The Ultimate Piping Guide Things to keep in mind while buying practice chanter pipes or reeds:
- What do I look for when buying a practice chanter, pipes, or reeds?
- The following guidelines will be helpful:
Get advice from your teacher or another accomplished player on where to shop.
Buy from a reputable dealer, preferably from someone who is an accomplished player.
Do not buy instruments/supplies from your local music store. They carry inferior merchandise at inflated prices.
Ask where it’s made – the best instruments are made in Scotland, the US, and Canada. There are instruments available at a lower price but they generally come from Pakistan. Pakistani made instruments are much lower in pitch and made with less precision and generally are not playable.
The Ultimate Piping Guide Things to keep in mind while buying practice chanter pipes or reeds
- How much does a set of pipes cost?
A decent set will start around $800. From there the price goes up based upon the ornamentation.
- When it is time to buy my pipes, should I buy new or used?
Depends. The best ‘used’ pipes were made 50-100 years ago by MacDougall, Henderson, and Lawrie. There are currently a number of reputable makers, and the decision to purchase a new or used set really depends upon the deal that you can get, and the quality and condition of the pipes. When purchasing an older set, you are purchasing the drones, as the chanter may need to be replaced with a newer one.
- Do you have to be Scottish to play the pipes?
No. The bagpipe is a musical instrument, nothing more. There is nothing magical or mystical about it. The only advantage that being Scottish gives a person is perhaps a familiarity with the musical idiom.
this is The Ultimate Piping Guide Things to keep in mind while buying practice chanter pipes or reeds.
