Bagpiping anyone?

[Jimmy Carbomb]

I'll back it up with a link and information.

Here's a link to "Song of the Sea" for a practice chanter kit that's affordable and well worth the time to learn.

http://www.songsea.com/chanters.htm

It's not expensive and plays well. You CAN always take a chanter from the stock and put a mouthpiece over the reed. I have this, and it's easy to play. It's also a wonderful way to test your reeds at different altitudes BEFORE you fire them up.

You can also get a cane reed for a normal or practice chanter through MacCallum Pipes. That's where I get all mine. Cane reeds last longer, have a mellower sound, and don't bend out of shape as easily. They have to custom make some of my reeds, but I know that they have plenty of options in-stock too.

http://www.mccallumbagpipes.com

While at McCallum, you can check out their practice chanter kits (which can be pricey). I know that The Thistle Shop carries them here in the States.

I buy McCallum because I get paid to play... but they're also REAL nice.

[AndrewLenzJr]

I buy McCallum because I get paid to play... but they're also REAL nice.

They are ok. Naill, Atherton, Sinclair are all better attention to detail and more R&D into stability of the drones. McCallums are improving and their customer service is tops, but they are not going to be among the top brands . . . but they are reasonably priced and there are worse brands out there, to say the least. They are by far the best marketed pipes out there; McCallum is an advertising machine.

Andrew