Bagpipes - Where to BUY and AVOID!

[@DeadCanadians]

Dunbar has nicer pipes than the plain poly! Even the line of poly pipes with normal mounts look and sound great.

[@pemacal57]

I have a McCallum AB3 set and no comparison with polypenco ( My first bagpipes set were a Delrin Bagpipes from Bagpipes Galore…good to start the way, but nothing as Wood) And absolutely agree with NO EBAY BAGPIPES….NO NAY NO NEVER

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Im not familiar with Delrin pipes. McCallum is excellent.

[@pemacal57]

@@KyleBantaMusic Hello, Delrin are the same than acetyl or poly. Sincerely I had good experience with this bagpipes when I started the way to try learn to play( I still continue…hahahahaha) . But nothing like Blackwood drone sound…nothing!

[@piobmhor8529]

My current set is a McCallum acetyl set. The biggest reason for the choice was the weight. There’re not quite half the weight of African Blackwood, but they are lighter. I travel a lot for work and I have hiked my pipes to some rather remote locations, weight is important. I had the opportunity to buy my set directly from the factory, and even got a tour of the facility while they were setting fitting my bag cover and tassels. Very impressive set up and friendly folks. I would definitely discourage anyone from buying a set of pipes via EBay, because a decent set of pipes directly from a reputable manufacturer is worth every penny or pence. It doesn’t matter whether it’s by mail order or in person, and having a no-quibble 10 year guarantee is a plus.

[@pemacal57]

@@piobmhor8529 I agree more than hundred per cent with your comment

[@gramo63]

I have always wondered -- WHY hasn't anyone made a bagpipe -- with the standard CHROMATIC scale? Wouldn't you love to hear bagpipe solos of "Happy Birthday!" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" or other common songs? Perhaps SOMEDAY, somebody will create such a bagpipe. And we shall hear the unique bagpipe version of "Czardas" and "Flight of the Bumblebee." And finally, someone will compose a "Concerto for Bagpipes and Orchestra." With such a chromatic instrument, I'm sure that many more people will take up bagpipe-playing.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

There is a bagpipe version of happy birthday, and probably one for the others mentioned as well. Bagpipe are in a different key. As far as I understand, songs with certain keys are easier to configure bagpipe notes to, while others are much harder or simply not possible. It's not something I've dabbled with much. Celtic folk rock bands in Scotland for example are a good source if you're interested in learning what's been done.

[@WillMellon]

The Bling don't make "em sing but it can make them heavy. I have 8 sets but for the most part I play simple button mounts of high quality. In all cases I play only the best chanters that I can afford. One good set will do ya. McCallum drones run fine but I don't use their chanter.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Each to their own for brand. I've used the same set of Robertsons since 1998.

[@WillMellon]

@@KyleBantaMusic Nice! My first band pipes were Robertsons. Kyo is my first choice today.

[@ebaygriffinX3]

I recommend carbony Celtic winds it’s cheap and good quality

[@KyleBantaMusic]

Interesting.. they look pretty good. Thanks for the info 😃

[@ZasadniczoKlimek]

Oh damn... I play piano, bass, drums, accordion, anything you list, but I wanted to add something original to the library. About 150 quid for my chanter is defo too much, in zlotys (Im Polish) its around 500/600. That thing is expensive man 🤯

[@KyleBantaMusic]

100-150 dollars (60-80 quid) is reasonable for a good practice chanter. If you're talking about 150 quid for a chanter, that would be more like a pipe chanter, not a practice chanter. The more aesthetics (flashy looks) you add, the more expensive it will be.

[@RealDanokan]

Im trying to learn to play bagpipes already know how to play a flute and a little on practice chanter and i want to buy a bagpipe, so im just wondering if these thomann 200 dollar bagpipes actually work like normal 2000 dollar bagpipes cause i have no idea.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

My first response is no, they do not work like other bagpipes. A good set of bagpipes typically go for $800+ (some will argue $1000+). Nowadays these pipes are simply wall ornaments. If you want to attempt those pipes, it is your call but I would recommend against it.

[@michaelgillespie1206]

I hope you haven't bought a cheap set of pipes, I almost made that mistake when I became interested in piping and was saving my money to make a purchase, I did my research and got a good price on a set of Peter Hendersons I ordered through the College of Piping in Glasgow Scotland, a good set of starter pipes these days are the new 3-D printed bagpipes, they sound good and you can have a set, ready to play for about $650.00 U.S. it's the best deal I'm aware of.

[@KyleBantaMusic]

@@michaelgillespie1206 Ironically, the seller refunded me the price so the pipes were free (I pointed out all the flaws so there was nothing they could say to depend the instrument). A lot of people focus on the price of the pipes, and because they are usually uninformed, think that the pipes are good (which we know is false). What makes me concerned is the number of people who buy those pipes and when they try to get them to work, they struggle because the pipes are not good, but they think it's their fault. Henderson pipes are pretty good.

[@victorarriagayepez1419]

$$$$??

[@KyleBantaMusic]

I don’t understand your comment… something to do with cost?

[@michaelgillespie1206]

Price wise, anywhere from five hundred to tens of thousands.