Atherton Premier Bagpipes - Review & Play Test! - Matt Willis Bagpiper

Links to purchase my arrangements of the tunes in the video:
Cort's Welcome: mattpiper.com/s...
Pachelbel's Canon: mattpiper.com/s...
In this video, I review and play test one of the finest instruments available today, an Atherton Premier Bagpipe from D.M. Atherton!
If you enjoy this content, please consider helping support the channel through Matt's Patreon: / mattpiper
For more information on Matt Willis Bagpiper visit:
Website: www.mattpiper.com
Facebook: / matt.piper.willis
KZbin: / mattwillisbagpiper
Instagram: / mattwillisbagpiper
Twitter: / mattwillispiper

[@Alohakoa59]

Wow! Balance tones were so much fuller. I didn’t think there’d be a noticeable difference. 👍🏼

[@stevie.g_stills]

I prefer the EZ and BT drone reed sound. Great set of pipes!

[@johnnickpappanastos3382]

What beautiful work, Atherton is tops!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Couldn't agree more!

[@inigomontoya6968]

David makes an amazing instrument. In his gallery "pattern 78" is my premier set (with the Zoomorphic half silver) I commissioned a few years ago. You spoke of how rock solid they are and the vibration and I heartily agree. I find once I'm warmed up and tuned they "lock in" and I have to do very very little adjustments afterwards throughout my session, and I'm pretty fanatical when it comes to tuning. I use a full set of EZ drone reeds with an inverted base. They are a joy to play and I suppose I'm a little proud of them. If anyone is interested in purchasing a set of Atherton's I recommend them with ZERO reservations!

[@Drew_The_Man]

I play a set of 2013 Atherton Legacies and they are absolutely incredible. Ive had them for about 5 years now

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Atherton makes some incredible instruments, that's for certain.

[@Goetterdaemmerung86]

Awesome! I’d love to get a set of Athertons one of these days.

[@kevinhendryx665]

Glad to know he's making pipes again. Last I heard, he'd gotten out of the biz. But that was some years ago. I play a Kron set that dates from when Dave A. was working there and those drones are a delight.

[@ewannelson3862]

I love them both in their own way. I feel the balance tone and ezee’s have more resonance and sing a little more. However, a lament would sound beautiful on the rockets because of their subtlety. A cracking set of bagpipes and craftsmanship.

[@patriciaharris9912]

I like the Eze drones and balance tone set up. Less tinny than the custom reeds.

[@gregoryalee2457]

Now I am going to have to add pachelbel as one of my tunes. Great job.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Well, it only really works with all the harmony parts... But it is lovely!

[@gregoryalee2457]

@@MattWillisBagpiper My personal list also include The Gael and Garry Owen. This video makes me want to show the engraving I have on my set, a tad different, no?

[@ernestcho3645]

Sound coming off the rockets sounds definitely more "blended", also think the bass is was deeper than the balance tone reed (nice review though thanks!!)

[@duncan3921]

Did this guy just say rockets.....

[@ernestcho3645]

@@duncan3921 yea i did haha, its a kind of synthetic drone reeds that i think are no longer in production? u can watch the video again if u wanna hear it

[@nubagpiper7431]

Preferred the rocket blend, would have been interesting to hear a full eeze set up. the BT/EZ had better volume. TBH that's something I have noticed with eezes, they are deceptively loud but mellow and have cracking harmonics!

[@jazzman1626]

Wow! The finish on those pipes are first class! I prefer the ezeedrone setup best. The bottom parts of the drones look very like my old R.G.Lauries. I think I may get my old pipes refurbished. When I was young, I thought they were a bit dull looking and I gave them a coat (too thick a coat at that) of gloss varnish. I had one of the tennor stocks replaced by McPherson’s in West Maitland St., Edinburgh yonks ago.

[@JohnScott76]

For me the Ezee + BT setup sounded bit thin, where the Rockets had a much more full and rounded sound. I would be interested in hearing how other reeds sound as well, but between the two my preference would be to the Rockets. Regardless, a beautiful and wonderful sounding set of pipes! As always I enjoyed the video, thank you and keep up the great work!

[@DannyBoi2112]

Yeah id have to agree with, id prefer the rockets

[@rafikibubu]

Definitely like the fuller bass sound coming from the Rocket setup. I lucked into a set of Rockets a while back. I use the tenors in my primary setup, but wasn't as keen on the bass. But since these reeds are made bespoke to these pipes, it's sensible that they give off a really, really nice sound. Who knows what pipes my Rockets were intended for when they where made. Good video. Cheers!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thanks! I think the drone preference likely has more to do with the speakers folks are listening to it through than anything. On my studio monitors here, they're quite similar, but through my phone, I like the Rockets. Through low-end ear buds, I much prefer the Ezeedrone/Balance Tone. High end ear buds? It's hard to choose which I I like more...

[@duncan3921]

Am I missing something what’s rockets

[@rafikibubu]

@@duncan3921 .. Rockets are a particular make of drone reed, but they aren't made any longer. They used to be made bespoke to the bagpipe they were intended to go into. So not only is a set of Rocket reeds hard to come across, it's not definite that whatever set you find will be a good match for your pipes, since the reeds were all made to match specific pipes in the past.

