Where's your Bagpipes?

[cessna152towser]

I often read posts here from forumites who have been asked the question "Where's your bagpipes?"
I'd never been asked this question until last night over at the airport when I arrived at the Chief Flying Instructor's leaving do. As I walked in, an English lady asked me that very question and I gave her the honest answer that I'd sold them a few years back to pay for flying lessons. The CFI overheard and remarked that bagpipes are the one thing more important in life than flying and that it was high time I bought myself a replacement set. I've been thinking about getting pipes again, but as I'm out of practice, never was much good, and much older now, I feel that expensive pipes can't be justified. Would I get a passable tune out of Frugal Corner pipes?

[PiobBear]

No, you wouldn't.

I'd suggest contacting Kenny McLeod at McCallum's in Kilmarnock; 01563 527002.

[beloitpiper]

My pipes are made by McCallum, and they are wonderful!!! I absolutely love them.

I second PiobBear. McCallums are great!

[ccga3359]

Why are the pipes so expensive yet sporrans are cheap? They come from the same animal and haggis are plentiful, aren't they?

[Archangel]

Why are the pipes so expensive yet sporrans are cheap? They come from the same animal and haggis are plentiful, aren't they?

It's the Greenland thing.

[staticsan]

Why are the pipes so expensive yet sporrans are cheap? They come from the same animal and haggis are plentiful, aren't they?

No offense, but that sounds like the wrong question.

Think of a set of bagpipes as a musical instrument, which, of course, they are. There is craftmanship required in a decent instrument. I play in a band (not bagpipes: a synthesizor) and have been in contact with musicians for many years. Good instruments are not something you get for $40. I paid AU$2500 quite some years ago for my professional synth - and that model was known to be excellent value for money. I could have easily spent AU$10,000. Or more. I have a friend who recently bought a new electric bass guitar. AU$1000. A good saxaphone, clarient or trombone can be in the range of AU$1200. A really good flute can be AU$600!

If McCallum ab0's, their lowest, are $800, then I'd say they look reasonably priced for a musical instrument. If I was interested in bagpiping, then I wouldn't think that was too expensive.

Wade.

[sirdaniel1975]

Why are the pipes so expensive yet sporrans are cheap? They come from the same animal and haggis are plentiful, aren't they?

Because pipes are a musical instrument. Much more craftsmanship goes into making a musical instrument that actually plays well.

You can not play tunes and scales on sporrans.

[Mark Keeney]

Why are the pipes so expensive?

Take a look at woodwind instrument prices and they are in line. I just paid over $6,000 for a used English horn, and that was a bargain.

[filman]

howdy all i found a site that has some pipes on it that have a price that is low compared to those said in the thread. i would like ta have ya'll look at them & give me your thoughts.

http://www.celticrenaissancemusic.com/

now nothing aginst ya'll but as i am poor and do not have lots of $$$ . i understand on what ya'll said on how they're made and all that. my thoughts is that i will be playen them for me and i may not be good that if i spent lots i would not get lots if i sold them, or if i was good i could always upgrade.

and could one of ya'll tell me what small pipes are and the highland pipes

[Kilted-Marine]

I am not sure if we should drop the price of our pakistani pipes to around $79 and sell them as novelties or raise the price to $650 and advertise them as rare pakistani pipes.
Of course we could just not carry them at all and maybe form a partnership with some fine producers of excellent pipes that are custom made to order and cost $1200 - $5000 sell 1 or 2 a year, retire at 50 move to Florida
(all the above has been said tongue in cheek)