Pipes for late Xmas gift

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks for the quick advice.

I should have been more specific. I meant *New* Chanter with a set. I've already been playing the chanter on my own for years.

Cheers,

Kevin.

Thanks for clearing that up. Now it makes more sense.

But the next question is, solo or band? I have a Naill BW for solo and the band chanter is a Macallum poly.

If you're looking for a solo, there are several on the market that are high on the list for solos. Naill's were (are) very popular, as well as others. I reed it with an Apps reed and it gives me a nice rich, warm tone. Along with the naill drones, I've gotten a lot of great comments on tone.

But Solo chanters are usually not pitched quite as high as a band chanter. Clarity is a halmark of a band chanter. As you probably know, the pitch of chanters have gradually climbed to shrill levels, all in hope for that little extra edge. On hot days, bands can sound screechy to me. Pushing pitches into the 490 range!

Unless you need a BW chanter, stick with a poly. BW chanters are SO fragile and SO expensive.

As for the drones, you should do what I did. I spent a lot of time listening to drones. Standing behind pipers, eye's closed, listening intently. Then later asking them what reed/drone combination they run.

With me, I have a bit of a musical background, so I kinda had an ear for it. I quickly knew what I wanted.

The first ones I liked, I couldn't afford. Lawries, Hendersons, MacDougall...All the ones that aren't made anymore and are two or three times older, or more, than me! So I made my decision on which ones sounded good to me, and that I could afford. Naill was always at the top of the list. I also run Ezeedrones with an inverted bass.

Good luck in your adventure.

T.