bridle for the bass and elastic bands as bridles for the tenors. The bodies are turned from a custom fabricated phenolic cotton laminate. Nose cap similar to Kinnaird reeds in that it houses an adjustable grub screw for tuning.

Website: www.canningreeds.com

Picture provided courtesy Ryan Canning.

*Reed Donor: Ryan Canning.

Black plastic body. The end of the carbon fibre tongues are held in place with a nickel-plated brass screw. The bridles are black rubber. The tuning plugs seal with an O-ring. Alternatively, the pitch may be dropped further by removing the tuning pin and installing the provided cap, which is also sealed with an O-ring.

(More information if the maker responds to my inquries!)

Website: www.bagpipes.freeuk.com

Based on their mid-1990's design. Clear plastic tongues, composite body, black rubber bridles. The tongues are glued to the body and further secured with a black rubber ring. White plastic tuning screw.

Website: www.naill-bagpipes.com

Picture provided courtesy D. Naill & Co.

*Reed Donor: D. Naill & Co.

Development of these reeds began in 2005. Carbon fibre bass tongue, clear plastic tenor tongues. Double bridle, a silicon band along with an O-ring. Hollow metal alloy tuning pin ("pitch adjuster") with a red silicon ring as a locking method as well as helping seal the pin with the body.

Website: mgreeds.com

*Reed Donor: Rory Grossart.

The BalanceTone reed modified for marketing through the R.G. Hardie company.

Website: www.rghardie.co.uk

*Reed Donor: Peter Welch of Massachusetts.

The body of these reeds are made of Tufnel, a synthetic resin bonded fabric. The injection molded tongue is secured with two clear bridles. The white plastic tuning screw is well sealed to the body with a black rubber ring.

Website: www.bannatyne.ltd.uk

*Reed Donor: Pete Hendry of Scotland.

The body is machined from black Acetal. The tongues are made of an alloy where the main element is silver. The tongues are produced as an offset "V", there is no curvature. The offset makes it possible to use the same tongue in both bass and tenor, the tongue is just flipped end to end. The tongue is secured to the body with two heavy-duty rubber O-rings, the second acting as the bridle. An additional O-ring is located past the end of the tongue to protect it when inserting the drone back into its stock. There is a small recess added to the body at the tenon end of the reeds to keep the tongue parallel, the O-ring is not on the walled recess area otherwise the tongue will not be clamped. Aluminum tuning plugs feature a rubber O-ring seal.

Website: n/a

Available from Terry Ackland.

*Reed Donor: Terry Ackland.

Black plastic body with inverted plastic tongues. Tuning plugs. Made by hand.

(Seeking more information from Mr. Fairbairn. E-mailed him again Jan.10, 2010.)

Website: www.nzbagpipes.co.nz

Padauk (African reddish wood) body. Glass fibre tongues for the tenors and carbon fibre tongue for the bass. Clear vinyl bridle. Aluminum tuning plug.

Website: www.rwreeds.com

*Reed Donor: Xavier Boderiou.

Black plastic bodies. White plastic tongues. Clear bridles. Advertised as "No tunning Hessal" ("no tuning hassle"). Made in Pakistan.

Website: n/a

Initial version. Acetal body, clear plastic tongues. Black plastic tuning screws.

Website: hogganreeds.co.uk

*A cosmetically refined version that followed about a month after the initial release: sleeker tuning screws, black rubber instead or red, hemped tenon instead of rubber. Acetal body, clear plastic tongues. Black plastic tuning screws.

Website: hogganreeds.co.uk

A variation on earlier makes of reeds. Polyurethane body. Clear polycarbonate tongues. Inverted bass reed.

Website: swedishbagpipes.com

Very similar to the Kinnaird reeds introduced a decade earlier. The carbon fiber tongues are curved along their entire length. CNC machined to ensure they are identical. An adjustment screw located inside of nose cone. The bodies are glass fiber.

Cosmetically, the nose cones are longer and more tapered and the opening under the tongue is longer. Internally, dimensions have been changed to make the tenors brighter and the bass more robust.

Website: www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

*Reed Donor: Rob Kinnaird.

These reeds are available in both a Standard and Premium configuration, the difference being the Premium body is hydrophobic and therefore repels water better than the standard reeds. The Premium bodies have a more matte finish than the Standard bodies.

The tongues are carbon fiber.

The threads on the tuning screws are a finer threading than what is typically seen.

Website: www.chrisarmstrong.co

*Reed Donor: Chris Armstrong.