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New Page 28 March 1999
This is a Narrow Bore Concert D Penny-Chanter adapted by scaling the (possible) Harrington C# chanter owned by Kevin Rowsome, grandson of the late Leo Rowsome the famous pipe maker.
The method of construction is the style pioneered in the original Penny-Chanter and is given in more detail on the Penny-Chanter page. Click Here to go to the Penny-Chanter Page.
Chanter [Bottom or Working Part] Length Over-All 375 mm
The metal tube bore is 370 to 375 mm long. My present prototype is 370 mm and I believe it may be necessary to extend the length, at the top, to 375mm to allow sufficient movement and adjustment of the reed. For traditional cane reeds 370 mm may be long enough.
The plastic CPVC exterior is cut 1" or 25 mm above the bottom, leaving a narrower brass foot on the chanter analogous to the bottom end of traditional wooden chanters. 2 extra layers of brass tube are superglued over this for stiffness.
Click Here for photo of bottom end of Practice-Chanter.
| O.D. (Inches) |
Tube Length (mm) |
Distances BetweenTops and Bell (mm) |
Distances Between Bottoms & Bell (mm) |
| 1/4 |
75 |
375 |
300 |
| 9/32 |
117 |
375 |
258 |
| 5/16 |
155 |
375 |
220 |
| 11/32 |
197 |
375 |
178 |
| 3/8 |
147 |
280 |
133 |
| 13/32 |
194 |
280 |
86 |
| 7/16 |
234 |
280 |
46 |
| 15/32 |
280 |
280 |
0 |
| 1/2 |
25 |
25 |
0 |
| 17/32 |
25 |
25 |
0 |
| 3/8 ID Poly |
25 |
375 |
350 |
| 1/2 ID CPVC |
350 |
375 |
25 |
| Tube Name | Construction | Diameter | Cylinder Length (mm) | Tail Length (mm) |
Taper Type | Location of Top (mm) |
| Throat Holding Tube |
Tube | Outside D. 7/32" |
25 |
15 |
Flat |
356-8 |
| Throat Insert | Paper or Tube | Inside Diam .167" - 11/64" |
5 |
15 |
Flat |
356-8 |
| Note Name |
Distance from Bell (mm) |
Diameter (inches) |
| E- |
55 |
5/32 |
| E |
87 |
3/16 |
| F# |
119 |
13/64 |
| G |
149.5 |
11/64 |
| A |
185.5 |
3/16 |
| B |
217 |
3/16 |
| [ C' ] |
231 |
-- |
| C |
246 |
11/64 |
| D' |
265 |
11/64 |
A standard uilleann pipe soldered brass windcap can be fit with flexible rubber or plastic tubing such as used for medical or laboratory applications. Alternatively a plastic pipe cover with the rubber tube connected can be used, avoiding the need for soldering.
The rubber tube is required to allow the chanter to be bounced on the leg and lifted/replaced for tone effects, pops, barks etc.
A standard inexpensive Highland Bagpipe Practice-Chanter mouthpiece can be fixed to the end of the rubber tube.
Click Here for photo of a windcap adapted for Uilleann Pipe Practice-Chanter use.
Standard narrow red coloured Highland Bagpipe Practice-Chanter Reeds, typical cost $4.oo U.S. from many vendors.
Adjustments: trim lips 1/16" to 1/4" shorter. Fit snug fine wire bridle 2 wraps 1/4" to 1/2" below lips.
As presently described, the adjustment is very sensitive. A small movement or squeezing of the wire can render the reed uncooperative or unplayable. When the right balance is found however, the chanter responds and tunes reasonably for a practice instrument.
Click Here for photo of 2 practice-chanter reeds.
One reed is unaltered as sold, 2nd reed has fine 28 guage brass wire bridle, lips trimmed about 1/8", and bottom of staple has been partly unwrapped and rewrapped in teflon tape for a sliding pressure-fit into chanter head.
The bridled reed appears narrower. It is not; it was merely turned by the force of the bridle against the scanner window.
