I make bagpipes using PA12, a type of nylon that is biocompatible and safe for long-term skin contact. My designs are influenced by various 18th and 19th century makers, particularly Robert Reid of North Shields, Jimmy Young of Alnwick, and Malcolm MacGregor of London.
Here is a comparison of the different designs I offer for the same tenor drone:
Currently, I only offer the following models. My order book is closed for my thesis writing-up period, I will let you know when I am ready again:
Scottish Border Pipes in A: This is the quietest design I have developed so far, offering the greatest compatibility with chanter reeds from different makers and material types, functioning well within a pressure range of 12 inH2O to 18 inH2O. The chanter covers all the accidental notes from Low G to High A, with two extended notes, Low F and High B. There are two different visual designs for the chanter: one reminiscent of Uilleann pipes, and the other incorporating more traditional Border pipe and Highland bagpipe elements. The standard three drones are configured as Bass A, Tenor A, and Alto E, acoustically based on the only surviving sets of Border pipes made by Robert Reid. A manual is available, with a fingering chart included at the end. Jeremy Kingsbury has posted an episode of his podcast discussing his review and reaction to the chanter, which you can listen to on your preferred platform.
Lindsay System Scottish Small-Pipes in A: This is my personal go-to instrument. It covers a range of over two octaves, starting from bottom D (one octave lower than the Uilleann pipes), with some chromatic notes in between. My version differs from Donald Lindsay’s original model, as the profile is much slimmer to accommodate my smaller hands compared to Donald’s. Additionally, I play at 12 inches of water pressure, which is significantly lower than Donald’s 18 inches of water pressure. While 12 inches of water pressure is considered the standard for playing, please let me know if your preference differs. We also use different types of undercuts, resulting in subtle tonal differences, as well as variations in the drones. The standard configuration for the three drones is Bass A, Tenor A, and Alto E.
Scottish Small-Pipes in C: This design is based on Colin Ross's work but includes some improvements, such as a minor third (E flat) and sharp leading notes (B natural). The drones are the same as those of the Northumbrian small-pipes, so the chanter can be used as an add-on for the Northumbrian small-pipes. The three drones are configured as Bass C, Baritone F, and Tenor C.
Keyless Three-Drone Northumbrian Small-Pipes in F: The standard three drones are nominally configured as Big G, Small D, and Small G. Alternatively, four drones can be configured as Big D, Big G, Small D, and Small G.
Highland Half-Size or Reel Pipes Chanter in B-flat: The chanter is based on a Thomas Glen reel pipes chanter, with a minor adjustment to bring it to concert B-flat.
Double Scottish Small-Pipes Chanter in D: There are two options to choose from: offset holes, where the top and bottom hands are rotated inward to make side movement easier, or straight holes. I also offer two configurations for the holes: 7+7 and 7+3. It is possible to add a second thumbhole for the minor third (F natural), but I have not implemented this feature on existing instruments yet.
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