[@duncan3921]

@@rafikibubu oh okay gotcha. Thanks

[@BB-hi5of]

I think Atherton makes a very good pipe. I liked the Rockets myself, too bad they're not available any longer

[@donross8725]

I love the harmonics of the Ezeedrone tenors, and I always seem to go back to them. But I liked the bass of the rocket better and I think my ideal combination would be the Rocket bass and the Ezeedrone tenors. I almost always put some other bass reed with my Ezeedrone tenor reeds. I have used them with a Kinnard bass, a Smart Drone bass (original Ross reed copy from Australia, from the early 2000's with a plastic body and cane tongue with rubber o-ring bridle) and I even have had great, steady performance and really sweet harmonics from using a genuine cane bass reed from Chris Apps. You definitely got that complex and beautiful pipe organ sound from the tenors, there, Matt!

[@danm1151]

That's a very refined, almost ethereal tone, especially with the rocket reeds. There's definitely more bass presence with the Balance Tone bass and EZees.

[@jel517]

If you're askin. I liked the ez's. No shade on the rockets at all I just think the drones blended "nicer' with the chanter if that makes any sense

[@walkernick86]

I am no pipe expert, but I think the rockets definitely sounded smoother, deeper and richer in tone so I preferred those. :-)

[@billmoran935]

Rockets seemed to be quite and EZ louder. But, both sounded great

[@linguistisch]

Seems like the Rockets are more 'full' or 'rounded/blended' but the Ezee/Balance Tones have much more chanter engagement. I like the sound of the Rockets but it sounds like two instruments drones + chanter whereas the Ezee/BT bring the chanter in with all the resonation and electricity as a bagpipe. I've come to the same conclusion with my own sets and went to BT High Resonance tenors with regular Ezee or BTHR bass over my Rockets. Brings the chanter to life and sometimes gives me the goosies when it's really locked in.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Very well said!

[@forourfallen]

Matt. Did you do a review of MacLellan bagpipes as well?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Not yet! I may have an opportunity soon however. I owned a set of Millennium pipes (#45) back in 2006-2007 that I unfortunately had to sell to make ends meet. As luck has it, the current owner may be working with my good friend Chuck Gunn to do a minor refurb on them, and if so, I'll definitely do a review/story/play test of my old set!

[@steveshepherd1271]

How about the Ackland Overtones you reviewed on another video? Would love to hear that combo.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Those are on loan right now with a student, or I would have tried those as well...

[@Goetterdaemmerung86]

Also, I think the Atherton Premier is slightly bolder than his MacDougall model, and the Legacy is the boldest sounding of all the three. I’m not quite sure in which how the Legacy and premier are bolder, whether it’s all the drones, just the bass, or just the tenors. He used to make Glen and even Henderson if I recall, I don’t know if he still has the specs around somewhere, of if he’d do them on request.

[@ronan5463]

Could you try and get your hands on a set of MacRae pipes to play test?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I love the new MacRaes! I've had several come through here, but that was back before I was filming pipes... If anyone is ordering MacRaes and wants them reviewed, you can have them shipped here first! I'll pay to get them to you after the review!

[@bengillin2661]

What’s the time signature of Cort’s Welcome? Cheers

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

It's a 3/4.

[@bengillin2661]

Matt Willis Bagpiper cheers for the reply Matt, much appreciated👍 good tune👍

[@1867D]

Eezy drones and the balanced have, to me, a slightly more melodious sound to them. When you switched to the others, to it sounded like you'd turned the treble control. There wasn't much difference, but what there was made me go for the Eezy drones.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Interesting... I think the Ezeedrone reeds really make the tenors sparkle. But there is a unity of sound with the Rockets.... Hmmm....

[@1867D]

Matt, the whole topic of music is a very subjective matter, but it would be interesting to see, if a survey were conducted, which reeds would win. 😀😀

[@timkeane1000]

that "N" is whats called the "date mark" they're published and the typeface and the letter denote the year. Changed eaxh May 1. Since 1478.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thanks! Very good to know.

[@matthewdenty7760]

Ever hear pink ivory wood bagpipes?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Heard? No.. Seen. Yes! Some great photos, but alas, no sound samples.

[@Nullsectorash]

What the tune at the end? I think its the best tune i have ever heard

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Under the photos? That's my arrangement of Pachelbel's Canon in D. mattpiper.com/site/downloads/canon-in-d/

[@Nullsectorash]

Matt Willis Bagpiper so good.

[@cashout9187]

Bro I just got a bagpipe today how do I get the right pitch?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Very carefully?

[@fishningwithcalum1361]

amazing👌

[@RabLennox]

Has to be the Ezeedrone set up for me

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

After more listens, I have to concur. 👍👍

[@drew64inTX]

I agree

[@PietroMalaguti]

I prefer Rocket, deeper bass and better blending with the chanter.

[@patrickmclaurin]

I thought I liked the Ezee/BT more, until you played them back to back. I vote Ackland :o)

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Ha! My Ackland's are on loan right now with a student (needing them for an online contest), or I definitely would have used those as well. Oh well, gotta make the video while I have the pipes!

[@Donnybrook10]

the rockets sound better to my ear...more balanced and smooth. The other set seem to be fighting through to dominate the chanter...almost discordant.

[@luke46219]

Here's a site for this particular set of markings. It goes through small a and b for 2000 and 2001, so n would be 2013. www.silvercollection.it/englishsilverhallmarksBIR.html

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

That's awesome! Thank you!

[@dane5896]

Ezeeeee

[@fishningwithcalum1361]

hi challenge learn everyday heroes I dare you also love channel