🔧 The key you may be missing: resonators

Reed organ reeds alone:

• make a thin, buzzy tone
• don’t project well

Add resonators:

and they become full, organ-grade bass voices

Types you can try:

1. Short resonators (clarinet-like)

• Boost fundamental
• Compact
• Great for your build constraints

2. Stopped resonators

• Deeper, fuller tone
• Excellent for bass

3. Weird David-mode resonators

• Folded tubes (rackett-style hybrid 👀)
• Box resonators
• Helmholtz cavities

🎧 Expected result:

• Stronger than bourdon
• Clear pitch definition
• Much better projection