Walsh Three-Drone Shuttle Pipes (HD) | Unboxing & Play Test

[@garrettmckenzie1461]

The Shuttlepipes are great fun to play, and are virtually indestructible. I took a two-drone set with me on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I could fold them over on themselves, wrap the bag around everything, and secure it all with a couple of rubber bands. They fit easily into my backpack, and always came out ready to play.

[@yasdnilknarf1885]

Any moisture problems?

[@grahamatkinson2570]

Took the pipes back up after many, (circa 45), years not playing at all. Had some lessons with Matt and also asked what pipes as GHB too much for me so was looking at classic type smallpipes. Matt suggested to look at these ..... Got a set from 'Kilts and More' in Germany as I'm based in Hungary, same as featured but without engraving and I have poly chanter. I gotta say these are awesome, took a little for me to 'get back into' playing actual pipes, but I love these, beautiful sound and pleasant for the non pipers to listen to....... couldn't recommend them enough, compact, easy to travel with, ...love them..... Thanks Matt brilliant teacher and great advice.... 😀

[@elfargo]

I have a set as well, have had for years now. Sound is fantastic, and they are rock solid every time. Perfect for bringing to the pub or indoor occasions.

[@yasdnilknarf1885]

Any moisture problems?

[@josephyoung9060]

The shuttle pipes sound like a lullaby instrument. Keep up the good work, Matt

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Thank you! They definitely have a sweet, warm sound. :) :)

[@josephyoung9060]

🙂👍

[@outpostraven]

Just got a set of these. Thanks for for posting!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Right on!

[@m.r.b.806]

How are you liking them?

Thank you! Those are lovely! I am pining for a set of small pipes, but I think shuttle pipes just jumped ahead.

[@calebwilliams8968]

I owned a set of John Walsh combo smallpipes for a while, though I had to sell them, they were a wonderful make of smallpipes. This makes me want another set! The shuttle pipes look like an ideal choice!

[@lddulcimer]

They sound really lovely - such a warm beautiful sound.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I think so too!

[@cjanquart]

Good to know that the shuttle reeds are safe from the depths of the bag; I had a drone on my GHB fall into the bag, wasn't fun or easy fishing it out!

[@bagpiperbruce]

im learning so much from these kind of videos :)

[@jamesbrownmiller808]

Thanks for the shoutout, Matt!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You bet! Thanks for trusting me with your set!

[@jflatley38]

Beautiful pipes! They look and sound wonderful. I want to get a set now!

[@seanwennihan6191]

Great Video Matt The Shuttle Pipes Have A Great Warm Sound Love The Great Videos Right Now I'm Going Over My Tunes For St, Patrick's Day. Keep Up The Great Videos Matt May You Have A Great Weekend & Great Upcoming Week & May God Bless You 🍀🍀🍀🍀🙏🙏🙏🙏 Ps The Polyester Thread Is Still Working Great In My RT Shepherd Bagpipes 👍👍👍

[@frotz661]

I've had a three-drone shuttlepipe for twelve years. It's been a great little pipe all this time. At least for mine, the foam on the bottoms of the sliders will harden and disintegrate over time. This leads to the sliders bouncing out of tune. Fortunately it looks like some double-sided foam tape and sheet polystyrene can be used to fix this. Single reeds for the drones would be nice. A few years ago I got a set of them from someone experimenting with synthetic smallpipe reeds. They seemed to work for regular smallpipes, but not shuttlepipes. I have no other smallpipes, so it might have been me.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

I specifically purchased these for the double reeds in the drones; I find they tend to move at the same rate as the chanter reed as the pipes warm up. Single reeds move slower, making one have to return after a few minutes of playing.

[@frotz661]

@@MattWillisBagpiper I experimented with single reeds because I thought the drones with double reeds sounded a bit too buzzy. Now they don't seem that way, especially after I fiddled with the bridles a bit. I guess it was just a matter of getting more familiar with this pipe's nuances.

