Reducing Reed Volume

[varney]

I'm looking for any suggestions to help lower the volume of a drone pair of reeds tuned to C.

 

I've put on very heavy valves on each reed which has helped reduce the volume but both reeds are still quite loud and border on drowning out any melody that's being played on the C row at same time.

 

What other things can I try?

 

 

[Greg Jowaisas]

Lower the reed set. Bigger softer pad. Chamois or neoprene or cork on pad board. (ceiling of chamber) A bit less valve opening. (Gluing a bit past the vent on the valve's side overlap.)

[Geoff Wooff]

You could try reducing the height that the pad lifts off the vent hole. You could do this by adding felt damper washers to the underside of the button or make a thicker pad or glue something thicker between the lever and the pad...

[varney]

Thanks Geoff and Greg.........all very helpful suggestions which I'll try in turn....or in conjunction if still too loud.