Advice from Experienced Pipers please

[Andy Snow]

Dear Sirs and Madams:
I don’t want to hijack this thread but I have a question for any piper with Dunbar plastic pipes.
I have been told that since Dunbar’s are fashioned on the old Henderson design and, as such, large bored they might not be good for a beginner. That they would take so much air that an inexperienced player would be taxed and unable to focus on playing.

I have been playing practice chanter, with a teacher, for 5 months and am thinking about buying my first set of pipes. My teacher recommends Blackwood and that’s OK with me too but I will be playing for own amusement and would like something I could toss in the truck and take on camping trips. I don’t necessarily want 2 sets of pipes at this time.
Any advice would be appreciated. If you know of a discussion forum, similar to this one for Pipes, please let me know.
Thanks for your help
Best Regards –Andy

[Kiltedmusiclover]

Moved so it would not highjack the other thread.

[BEEDEE]

Andy - go to bobdunsire.com. It's the best forum for pipers.

I have a set of Dunbar P1's and a set of Soutar ABW that I have yet to graduate to. My instructor had no problems with the Dunbars but recommended changing the drone reeds to Ezedrones.

Brian

[wgority]

I don’t want to hijack this thread but I have a question for any piper with Dunbar plastic pipes.
I have been told that since Dunbar’s are fashioned on the old Henderson design and, as such, large bored they might not be good for a beginner. That they would take so much air that an inexperienced player would be taxed and unable to focus on playing.

I've got a set of them sitting at the house right now. There's not a thing wrong with the P-1s. The bore size isn't what sets the amount of air required to produce a tone, it's the reeds. Properly reeded they should take no more air than any other set of pipes. Two of my students have used them as introductory instruments.

I'd say go for it, get the P-1s and drone on.

I've previously (and peevishly) stated my thoughts on including threads about bagpipes in the "Accessories" forum. Could a Mod please move this thread to a more appropriate forum? Perhaps the "General Celtic Music" forum?

[haukehaien]

I play Dunbar P-3s and find that when the reeds are set up properly that they're quite comfortable to play - don't seem to require a lot of air.

I love the Henderson drone sound, which is one reason why I went with Dunbars. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

[billmcc]

I own a Dunbar P-3 and have played other kinds of pipes and never noticed a difference in air requirements. Poly pipes are more stable (no warping), requires less maintenance, and can take alot more accidental abuse than ABW pipes. Get a set of Dunbar P-series pipes.

[Andy Snow]

Mr. Wgority,
You are absolutely right about this being in the wrong forum, I am sorry about that but replied to another thread in this forum.
I didn’t even realize there was a Celtic Music Forum just bellow this one. I gotta get around more.
-Andy

[highlander_Daz]

Id suggest whacking a set of Cleartone drone reeds in very cheap reliable and stay in tune fantastic get them from Ireland

Ive a guy making me some drone reeds at the moment, the body is going to be aluminium with plastic tongues and they will be inverted tongues so moistre doesnt cause them to conk out.
ill keep you posted

[beloitpiper]

I have carbon fiber Naill drone reeds. They're a lung-collapser to get broken in, but once they're set, they're good for a long time.