Pipers in flat caps!

[Mike S]

Bagpipes made prior to the late 19th/early 20th century conversion to primarily African Blackwood as the favored material used were rarely if ever made of Rosewood. Rather, Lignum Vitae, Cocuswood, Laburnum, Ebony, and other various, indigenous hardwoods were utilized. I know of no extant, Scottish made set of GHB pipes from the 19th century and earlier that is made of Rosewood, or reference to such a set.

The term "Rosewood" as it applies to most Sailkot Pakistan made sets is actually a wood called Sheesham, which although botanically it does belong to the vast rosewood family Genus Dalbergia , it is most decidedly inferior to a quality, South/Central American Rosewood such as the Brazilian variety, or even the East Indian Rosewood.

African Blackwood (also known as Grenadilla), as it relates to the Musical Instrument world, is being harvested from renewable sources that are replanted to supply the world's demand for it. This wood is used widely to make Clarinets, Oboes, Fifes Flutes and Piccolos as well as various Bagpipes, therefore the consistent demand, if for no other reason, requires it. The main concern is not the supply, rather the quality, and need for this wood to season for at least 4 to 7 years before it is suitable for turning and use in the making of woodwinds.

Pakistani chanters have horrible intonation almost as a rule, let alone when played with one another. They are the weakest link in what is an already poor representation of the GHB in the majority of examples being sold today from that source.