Setting the Tone: LITERALLY
- Wake and District
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
At Wake and District, we pride ourselves on being more than just a competitive pipe band — we’re a living, breathing workshop of sound, always chasing the next evolution in tone and performance. Over the past 18 months, that pursuit has taken on a whole new level as we've become, quite proudly, the guinea pigs for two of the most trusted names in bagpiping: Melvin Reeds and MacLellan Bagpipes.
What started as quiet behind-the-scenes experimentation turned into something much louder — literally and figuratively. From early prototypes to final production models, we’ve had the unique opportunity to test a variety of chanter and reed setups before the official launch of the MAC-A1 chanter. And let’s just say — this thing isn’t subtle.
THE MAC-A1 DIFFERENCE
The MAC-A1 chanter, combined with Melvin’s latest reed designs, has completely changed how we approach our sound. Out of the box, whether at a Wednesday night rehearsal, a memorial performance, or on the line at competition, this setup just works.
We’ve seen:
Bigger and brighter tone
Improved stability across weather conditions
More consistent tuning across our pipe corps
Clearer projection that highlights precision... or lack thereof
It’s been a game-changer — not just for Grade 3 or Grade 4, but for every piper across the Wake and District organization. This isn’t a top-down upgrade. It’s a full-band transformation.
A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Here’s the kicker — when your tone becomes this clean, it changes the way you play. There’s nowhere to hide. The MAC-A1 makes the good playing sound great, but it also exposes every inconsistency, every lazy crossing noise, every moment you’re not locked in. It’s like playing with the lights turned all the way up. No shadows.
This level of clarity has challenged all of us — from our newest pipers to our seasoned veterans — to play tighter, cleaner, and with more intentionality. Our sound is bolder. Our ears are sharper. Our standard has risen.
WHY IT MATTERS
We’re honored to have been trusted by Adrian Melvin and Roddy MacLellan to help test and shape something this impactful. It’s not every day you get to help influence the tools you use to perform your craft.
But more importantly, this journey reflects something deeper about who we are as a band. We don’t settle. We don’t stop learning. We don’t just talk about excellence — we work toward it, even when it means more time tuning, more time listening, and more time pushing ourselves beyond comfort.
So here’s to the guinea pigs. To the growing pains and the payoff. To the sound that pushed us, the tone that exposed us, and the gear that gave us no choice but to level up.
We’re not just setting the tone — we're living it.
Want to hear the difference? Check out the story behind the MAC-A1 and why it matters:👉 https://www.melvinreeds.com/post/maca-chanter-setting-the-tone
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