Husk Reed Testimonials

"Shawn, I went away for the holiday weekend and just got back today. While I was gone, my new reed came, so right away I popped it in to try it out. It must come as no real surprise to you by now, but you've got another cane convert! I am really amazed - honestly, I wasn't sure what kind of difference it would really make, but now I understand. All of a sudden, the bass seems so much more alive! Plus, it definitely takes less air and my starts & cut offs are crisp & clean. I was also pleasantly surprised that it didn't need any fiddling or anything...I just put it in the seat and away it went! I couldn't be happier with the sound. Just wanted to say thanks!!"
Avery Bowen

"So, the reed arrived today and I gave it a little spring, moved the bridle down a bit and gave it a whirl. After 15 minutes or so I retuned then played for 40 minutes. My question? What am I missing? I thought this was supposed to be a hastle. It sounds great and takes half the air of the Kinnaird I had in. If this is the way playing cane works, sign me up."
John Elliott

"Hi Shawn. Very very nicely made reeds. I am more than pleased. Thank you very much."
Bill Buntin

"Just wanted to let you know I received the reeds I ordered and they are fantastic! Great sound and set up was a snap. Just on a side note; nice packaging, beautiful looking reeds and fast service! I definitely will order some more and recommend your reeds to my friends."
Robert Cranston

"All I can say is WOW! I never realized what I was missing. The inverted bass was plug and play. I will have the other tenor going in a few days. I am tempted to jump the gun. The new sound is great. Just thought you should know."
Russell Justice

"The Husk Reeds really bring out great sound from my Ather-Dougall Drones...Thanks!"
Ed Butler

"Hey Shawn, so far, I have to say that I love the cane reeds. I was skeptical that cane would be so easy to set up and play but your reeds are top notch. I finally played cane for the first time and love the sound. All because I read reviews about your reeds on Bob Dunsire. Who'd a thunk it."
Gy Kern

"Just got your reeds and plugged in all 3; pretty damn close to plug and play; ridiculous..."
John Tompkins

"Shawn I received the (inverted) bass drone reeds last Wednesday, had three pipers put the bass reeds in on Saturday, just took out the first three and bang they went with no trouble at all, no flicking the toungues no hair under the blades and away they went with the nice deep bass sound that we are looking for. Bass drones are tuning near perfectly with chanters at 480. I am very impressed, you certainly have a good product Shawn, this will give our pipe section the timbre in the bass I have been looking for."
Ian Evans P/M of the Winnipeg Celtic Pipe Band

"Hi Shawn, just wanted to let you know that I got the bass reed and I plugged it in at my lesson on Sunday. I sprung the tongue just once and then played a full piobaireachd without issue. My teacher said, "Your bass sounds great." She was surprised that it was quite literally a brand new reed. It has a nice bright ringing quality to it. I'm looking forward to using it this season."
Amy McGlothlin

"Hi Shawn. Thanks for the drone reeds -- they worked well in my Krons but currently I'm using them in a 200 year old set of pipes I just bought. They work great -- in fact, they're the only reeds I've got that work in the old pipes."
Richard King

"Your reeds arrived safely today. From the time I opened the envelope and saw the professionalism of how you packaged and shipped the reeds to the moment I plugged the bass drone in and played it I realized I was dealing with a truly professional product and craftsman. The inverted bass drone plugged and played flawlessly. I have never played cane reeds before and I have played over 10 years. Now I cannot put my pipes down.

I plan on outfitting my entire competition pipe corps with your inverted cane bass drone reed as we journey into Grade 4 in 2010. This will only improve our overall tone and the foundation we have in place from a very successful 2009 season.

