Richard-

Funny that you have had good luck with Ross reeds in the McCallum poly chanters. That's what we're using and there's nobody in the band that can actually claim to love them.

And it isn't just being on the frozen fringe of the piping world that makes it. We have plenty of pipers up here who know their stuff. (In fact, you do know a couple of them, though you probably won't remember me as I was just a kid when you would have known me.) Sometimes I suspect that we get sent the rejects that would not sell in other markets. I'm not saying this about Ross, mind you, but I do know that a well-known drum maker sent our band two drums that they later admitted were a failed experiment. And it took having Ed Best (then with LA Scots) contact them about it before they would agree to fix the situation.

I don't know about plug and play with the Ross reeds. I have tape on 5 holes. Everyone in the band has tape on several holes. And these darned Ross reeds get harder with play. That's been consistent. Not easier like every other reed I've tried.

For what it is worth, I am very pleased with both Higgins and Soutar reeds in McCallum chanters. With a slight edge to Higgins for sound and a slight edge to Soutar for consistency. With my ABW McCallum chanter, I don't need any tape for a good scale with a Soutar reed. And that's true with my mom's ABW McCallum chanter and my dad's too. The contrast with the tape-covered poly chanter and the 2x4 Ross reed I have to play in the band is just night and day.

To the OP, it is very true that you should be willing to spend a little on reeds to try a few makes. But ask the retailer when you buy the chanter to suggest a reed that works well with that chanter. And buy a couple of them along with the retailer's second choice. Better than trying to figure it out from scratch.

-Patrick