I will of course defer to Alden's advice, but I would ask if you have
enough rosin? Most new players actually don't use enough rosin
because they're scared of using too much and/or don't know how to
apply it. You'll find players who disagree with me on what I'll say
next, but if you know how to apply your rosin right it's almost
impossible to put too much on. The problems with "too much" rosin are
usually the result of the rosin being uneven and building up ridges
that break down and leave uneven residue on the surface. If you're
using a block of rosin, make sure that you have a flat surface on the
rosin. If it's broken, rough, or uneven, don't use it. If you do have
a flat surface on it, gently hold it to the wheel while you turn the
wheel and move it back and forth across the turning face of the
wheel. This motion will keep you from building up rosin in a band on
the wheel. (Many players hold the puck to the wheel without moving
the puck at all and *that* will lead to the "too much rosin"
syndrome.) If you do this right the wheel will build up a beautifully
even and smooth coating of rosin over time.
If you still find the balance is out after rosining then Alden's
advice on geometry is exactly right, especially as your instrument is
home brew. I just would hate to have you trying to fix the geometry
of your instrument if the fix were as simple as adding more rosin. I
find on my instruments that I notice too little rosin when the
chanter starts dropping out in relation to the drones, more or less
what you describe. Others may have different experience, and building
your own while learning to maintain it is a bit like building your
own computer and programming its operating system in assembly code at
the same time...
-Arle
On Mar 10, 2007, at 5:02 PM, Seth Hamon wrote:
Ok I raised it a hair and the scratyness is gone but
its pretty quiet and the drone is kinda drowning it
out... Seth
