The joys and dangers of Ebay pipes

[OC Richard]

A crazy low price for a set of Morrison/McCallum "A" smallpipes

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19765078820...ndition=4%7C10

[OC Richard]

If any of you were looking for a far, far less expensive way to get into (so-called) "border" pipes this is it.

A gorgeous vintage Lawrie (so-called) "three-quarter" pipe starting bid $500 no bids yet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32681970948...ndition=4%7C10

Reed these up to play A=440, purchase a nice "border" chanter, which are generally in A=440, and Bob's your Uncle.

For under $1,000 you'll have a set that will probably out-play most "border" pipes being made today for a fraction of the cost.

I did this exact thing back in 2006 with a lovely c1900 Glen "three-quarter" pipe.

Having my basis a great-sounding stable trouble-free set of mid-volume A=440 drones I proceeded to purchase three "border" chanters:

Hamish Moore "reel pipe" chanter
Nigel Richard "session pipe" chanter
Jon Swayne "Lowland pipe" chanter

Note none of these makers call their instruments in question "border" pipes, which is the in-vogue name nowadays.

All of these chanters were the same beast: pitched in A=440, volume somewhere between a GHB and an SSP, and capable of a chromatic scale through cross-fingerings. Two of the chanters had a key for High B.

My "border" pipe setup is the middle pipe here, vintage Glenn drones with a Jon Swayne chanter



(I'm saying "so-called" three-quarter pipe because all Highland pipe makers made these throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th and none of them called them that. They were called "half-size" pipes.)

[OC Richard]

Wow a Lawrie set in great condition for around $300 Buy It Now.

I've owned sets like this, they've sounded great and been very stable.

If I didn't already have a great vintage Lawrie I'd jump on this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23645837760...ndition=4%7C10

[OC Richard]

Old nickel & ivory pipes here in the USA so no border-crossing or tariff worries.

Currently under $500 but they'll go much higher. They already have a lot of bids.

Of course the ever-present worry is that they'll be an old set of so-called "three-quarter" pipes, which in actuality are around 7/8 size, and practically impossible to distinguish from fullsize pipes from photos alone.

I asked the seller to measure the length of the Bass drone top section.

I've measured dozens of vintage and new fullsize pipes and the Bass tops have ranged between 11.5 inches and 11 7/8 inches, and usually around halfway between those extremes. Most common is around 11 11/16 inches.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306655317675

[OC Richard]

Highland pipes, look legit, opening bid $450, no bids.

All three drone stocks match each other but don't match the rest of the set.

The seller seems knowledgeable, knows where to look for stamps, but there aren't any.

The fountains look slightly Lawrie-ish to me, but who knows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22715064562...ndition=4%7C10