Chanter review?

[Mr. Woolery]

I don't oil the inside of a GHB chanter, but I do oil the outiside and I oil the drone bores. My kids oil their PCs with a pipe cleaner and almond oil. They have seen me oil my pipes as well.

I don't think the poly is actually as good as blackwood. The same bores in other materials (maple, poplar, glass, brass) won't deliver the same exact sound. A non-absorbant material will collect moisture faster, too. Then, we come to the whole apples to apples comparison. There's one set of Dunbar P1s in the band. The guy using that set has tried a bunch of different reeds in it and the PM finally gave him a set of Kinnards (these are the best of the lot). They do sound good. No argument. BUT they don't sound as good (to my ears, to the ears of the PM, to the ears of the most experienced members of the band) as ABW. Wood resonates in a way that plastic does not.

I don't really think poly pipes were developed to deal with moisture issues or heat or cold. I strongly suspect the folks who started making plastic bagpipes were either concerned with the availability of blackwood (at different times it has been harder to get than plastic) or with cost (delrin is a whole lot cheaper than ABW, which makes me wonder why the pipes are not a whole lot cheaper). I can't prove it, but I'm fairly certain.

In terms of practice chanters, there's another advantage to a wooden chanter. It absorbs moisture, so I can play longer before my reed chokes off with spit. This is really significant if you play a reed like a Walsh, which is very sensitive to being wet.

I'm not saying everyone should ditch the plastic chanters. I still play mine plenty. I'm just saying that a wooden chanter has qualities that make it worth owning, even if it is a higher-maintenance instrument. I prefer to wear a wool kilt over an acrylic, I prefer to eat home-baked bread over the stuff at the stores, and I prefer to play wooden bagpipes and practice chanters over plastic. I do own an acrylic kilt and wear it. I do eat store bread sometimes. I do have a plastic practice chanter. But my preference wins out and if I am enjoying my practice more because of intangibles (or barely-tangibles, or subtleties), then I practice better and become a better piper because of it.

-Patrick

[wvpiper]

I don't really think poly pipes were developed to deal with moisture issues or heat or cold. I strongly suspect the folks who started making plastic bagpipes were either concerned with the availability of blackwood (at different times it has been harder to get than plastic) or with cost (delrin is a whole lot cheaper than ABW, which makes me wonder why the pipes are not a whole lot cheaper). I can't prove it, but I'm fairly certain.

Now that you mention you're right, sort of. According to Ringo Bowen, Dunbar designed the poly pipes b/c he was getting poor quality blackwood.
http://www.thebagpipeplace.com/museum/page7.html
(If you've haven't seen Ringo's website, look around. It has loads of pictures and old sound clips of champion pipers.)
But, I think they do hold up better than blackwood and are less affected by the variables I mentioned.

You're also right, it is also about preference probably more than anything. The same debates 'rage' between blackwood and cocobolo, or cocus, etc that rage here on polyviscose v wool 8yd v 4/5 yd and so on.

[cajuncelt]

I have to say this because no one else has...we can dissect abw vs. poly, talk about harmonics, talk about tradition, etc. The truth is...is really doesn't matter a whole lot. A quality chanter from a quality manufacturer is all you need, period. We are bagpipers....not chanterers.
If you have the $$$ for a abw chanter, fine. It sure isn't necessary. If I damage my poly chanter, no biggy. No maintenence either. Truth be known, I don't REALLY care about my pc's tone. As long as the scale is balanced and it's easy to play, etc. I spend my time/energy on the pipes...that's the end from the means.

[kypnkilt]

Let's not forget Murray Huggins at Colin Kyo pipes...he has successfully designed and made blackwood (and other stuff) laminated composite chanters that are getting favorable reviews. I have read that many of the characteristics of ABW/Poly chanters do not apply to these in the same way...in the traditional sense.

http://www.colinkyobagpipes.com/index.php?pr=Chanters