MID-EAST Roosebeck Medieval Smallpipes User manual

Learning Procedure: At rst the drones are not installed and the holes in
the common stock are plugged with stoppers. Only the chanter is played.
is makes it easier to learn arm, breath and nger control. Aer you have
learned a few songs it is time to install one of the drones. Add drones one
at a time as you become more adept. Many Scottish or Shriner groups oer
lessons; or look for bagpipe groups at Scottish Game Festivals.
Flap Valve: e Rubber Flap valve
must be straight, or it may hang up
when the blow pipe is plugged into the
stock.
Bag Care: Any RexineTM bag is
synthetic and should never be
seasoned.
Leather bags are pre-seasoned. A Little
air leakage is normal. Over time they
may require seasoning to be kept so and airtight. If leaking is excessive,
re-season by following the instructions provided on the Super Seal bottle.
Constantly check the ttings into the stocks; if necessary add hemp for an
airtight t.
Here are some simple tips to care for your Medieval Smallpipes.
- Use a dry so cloth for dusting
- Use a damp so cloth for cleaning
- Avoid extreme temperatures
- Avoid extremely dry conditions
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Avoid using abrasives
Instrument Care
Medieval Smallpipes
Accessories
Cases and other
accessories are available
at www.mid-east.com
Stock Flap Valve
Blow
Pipe
– Owner’s Guide –
www.mid-east.com
© Copyright 2016. Mid-East Mfg. Inc.
Medieval Smallpipes
Medieval
Smallpipes

Caution: Before working with the bagpipe
read these instructions thoroughly.
It is extremely important that you always hold the pipe chanter close to
the connecting end (hemp end) when
unplugging or plugging into the stock.
e pipe chanter can be easily cracked if
not handled properly. erefore, the pipe
chanter is not covered under warranty.
ere is a charge for replacement of this
item. Please be very careful.
Bagpipe Components: e bagpipe
consists of the Rexin™ bag with cover, the
straight 8-hole chanter, the plain blowpipe
and two drones. e longer, 3-section,
drone is the bass and the shorter,
2-section, drone is the tenor. Included
with the bagpipe are reeds: 2 plastic
chanter reeds and 4 cane drone reeds (2
long bass and 2 shorter tenor). ere is
a spool of hemp (string) and 2 rubber
stoppers.
Before Assembly: e reeds must be
tested, adjusted, and plugged into their respective pipes.
Adjustment and Placement of Pipe Chanter Reed: Test the reed by blowing
very hard, into the non-hemped end. Be careful the reed-lips do not touch the
inside of your mouth. e plastic reed may need an occasional adjustment. If
the reed has low volume and closes easily the reed lips are too at. Pinch the
outer edges of the reed to create a small opening between the reed lips. If the
reed is now too hoarse you did it too much. Just atten them again by pressing
the lips together.
Medieval Smallpipes
Operation
Assembly of Chanter: e hemp end of the reed ts into the open bore of
the pipe chanter at its connecting end (at the hemp end). Insert the reed and
chanter into its stock and stopper the drone-holes in the common stock. Blow
up the bag with the mouthpiece and play the chanter. Aer some use the
notes will improve. e Chanter tuning can be altered by adjusting the reed
depth in the bore.
Adjustment and Placement of Drone Reeds: e hemp end of one of the
longer single reeds plugs into the bore of the bass drone (at the hemp joint).
e hemp end of one of the shorter single reeds plugs into the bore of the
tenor drone (at the hemp joint). If any reed is loose, wrap the reed with more
hemp until it ts snugly in the drone’s bore. Blow on the reed without the
reed tongue touching the inside of your mouth. A gentle blow should make a
squawking sound and a hard blow should close the reed tongue. e tongue of
a new drone reed may need to be adjusted. New reeds are generally closed too
much, which means you can get no sound. Li the tongue about ¼ inch and
gently massage the top side of the tongue so it develops a slight arch. Release
the tongue and it should be slightly opened at the top. You should now be able
to make the reed squawk. If the drone reed is open too far, using too much air,
slip a razor blade under the lip and bend the tip closed. In severe cases, wet
the reed, tie the tongue closed, and allow it to dry for a few days.
Bass and Tenor Drones: e longer, 3-section, drone is
the bass and the shorter, 2-section, drone is the tenor.
ere are 2 holes in the common stock for the drones;
which is tied into the bag. If you are right handed, the
bass drone ts into the right bore and the tenor into the
le. If you are le handed, the bass drone ts into the
le bore and the tenor into the right. It normally takes
about 20 minutes of playing the reed in its drone pipe
before it becomes “blown in.” Aer the reed is “blown
in” you can start to tune the drones. Drone reeds are
the biggest users of air; they should be kept as closed
as possible. e major pitch of the reed is adjusted by
the bridle. With 2/3 of the tuning slide showing on the
tenor drone, adjust the bridal on the reed to tune the
drone to D. With 2/3 of the tuning slide showing on the bass drone, adjust the
bridle on the reed to tune an octave below the tenor’s. If a drone reed is prone
to double toning, change the tension of the bridle or scrape the tongue to
weaken it.
continued
Air
Flow
Insert this
end into the
Chanter
Tongue