bg
SOBER
Posts: 5
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Post by bg on Feb 2, 2007 20:05:35 GMT
Is there any difference in sound between the chalice-top pipes and regular tops, or is it just a stylistic visual preference?
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Post by greginlondon on Feb 3, 2007 0:30:32 GMT
The theory is that you get more overtones and a richer sound. I'm not sure I know what overtones sound like, though. Maybe it's because I don't have chalice tops.
Then again, having the drones extended as much as possible to get a sound chamber part way up has become fashionable, so perhaps it is similar.
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cullen
STEAMIN'
Lounge Lizard
Posts: 187
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Post by cullen on Feb 4, 2007 5:00:00 GMT
From what I understand, the drone sound is a function of material, bore size, chamber depth, bushing size, and type of drone reed. The bell is a final filter, of which the bushing is the key component.
So, chalice tops would be more aesthetic than functional. But what do I know? I personally like the look of the chalice tops.
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Post by greginlondon on Feb 4, 2007 14:10:38 GMT
Bear in mind that whilst the chalice tops on older pipes would have provided a larger sound chamber - in fact 'modern' drone ends enclose a small chamber still - some of the modern reproduction pipes, such as Dunbar I believe, have the chalice as external decoration only, retaining the usual modern internal dimensions.
Fine if you want a modern sound with older styling, but it's worth checking before you buy. And of course it's no good listening to pipes if you can't find out if they're actual or cosmetic chalice tops.
Just to confuse it more, often chalice top pipes will be made of another wood, more appropriate to C18-early C19, so it will be even harder to judge what effect the dimensions have on sound.
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Post by kjmillig on Feb 4, 2007 23:21:52 GMT
I have modern, cosmetic chalice tops because I wanted the older look. I've never been able to detect a sound difference.
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Post by piperlady on Feb 5, 2007 1:18:43 GMT
My 1982 Kintails have chalic tops that have a bigger inside diameter than that of the straight part of the drones. But the imitation horn end caps have holes that are close in size to what is found on non-chalice tops. Even when I used cane reeds (yes, before synthetic reeds were available) I always got comments about how good the drones sounded. I'm still using my first set of Shepherds - with replacement tongues - and I am very happy with the sound. Also, as Cullen would no doubt know - chalice tops hold more beer!
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cullen
STEAMIN'
Lounge Lizard
Posts: 187
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Post by cullen on Feb 5, 2007 17:02:16 GMT
Yes, chalice top beer mugs! Now thats a functional use for a chalice. Thanks Piperlady. Now I won't be able to look at a set of chalice pipes w/o craving a beer.
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Post by greginlondon on May 9, 2019 22:41:44 GMT
It's good to find this thread again. After this discussion I found some Kintails on EBay and bought them. I've been very happy with them, though the lack of ferrules means they are vulnerable to very damp weather. Apparently they are striped ebony, not ABW, but I love them all the same. Or maybe more.
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