[@rumeunner3245]

I had a set of 3 drone shuttle pipes back in 2002, but the flip side was trying to get replacement reeds for the drones, only Walsh's own reeds worked in them. Perhaps theyve fixed it to accept a wider rsnge of reeds.

[@timeastwoodbagpiper]

I like the little Schottische in the mix there. They sound awesome, very mainland Europe. I think you can also get double-chanter version of these pipes?

[@mccypr]

That thing is awesome! I think that I want a Bellows blown set. Thanks! 🎻✌️🙂😎

[@m.r.b.806]

I ordered a bellows blown set but it won’t be ready for a few more months…. L post a video when l get the hang of the the bellows

[@TheMadPiper72]

Hello and thank you Matt for all that you do. I play the highland bagpipe, but I am in the process of selecting either Scottish smallpipes or folk/fireside pipes. I am confused as to which key to choose because I want something soft on the ears, pleasant and capable of easily playing along with guitar, violin or piano. Can you help me understand the differences and which key is best?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

You'd want a smallpipe in the key of A, so the notes you are playing are the actual concert notes other instruments are playing.

[@EricHaskins71]

Just bought a used set after seeing this video! Cant wait for them to get here even though I am a beginner

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@dominiclapinta8537]

I have a pipe chanter for uilleann pipes that is made cocobolo wood and it smells lovely. The sound of the chanter is bright and sharp. I like the shuttlepipes idea with there being the reeds on one unit. I put together a successful mouth blown practice set that used a Uilleann pipe chanter and synthetic reed that played in tune. This shuttle pipes idea gives me an idea it is possible to create a set of pipes that is mouth blown that sounds just like the Uilleann Pipes. I'm not against tradition, but it would be cool to see a half set that has been redesigned with the shittle pipes idea with the drones, but for the Uilleann Pipes type of Bagpipe.

[@jartarmin4553]

Thanks!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Welcome!

[@Macdonaldacademy]

A lovely sound Matt, thanks for sharing! Can I ask what tune you start playing at 9:00?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Lexi McKaskill

[@RossD8]

I've had a set of Walsh 3 drone shuttle pipes for years. The only issue I have is the drones are between my ears and the chanter-I never feel like I'm hearing the instrument accurately, as a listener would. All in all, they are great instrument that I love to play.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Yeah, the drone aren't in the best spot for the piper playing the instrument, but the same is true for most all smallpipes, except perhaps the McCallum folk pipes or the Gibson Firesides.

[@garygrantham3917]

I had the same issue. If you replace the center drone reed with an Abbot blue reed, you will like the results. It makes the chanter sound much more distinct.

[@nvdawahyaify]

Hi Matt, I like the video. I have a question. How does one tell if their not playing with enough pressure, or the reeds aren't seated in the right place? I'm not sure how one tells the difference between tuning issues due to incorrect pressure, and tuning issues due to Reed placement, or having to tape the holes. I apologize if you have covered that in a different video.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Without a drone it's difficult to tell. I could hear high A was both flat and "underdriven" (breathy/growly sound) so I increased the pressure until High A was good, adjusted the drone, and tested against low A. In this case, it was great. If low A was off/out at matching pressure, I'd have to figure out which of the two was sharp so I could add tape, Fortunately, not needed here.

[@nvdawahyaify]

@@MattWillisBagpiper thank you

[@av8npa]

Thanks for sharing this, Matt. I have a very similar set and the biggest challenge to me is tuning. Unlike with separate drones, one can't simply cap off one to tune another. Watching your setup confirms that there's a bit of time involved in getting things 'just so'. Any tunes you think would be better on this instrument as the higher notes tend to sing more than the lower (unlike the GHB)?

[@grahamatkinson2570]

Agree some tunes are better being played on this........

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Tunes that use high A for separation (Clumsy Lover part 6, Glasgow CIty Police Pipers, etc) tend to not work as well, as the high A stands out too much. And tunes in D major with lots of F's may benefit from the baritone drone being turned off.

