So You Want To Play The Bagpipes

[BagpiperDon]

by the Pipers of X Marks the Scot

Some other good resources are the Bob Dunsire Forums, the Bagpipe Forum, and Bagpipe Talk.

Uh, for the record, I had nothing to do w/ writing the thread start -- and I have to say, a lot of good writing ... something like this is rather valuable to provide folks looking to start who are not somehow associated (as I was back-in-the-day)... but there are details to the writing that could be better clarified (eg that a practice chanter is a whole separate instrument from Highland pipes, not parts of Highland pipes, not as loud as Highland pipes) and opinions to the content that vary. ...Oh, and lets not forget the endless hot-debates about all of the above that goes on in the piping community... (/said as I feel my stomach roll).

I am *VERY* glad that attention to eBay was repeatedly brought out -- yes, eBay is 99.9999978% of the time *NOT* your friend. Rosewood, I understand, actually is a rather good wood for making tone, but not when it is crafted into a Highland'esq instrument in a certain country beginning with a "P" and done so with p*ss-poor skill. The only Scot instrument I've heard of that I'd consider buying out of rosewood would be a set of Gibson fireside smallpipes -- but practice chanters on eBay/at Scot-shops/at music stores.... NO ...and $250 rosewood bagpipes, NO.

IMO Bob Dunsire Forums can be a very good place for information. I also recommend looking for Andrew Lenz's web page on getting started in piping -- how to pick out an instructor, all of that.

[EagleJCS]

Rosewood, I understand, actually is a rather good wood for making tone, ... The only Scot instrument I've heard of that I'd consider buying out of rosewood would be a set of Gibson fireside smallpipes ...

I must put in here that it depends on the source/type of rosewood. There are about 30 different varieties in the Dalbergia family. There are also some woods that are stained purple to look like rosewood. I agree that some are less stable that others, and the craftsmanship can leave something to be desired, but that can be said about any mass-produced instrument.

I have a set of Great Highland pipes made out of Madagascaran Rosewood (Dalbergia baroni), a.k.a. Bois de Rose. Per the pipe maker, "Bois de Rose has the same grain structure, natural oil and machining properties as African Blackwood, but Bois de Rose is not quite as dense as Blackwood, thereby making Bois de Rose a little lighter in weight." They've held up pretty well over the last eight years, and have a really sweet tone.

If you want to know the maker, send me a PM.