The only thing I could suggest (apart from the cotton wool or foam rubber inside the drone shaft which you have tried) would be some sort of foam on the outside where the hole is (the sort of stuff they put on microphones to cut down the wind noise) . I have no "inner knowledge", just an off-the-top-of-the-head suggestion. There's not much I can think of other than, maybe, opening the reeds a little (so they don't vibrate as easily) than to fit new reeds and see if the same problem occurs. Two thoughts come to mind which both yourself and the original poster may like to answer. Have they always been loud? (ie are these new/refurbished pipes or have you recently done anything to them or have they just suddenly gone "funny" on you). Are you in a position to know if the pipes are well made/well reeded or not (to exclude a problem in their making)? Please don't take offence at that last one but I don't know you or how long you have been playing. It may help the experts if you could give some more details "my drone are too loud" could be read as "my chanter reed is too quiet" which is a different kettle of fish. It may be that those with an answer just need more information. It could, at the moment, be anything from technique to badly set/made reeds (not all pipes/reeds play at the same pressure, of course) or even that the chanter and the drones are from different instruments and just not balanced well. Reeds are difficult (for most of us) to get right. I have certainly made reeds that sounded like foghorns and ones that hardly gave a sound even when the veins on your neck were sticking out (yes, I have given up now, Colin R made and set mine some years back and they are still fine). I would certainly try replacing at least one reed with a known, good one just to try and also make sure the bore is oiled (often forgotten) - certainly if they used to be ok. I'm sure if you tell us a bit more, people like JS and Colin R will be able to help. That's the limit of my guesswork, sorry. It may prompt others (who see the errors in what I have written) to post, anyway. Colin Hill
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike and Enid Walton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 2:17 AM Subject: [NSP] Re: Loud Drones > > > Does nobody have any suggestions for this problem ? I was eagerly awaiting a flurry of responses as I also have the same problem. I tried putting wool in the drones, only distorted the sound I'm afraid. > > Mike Walton > -- > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > >
