ebay Bagpipes

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

OK, so how does someone acquire a good set of used pipes?

[McMurdo]

You might want to check out the Bob Dunsire Forums

http://www.bobdunsire.com/ubbthreads...oard=20&page=1

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

What do you think about this and this? This one sounds like a real scam if you read the seller's feedback. She's sold bagpipes (I assume) before that weren't properly id'd as far as the manufacturer goes.

Anyway, this is more what I expect a good set of pipes to cost. FYI if you are reading this after the link has died. This is a Vintage set of Scottish Highland Bagpipes made by Hardie with a starting bid of US$2,300.00

[PiobBear]

What do you think about this and this?

The first one is clearly not ivory, although the chanter sole might be (old Hardie chanters are very difficult to reed). A seller claiming complete ignorance, including mis-spelling "RG Harding", is a definite red flag; after they've sold you some crap they insinuated were ivory mounted Hardie's, they'll claim complete ignorance and that they acted in good faith.

The second set might be; hard to tell from one fuzzy photo. I have an ivory mounted Lawrie chanter; it'd be highly unusual for real ivory to be that blindingly white with that kind of age on it. Only one feedback, and that's negative for misrepresenting an item and refusing to refund the seller's money.

The third set is grossly overpriced, particularly with cracks. "A good new set of pipes made in Scotland will cost you upward of $1800.00 and tax. Then is takes about 20 years for the tone to mellow (so I'm told)." BOLLOCKS. "Hardie Pipes were quality manufacturers of Scottish bagpipes." Debatable depending upon when they were made and under what contract.

I wouldn't risk my money on any of them.

[PiobBear]

OK, so how does someone acquire a good set of used pipes?

You might consider contacting Kenny McCloud at +44 (0)1563 527002. Rather than risking your money on a questionable deal on a questionable set from a questionable seller, for a few pounds more you might be able to have a brand new set of high quality pipes from a very reputable dealer, made by a manufacturer with excellent customer service.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Do NOT buy your pipes on eBay without an experienced, seasoned pipe major looking over them first.

I'm not sure your level of skill, but if you haven't already begun to learn on the practice chanter, do that first. There are multiple threads about learning the pipes on X Marks, you should search through any of those first.

Yup ! Do play the pipes but buy them with the personal help of a piper.

[beloitpiper]

OK, so how does someone acquire a good set of used pipes?

Check pawn shops. Musical instruments are so undervauled there. I've heard of more than one piper finding a set of vintage pipes for well below the price of new ones.

[Iain Robb]

Your piping instructor and/or local pipe band should also be able to steer you in the direction of good pipes. That's how my daughter ended up getting a nice set of barely used Gibson pipes -- normally in the range of $1,500 -- for $1,000.

By the way, she also had the opportunity to try a set of Pakistani smallpipes. What a joke! If she put enough pressure on the bag for the chanter to sound, the drones shut down. She tried adjusting the reeds, but to no avail. It was, as others have said here, simply not a musical instrument.

[katmills2005]

You could try Craigslist as well. They have a huge variety of used items. Buyer beware, they don't rank sellers like Ebay does, but then Craigslist is more of what Ebay used to be; Real people, selling actual used stuff.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Too bad my mom's boss, who was a piper, died a few years back. Thank you for the help. This was something which needed to be addressed.