About buying a bagpipe
Buying a bagpipe is a big decision; I am very happy to help and advise; I've included some basic advice below on this page.
Each piper has to find a bagpipe that suits them. Different pipers may have different tastes and criteria, so one piper may like a pipe that another piper does not like. I relish the fact that each of my bagpipes is an individual creation. So whilst I enjoy incorporating a customer’s special requirements, there is always a lot of 'me' in every one of my bagpipes ... even after I have sent away a set of my bagpipes I still feel and acknowledge a connection with both pipe and player. I make myself available to any one who has a set of my pipes and am always happy to do repairs, offer suggestions, information and comment. I enjoy my connection with my customers and many of them have become close friends.
I play every bagpipe that I make for a considerable amount of time, taking great care with the voicing and tuning so that each one leaves my workshop ready to play. For beginners I can supply notes on how to play and maintain the pipes.
My pipes have always been popular and I have quite a long waiting list for all pipes, except my Leicestershire smallpipes, which I can supply much quicker. For newcomers to piping this is the pipe I usually recommend. However, if your interest is particularly in Scottish music, you might want to consider a Scottish smallpipe.
What kind of materials do you use?
Pipes are made from a choice of hardwoods that I have in stock. Most of this wood has been cut up and processed by me - I know where most of the trees have grown, and can sometimes supply a photo of the actual tree.
Local boxwood is a very attractive alternative to ivory for mounts on pipes, bellows-inlet-valves and other decorative or protective elements. All pipes can be made either bellows- or mouth-blown and I offer a choice of colour for bag leather and velvet bag covers.
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Can you include special features?
Please feel free to discuss with me any idea or requirements you may have to do with the sound, design or type of wood that you would like. Smaller details may be very important for you. I enjoy incorporating special features such as horn or silver mounts and ferrules, more elaborate padded bellows, etc.
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I am happy to undertake repairs and alterations to your instruments..
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I am a newcomer to piping; what is the best pipe for me to start on?
There is no doubt that the best pipe for you would be the Leicestershire smallpipe, unless you particularly want to play Scottish music, in which case you should choose Scottish smallpipes
Lots of my customers have learnt to play Leicestershire smallpipes after having been recorder or whistle players. I supply the pipes with notes for teaching yourself how to play
All my pipes come with hints on tuning/playing/maintaining them.
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What is the difference between the types of pipes you make?
Basically all bagpipes can be categorised by their chanters.
* If the internal bore of the chanter is CONICAL the sound of the pipes will be loud and the pitch will be high. The classic example of this is the Highland bagpipe, The Spanish Gaita is a bit quieter and the Irish pipes have a narrower conical bore so are quieter still.
* If the internal bore of the chanter is cylindrical it is known as a SMALLPIPE. It is much quieter with a richer sound and it plays an octave lower than a conical chanter of similar length. The most common types of smallpipes are The Northumbrian and Scottish smallpipe. However an easy example is your practice chanter!
Scottish smallpipes have a wonderful rich sound. As well as a bass and tenor drone there is a baritone drone (playing in D or E on a set in A) which makes the chord even richer. They are well balanced for playing with other accoustic instruments- the most popular key is A. Same fingering as highland pipes.
The Border pipes have a conical chanter and louder drones (I prefer one bass and two tenors as with Highland pipes). They are quieter than Highland pipes, but still have that bright sound. They play in concert A (ie a bit lower than current highland pitch) and can be played with other acoustic instruments, They finger the same as highland pipes, but you can also achieve some semitones using other fingerings.
Scottish Smallpipes.
If you are already a Scottish highland piper, or you wish to play Scottish pipe music, scottish smallpipes are an ideal instrument.
There are other good makers with shorter waiting lists, but please make sure you order a good set of pipes- you want as good a set as you can possibly get. A lot of people have rushed out and bought smallpipes and only later found out that they have bought a poor set.
Visit the Lowland and Border Pipers' Society website www.lbps.net who have technical advisors. I can also suggest some other good makers.
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What kind of fingering systems do you use?
Most of my Highland piping customers expect the fingering system they are used to. However, I can supply any of my pipes with open fingering, hallf-covered fingering or covered fingering. I have written an article on this question which explains these terms; you can read it here:
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How often will the bag need seasoning?
For mouth blown pipes the leather bag is seasoned with a hot bagpipe seasoning. This seals the pores in the leather to make it airtight. It also absorbs the moisture that you blow into the bag and lets it slowly breath out through the leather. It will need seasoning again, though the frequency depends on how much you play the pipes, how much moisture you blow into them and the absorbency of the leather. As a rough guide I would suggest at 3-6 month intervals. There should be a thin coating all over the inside of the bag. Feel the leather on the surface beneath the blastpipe; this is where the seasoning will 'wash off' first. I currently use 'Hardie's Airtight' seasoning, available to buy online elsewhere; however, I strongly recommend following my detailed instructions.
For bellows-blown pipes the leather bag is seasoned with a beeswax and olive oil bagpipe seasoning. This should keep the bag airtight and supple for a long time. You should consult me if you suspect that it needs more seasoning, but this should not be for quite a few years. I use this same seasoning in the bellows.
Is it possible to have interchangable chanters?
Yes- most of my pipes are fitted with split stocks so you can exchange chanters without ever exposing the reeds. I can also make drones with split stocks: see Split-stocks
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Do you have second-hand pipes for sale?
I do not sell or buy second-hand pipes. However, I always enjoy ding maintenance and repair work on any of my old sets of pipes.
No, sorry - my overseas customers make a direct sterling payment into my account.
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