Though I have yet to plug the tenors in, the bass alone is a world of difference already."
P/M Joe Brady - Wake & District Pipe Band

"I received your reeds today and I want to thank you for the successful transaction. The presentation was nice and the reeds look exceptional, they were very literally "plug and Play." They obviously need a bit of time settle into their new environment but they seem to work fine......I am very stoked to be back on cane. The bass reed.....tunes nice and high and is an absolutely beautiful full rich tone. I plugged in the inverted ezzee bass just for fun and it is a wimp in comparison. Proper job mate!....."
Adrian McCullough

"Shawn, I received your reeds Monday and popped them in my Henderson's. After a little bit of manipulation and watching your video....BAM!!!...they are sounding unbelievable. I can't imagine playing anything else, and I was raised on tupperware reeds. The difference is night and day. Now onto a sheepskin bag........Nice reeds!"
Brian McNulty

"Hello Shawn, I have your bass reed going nicely.... I continue to bed in the drone reeds you sent and cannot fathom how anyone can compare the sound of synthetics with cane."
Arthur Matthews

"Got the reeds today. They look great. I will report back once I've had a chance to put them in. Both packages arrived safe and sound."
Stephen Wilkinson

"Hi Shawn. Your package arrived and the reeds look outstanding!!!!! I'm really impressed."
Murray Huggins (pipemaker Colin Kyo bagpipes)

"Hi Shawn, I received the reeds yesterday when I got home from work. I had to do a few things first but at 9 pm I put them in and had a 1 hour practice on them. The thinner bass seems to work well right off the get go, having said that it was the first one I put in. The two tenors got a hair for starters but went quite well.... They took less air which I noticed right away, having said that you do need to break them in for stability. Right now synthetic reeds are instant but I know with more time the harmonics produced from cane will surpass the synthetic."
Calum MacDonald

"Hello Shawn, good news, your parcel arrived yesterday at my friend's workshop and I got it this afternoon. I only gave them a try (mouth blown) and am quite sure they will play perfectly. You will have a report. I was very surprised by the quality of your package which is quite unseen till now for cane reeds. Do you send all your reeds like this? superb!"
Yann

"Hi Shawn, that new bass reed was perfect, took the old one out, put the new one in, didn't have to move a thing, sorted. Tenors I will start with next week. Cheers,"
Will Hornsby

"Hey Shawn, So I finally had time to actually sit down and hemp up the cane reeds and plug them in. WOW! I have never heard cane reeds before and they are amazing....I must say, I am impressed with all of the harmonics that have come into play!"
Chuck Russell

"Shawn, I have to tell you I am really impressed with the drone reeds! When they arrived I blew through the bass and put it in my Duncan MacDougalls and viola....fantastic. There is nothing like the cane sound. Over the next two weeks I hope to have all three in place in the MacDougalls and I'll let you know how I fair. Thanks."
Troy Mulvaine

"Hi Shawn! Just wanted to let you know that the reeds arrived today. I have to say, those are one fine-looking set of reeds!! I'll be out of town for a few days starting tonight, so I won't get to play with them until next week, but it's definitely something to look forward to!"
Kevin Palm

"Reeds arrived safely. I played with a set in the McCallums, with some good results."
Zack Arbios

"Shawn - The reeds arrived yesterday - wow, that was quick!"
Larry Queen

"Hi Shawn, Got the reeds, thanks very much. They look greast, I put them into a few different sets of pipes and I will see the pipers on Wednesday to see how the reeds are going."
Keith Bowes (bagpipe bag maker)

"Found your site (obviously!) and had a look around. Also, just watched your drone reed vid that you posted on You Tube. That was great! I hope you plan on posting more vids. Nice job!"
Reed Lancaster

"I have been playing the reeds you sent me and the bass drone reeds are incredible. I plugged a tennor reed in my outer tennor and I can tell that when it has settled it is going to sound great. When I shut the bass off and listen to the cane tenor next to the synthetic, the cane has alot more edge to it. When I concentrate on the ringing harmonics, I can faintly hear the cane over the plastic."
Greg Epperson

"Shawn, Oh my god. All I can say is these reeds are amazing. I never been so intrigued with the harmonics coming from my rig. Every note has it's own new beauty, and a couple notes on my chanter that I felt were tuned right revealed that they needed a slight tweak. One of the tenor reeds was pitched a lot higher than the other, but once I got it matched up, the tone and strength was pretty close to the other tenor after adjustments. It's funny that I've gone through so many sets of synthetic drone reeds looking for that "sparkle" and have always settled for the most air efficient, steady ones. These canes make my Rockets sound really dull (I'll keep them though) Thanks again, and thank you for the extra bass reed... it'll end up in my D MacPhersons."
Beau Hunter