[@mcieG]

Hi, how does the volume compare to the MCallum folk pipes or the twist trap practice pipes?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

About the same as the folk pipes (maybe the shuttlepipes are a tiny bit louder) and noticeably louder than the twist trap pipes.

[@Moonlight-tn9cb]

Hello! I have a shuttlepipe, but I don't like the sound of melismatics, they don't have the necessary clarity, the decorations sound very quiet and indistinct. I would like to ask you how practice goose is in this regard? Is it worth buying it for a clearer sound of melismatics?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

The goose has no drones, so no blending to speak of...

[@anthonyjarnello]

Hey Matt, love the pipes! What tune are you playing at 12:00? It is so familiar but I can't remember the name...

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

The Pumpkin’s Fancy

[@pikwik2560]

I'm considering buying this because i'm not enough healthy to continue GHB. How is the air consumption ? More like a twist trap or smallpipe ?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

It takes more air than a set of Twist trap pipes, but not much. The blowpipe, however, is rather narrow, making it have more back pressure to blow into. I feel this helps regulate the pressure, but it does increase the perceived force you have to blow into the shuttle pipes with.

[@stevenshockley4237]

Hi :) I think the 3d printedvpipes are making a buzz, I wanna play and have been thinking about getting a set. Could you do a video on them? :)

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

If someone sends me a set!

[@K2R6]

tha's amazing, What is that tune called he plays at 9:01?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Lexie McAskill

[@MAMDAVEM]

Very interesting, compact instrument, to my (bagpipe/smallpipe) ears the drones are too loud for the chanter and the chanter reed sounds thin with a sharp edge. I wonder if a cane reed in the chanter would change things. I am curious as to the drone construction.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

A cane reed would require a moisture control system or to be powered by bellows. As I say in the video, the microphone placement wasn’t ideal, giving the drones a bit more “ooomph” than in person. The chanter reed is a bit thin on the top hand but it’s brand new and will take some time to break in. I’ll do a follow up on these in like 6 months. 👍

[@m.r.b.806]

@@MattWillisBagpiperhi Matt! We are ready for your follow up!

[@Tombaz666]

Maybe this was covered before, but how does one (not experienced as you) tune the drones?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Like specifically for the shuttle pipes? Or in general? For the shuttle pipes, the levers on top adjust the tuning. As for the concept in general, no videos on that yet, as it's a massively complex topic that will likely need 3-5 videos to encompass everything.

[@Tombaz666]

@@MattWillisBagpiper I understood the levers did that, just didn't understand how you know where to put them. I guess it's too complicated for a KZbin comment :-) Thanks again for all your videos!

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

As you move the levers towards the bag, it flattens the pitch and vice versa. So you set them where they are in tune (the tenor is the same pitch as the low A of the chanter, the bass is an octave below that, and the E is an octave below the E of the chanter).

[@Tombaz666]

@@MattWillisBagpiper I see. Sounds simple but I'm sure it's not that simple... 😂

[@chrismills2012]

I personally prefer the bellows with a cane reed

[@krbr]

Is there any difference in fingering when playing the shuttlepipes versus the GHB? Or is it the same?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Same fingering, though you cannot cross finger s C natural or F natural on this.

[@malgremor85]

Off camera, the cat enjoys the box...

[@maximilianpein4712]

What is that tune called he plays at 10:50?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

That’s “Jimmy Findlater”

[@saoirse2120]

What is the price of this model?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

It's listed here: www.johnwalshbagpipes.com/Shuttle-Pipes/

[@Pbeantheschemebean]

You should do hard times

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

Is that a tune? Not familiar with it.

[@SMc-in5bc]

Having a brain fart about the name of the tune Matt plays with just the chanter at the 6 minute mark. Any help?

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

That's "The Battle of Waterloo"

[@williamroylance9289]

I wish these were available to ship to the U.S.

[@MattWillisBagpiper]

?? I’m in Texas. They’ll happily ship stateside. Plus they’re in 🇨🇦