Buying a Set of Bagpipes - have you considered Acetyl Pipes?

Acetyl is the modern material for making pipes. While the traditional material for making bagpipes is African Blackwood; it is becoming more difficult to source and therefore ever more expensive, because it needs to be seasoned, ideally for more than 50 years before being turned. Even after seasoning, African Blackwood is prone to shrink, warp and crack over the years.
Acetyl is a material that will not shrink, warp or crack, even in hot climates and is the ideal replacement for blackwood.

Not only do I recommend acetyl pipes from McCallum to my pupils and fellow pipers, I play a set myself. They are easy to set up, and, with the right reeds, sound really great. In addition, I use the V3 Drier System (by Robert Mathieson) and the MacMillan water trap - which mean no moisture gets to the drone reeds.

If you are interested in getting me to put together a set of pipes for you, or just want to talk about pipes, email me on scotspipers@hotmail.com (I am based in Surrey, England.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Acetyl bagpipes
• McCallum Bagpipes
• Shepherd
• Hide
• Regulator
• Pipe
• Bag
• Universal Blowpipe
• V3 Drier System

[mrpiperman32]

them reeds sound very good Bob!!

[piperbob2]

@mrpiperman32 Thanks Jason. I've got to add - they work really well for me, and strike in perfectly very time, and never stop, even in cold, wet weather, thanks to the V3 moisture system I use inside the bag (a bit heavy, but you soon get used to that !)

[GWRjim]

rather nice pipes bob what make are they? my david nail ones are hard to tune have to pipe in the haggis on saturday

[piperbob2]

@GWRjim Hi Jim - Both sets are by McCallum Bagpipes: the plain black set is the P0 model that I usually order for my young pupils (I'm a trade customer with the company) and from 1:34 - 2:13 you can see the McCallum pipes that I play myself (acetyl with engraved nickel-alloy mounts).

[piperbob2]

@GWRjim Good luck piping in the haggis today !!

[FingerTip777]

What was the second song he played???

[piperbob2]

@FingerTip777 Oh, that was the first measure of "The Royal Scots Polka" (a four-parted 2/4 in the key of D)

I never found the music for it, but learned it mainly by ear, over the years - it used to be popular with bands when I started playing (often played along with the "Black Watch Polka").

[mrpiperman32]

@piperbob2 no problem well i have a bannaytyne moisture controll system its quite good but i got it for the simple reason of the price of my pipes and i wanted then to get the things i needed as quick as possible but i am saving up to purchase a good moisture controll system!

[piperbob2]

@1990DomDom I'll see what I can do, the next time someone orders a set of pipes through me