What are plastic reeds, and how are they used?
The most common use of plastic reeds occurs with the GHB practice chanter. Some people estimate that 90-95% of the practice chanters played today use plastic reeds. Another widespread use of plastic is in drone reeds for the Highland pipe. Hybrid (Ross, Champion, Indian/Cairns) drone reeds feature a plastic body and a cane tongue. The tongue is usually held in place with a rubber wrap at the bottom, and a rubber band is used as a bridle. The cane tongues are varnished or sealed with plastic, to protect against moisture. Shepherd plastic drone reeds use a plastic body and a thin plastic tongue. Wygent (Synthe-Drone), Henderson, and Pipe Dreams (EzeeDrone) plastic drone reeds use a wood-composite or plastic bodies and not quite as thin plastic tongues. Some players of bellows-blown pipes sometimes use plastic-bladed chanter reeds (often made from yogurt containers).
