Bagpipes galore practice pipes review

[@Div_1992]

I have just bought this exact practice pipe! Arriving in a few days. Born again Christian here from Scotland, love your videos! I play the flute, drums and sax. Decided to give this a try to see if the bagpipes are for me. God bless

[@windbag1980]

Hi there, David! I am sorry that I have been remiss in reaching out. I hope we can meet up soon of FB!

[@calumdunkley9211]

Thanks for this, I'm just learning to play and in a small flat in London these seem to be the perfect thing. Balls to the nay sayers! Happy piping

[@KB4QAA]

This is a favorite hymn of mine. Thanks so much for playing it!

[@windbag1980]

Thank you! I believe I also included this hymn in my "hymn time" video which includes handful of other hymns and my dear friend who plays percussion!

[@jamesmarshall474]

Hey Brad, great review, I’ve just bought a set of these from eBay for £40, I’m already a good player but I hate hate HATE the standard practice chanter, your video was helpful at seeing what I was in for, I wasn’t sure what the drone Reed situation was, a little more information on the bag itself would’ve been helpful, never the less, great video, thank you

[@windbag1980]

I think that is a great plan. I am personally saving my pennies for either a set of shuttle pipes or perhaps a set of Gibson Firesides. Thanks for watching! :)

[@windbag1980]

Hello! Thank you for your encouraging words. The PP are just a practice chanter on a bag with some small drones, so you can get an idea how loud it would be from that. I have performed in a larger room with them but had to mic them. The GHB go to the other extreme being very loud (though I play the GHB on Burns night at my house which is small). I've been burned on cheap pipes before I would stick to reputable makers (Naill, McCallum, etc.). Happy to chat more if you are interested.

[@macnottsuk]

Thanks Brad for the review I'm considering going down the pipes route and found your review very helpful in deciding to get a set of these pipes. You seem happy with yours so my order goes in tomorrow :)

[@windbag1980]

That is a great question! To my knowledge, which is quite limited, there is not such a way. It seems like there should be a way to put a different reed in and make that work, but I wouldn't know where to find such a reed. I will let you know if I can come up with anything on that.

[@floydsuke]

Hey Brad, great review, I toured with my twin for over 30 yrs doing our original contemporary Christian Music. Prior to that back in the late 60s I played my upright bass with a Jazz Quartet. There was a fellow that used to sit in with us that played Jazz Oboe and Jazz Bagpipes. The pipes were not an instrument that he used very often but it sure entertained the audience. Now you have sparked my interest in learning a new instrument, if I have enough wind left in me at my age - LOL. FLOYD

[@alastairjackson1187]

Thanks Brad I was thinking of McCallum acetyls as a possible starter set of ghb's but clearly they are a lot more expensive than the practice pipes so I will have to save my pennies and use some gentle persuasion with my wife!

[@windbag1980]

Hello David! I am glad the review was helpful. I have really enjoyed my set immensely. The tune I was playing was an adaptation of the hymn "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling". I am quite new to piping as well so I didn't want to launch into a well known pipe tune for fear of drawing too much fire ;o). Have a great day! brad

[@Celtnic]

Thanks for the review. Would you guide me, only one or the other of my drone works. I don't know why

[@windbag1980]

That is so fantastic! Did you ever put out an album. Having enjoyed every video you have put up I would make that purchase in a heartbeat! Thank you so much for all of the remarkable music you have shared. We sang "Grace Greater than Our Sin" this Suday in Church and it was everything that I could do not to do it in your version! So wonderful! With you backgroud I would guess you would pick up the pipes in no time! Smallpipes take much less wind than the big ones. :)

[@xblackoole]

Thanks for your review. Friendly from France.

[@jantaylor6499]

Any chance you’d put up a video on tuning these practice pipes?!? Thanks!

[@windbag1980]

What a great idea! I will have to put that together ASAP! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@fatheroblivion45]

@@windbag1980 Great video Bradley. P.S. Did you ever get around to doing a video on tuning these practice pipes?

