McCallum poly pipes?

[BruceBC]

Has any thoughts on McCallum's poly pipes? I am looking at getting a set of pipes that will be used in somewhat harsh conditions. Traveling on the back on my bike, in backpacks, all sorts of weather etc...

[cajuncelt]

They're great pipes and good looking as well. They reed and perform exactly like the blackwoods. I would recommend them especially if they're going to get beat up a little.

[ohiopiper]

I have no experience with McCallums, but my wife got me a stand of Dunbar Poly for Christmas. My Gibsons got oiled and put away. They sound great. I can only imagine that the McCallums will be the same, sounding pretty much like AWB McCallums.

[BruceBC]

Thanks for the feedback.... sounds as if many folks are pleased with their poly pipes. Any downsides to poly pipes?

[ohiopiper]

Problems with poly.

The only thing I notice that can be considered a problem is moisture. It condenses easily on the poly. When you are done playing, dismantle the pipes so they can dry well. I dismantle mine completely, removing the drones from the stocks, removing all the reeds and pulling the blowpipe out of its stock. Let them sit in the open for a while before casing them.

Extended sessions (1 1/2 Hr or more) have left me with drone reed issues due to condensation. The reed tongues get moisture on them and begin to act funny, then cut out if I don't stop and wipe them down. I use Ezee-Drones in both stands, I'm sure the Gibsons would do it too, it just takes longer and I've never reached that point.

The contrast here is that wood pipes absorb that moisture. They have to dry naturaly. Poly, I just wipe them out with bore brushes and continue on.

[wildrover]

x2 what OH Piper said about moisture.

I have a set of Dunbar poly pipes, and I love them. My "pipe case" is either a Pelican case, or whatever backpack they need to fit in for whatever trip I'm on. I'd never abuse a set of wood pipes the way I do these.

If you're planning to beat on them the way I do, consider avoiding plating...as in, nickel is a plating, and will abrade off if the pipes are bouncing around in a pack, and then it will look like hell. Stick with aluminum or stainless, or poly mounts. I'd avoid silver on a set of "pack pipes" for similar reasons to avoiding plating...it's soft, and it'll get damaged.

The great thing about a set of poly pipes mounted in metal is, they sound excellent...and many will claim an audible difference between wood and poly, but if there's something to hear, it's subtle...and they will look like ABW pipes from any distance greater than a few feet.

I'm sure the brand you're looking at will be just as good as my Dunbars.

Also keep in mind, while the dominant sound of the drones depends on the bore, the overtones--what really makes a set of pipes sound beautiful--are very dependent on how you've chosen to reed the drones.

-Sean