Looking into pipes...

[chasem]

He says, jokingly. I had considered the AB0, so if you're serious, that may be an option.

One of the guys in the band (who has been playing for about 1.5 years, to my knowledge, but practices about 2 hrs a day - he even practiced his chanter in the delivery room while his wife was in labor! No, I'm not exaggerating.) I'm pretty sure plays McCallums, and I've liked the sound of [and his skill in using] his set. I need to double check, but I'm pretty sure they're McCallum.

I will definitely take that advice to heart, though. Appreciate it.

[kypnkilt]

McCallum pipes are OK and yes their customer service is tops. However, there are many other makers out there that would be just as good.

The expensive ones such as: Athertons, Krons, MacLellan, and Colin Kyo make quality pipes with certain unique attributes.

The middle of the road and popular are McCallums, Gibsons, St. Kilda, Hardies and Dunbars and so on.

The other good makers of pipes that get left out of the lists are: Soutar, Sinclaire, Shepard, Wallace, etc.

There is nothing wrong in purchasing a used (quality) set. Not saying go to EBay, but the Dunsire site www.bobdunsire.com Trading Post forum crops up a few good deals every week. Might want to look there for good bargains. Of course if you are going into a band their expertise will help you point the way. Good Luck!!

[wvpiper]

He says, jokingly. I had considered the AB0, so if you're serious, that may be an option.

Only half joking. I want to get a set of MacPhersons.....maybe...

[OC Richard]

Just to show what some of the makers I mentioned have been up to...

... a couple MacLellan sets, first in blackwood, then his reproduction of an early c1800 set, in Cocobolo:





Here's some Douglas MacPherson pipes, first a bling set in blackwood then a couple interesting sets in Mopane:







Here's a nice set by the American maker Mark Cushing. I love the elegant button mounts:



Here's a couple nice sets by Dunbar, my full aluminum set, and a set I used to have with palm nut "ivory" mounts. Palm nut looks great, as it's a natural material with all sorts of cool varigation in it.





And here's a lovely closeup of an Atherton set using the Palm Nut "ivory" mounts:

[ohiopiper]

Listen to the pipes you are considering. Every maker has a slightly different proportion to the pipes and this gives a slightly different sound. I'd base a pipe purchase on 75 percent drone sound and 25 percent chanter. Chanters are 200 bucks tops. If you play in a band and solo, you'll own at least two anyway.

Ask owners of potential pipes what ease or difficulty they had reeding the pipes. Some pipes can have anything slapped into them and play fine. Others have to be reeded on second Tuesdays under a full moon.

A "basic" pipe from a maker sounds the same as a "top shelf" pipe of the same material from the same maker. A set of AB0 will sound the same as a set of AB99 (if they made such a costly thing). Dunbar P1 sounds exactly like a Dunbar P4.

[Kittel]

Only half joking. I want to get a set of MacPhersons.....maybe...

There should be no maybe in your statement.

I am pressuming you mean Doug who is making pipes today and not Hugh who made pipes, or were made by Sinclair, in the middle part of the 20th century.

I have had my D. MacPherson's for 2 yrs and they are wonderful. They create a great sound that will fill a room with warmth. You will hear the bass and tenors with neither being more dominant.

I like the fact that they are handmade. I like knowing that someone used their hands to make my set of pipes. That someone's eyes were watching the wood turn, looking for imperfections in the wood, and delicately turning a block of wood into a work of art. That someone took so much pride in making my set of pipes that they stamped their name, where it can be seen, on the middle and top bass sections. Finally, that my set is so special that it has a number stamped on the lower bass section.

Also, Doug is great to work with. His customer service has been above and beyond my expectations. He has always answered my questions and usually right away.



Cheers!
Jake