[@windbag1980]

@@fatheroblivion45 Thank you! Sadly by the time I got around to it I had lent them out to a student and they did not return so as ever to function again. It was quite disappointing, but it forbid me from doing a tuning video.

[@fatheroblivion45]

@@windbag1980 Sorry to hear that Bradley. Many thanks for the reply matey 🙂

[@n9sferatu261]

Hello Bradley I was wondering what the pipe bag was made out of

[@BR-xt8sy]

Just bought a set. Any chance of being willing to share with me how to get them going properly? I only have experience now with a PC and I don't know know the first thing about tuning. I d have interest in understanding the modifications you have made to your set as well, should you have time or desire to share. Thanks.

[@windbag1980]

I would love to help out with that. We just need to figure out how to connect...you could friend me on facebook or we could connect on google hangouts/skype...what works for you?

[@BR-xt8sy]

Bradley Maston Awesome. I just sent you a friend request. Thanks!

[@alastairjackson1187]

Hi Brad thanks for a very informative review. I am just starting out and have a McCallum practice chanter which I have been playing for about three months. I am just playing for fun and maybe to entertain friends at home on Burns night. Can't decide whether to get a set of these or a set of relatively inexpensive highland pipes. I would like to get a feel for how loud the practice pipes are- will they fill a large room with sound or would they sound a bit feeble? Thanks for your perspective Al

[@DBrewster316]

Hey Brad I had a quick question: Is there a way to raise the octave of the chanter so that it matches a full Great Highlands bagpipe? It would be nice to be able to play in the same pitch as a full set.

[@lairdsky4604]

Good review, thanks for uploading :-)

[@Christerrell152]

Can I use a deferent practice chanter with this or do you have to use the one it comes with?

[@windbag1980]

I was able to fit my Gibson long chanter into it easily. I am sure it depends chanter to chanter...but you should be able to make it work!

[@Christerrell152]

Awesome. Thanks for your quick response friend,

[@michaelrs8010]

So have you come across any of them of a more recent manufacturer and do you think after all this time they remain a good bang for the buck?

[@windbag1980]

I have since upgraded to a nicer set of Gibson Kaylee pipes. But the Bagpipes Galore Practice pipes were a critical step in my piping career. I wouldn't have been able to afford something nicer and these pipes sounded ed and worked well in order to give the much-needed practice at blowing and squeezing. I would recommend them to any beginner at the pipes, but just to recognize that they will not last a lifetime by any stretch of the imagination.

[@michaelrs8010]

@@windbag1980 Thank you for taking the time to reply. I understand they aren't up there with the RG Hardie practice pipes, but I didn't want to invest in something more economical (more than $300 difference) than the Hardies that turned out to be complete trash in short order. So I wasn't sure how well or how long they served you after this video. So, realizing they are what they are, do you think they would hold together (so to speak) for...what, two or three years of practice three or four times a week?

[@windbag1980]

@@michaelrs8010 Absolutely! Obviously, I couldn't guarantee anything, but i earnestly believe that mine would be up and kicking today if I hadn't lent them out to less reliable stewards. They are sturdy and useful. Three years would be a minimum I would expect with care and proper attention. As a side note I still use the the chanter that is formed from the blowpipe and chanter to this day. It really is a good product.

[@michaelrs8010]

@@windbag1980 thank you very much for taking the time to reply and your Insight. Very beautiful.

[@r.montgomery2996]

Just got my set. No instructions though. Do I tune the drones to the chanter?

[@windbag1980]

Hi there! Yes, you tune the both drones to match the "A" on your chanter. If you need additional help let me know it can take bit of doing to get them all correct in the end.

[@r.montgomery2996]

Awesome! Thank you for your help.

[@cristobalvalenzuela2539]

is this the deluxe practice pipes ?

[@windbag1980]

Great question! No, in my understanding the "deluxe" has a long chanter rather than the "standard" chanter. I have the standard chanter. However, my Gibson chanter (which is a long chanter) fits nicely into this. Thanks for watching.