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Post by mrzdavid on Jan 7, 2006 2:18:20 GMT
Hi folks,
Any of you play smallpipes?
If so, what make, key, how do you find them etc?
I've a nice set of John Walsh scottish small pipes in A.
Just interested to know what's going about.
All the best, Marcus
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Post by rick on Jan 16, 2006 20:27:04 GMT
I won a set of switchback smallpipes in A. The holes are spaced a good bit differently than my GHB chanter. Nice sound, but I need to focus all my efforts on GHB as a beginner, so I rarely pick up the smallpipes .
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Post by mrzdavid on Jan 16, 2006 21:28:48 GMT
Where did you win them? I remember entering a comp a few months back to win a set of switchback pipes. You're quite right, concentrate on your big pipes for now. To remove the distraction please mail the small pipes to me right away Only kidding. I find them a useful practice tool or use them when I can't be bothered getting my big pipes out of the box.
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Post by rick on Jan 17, 2006 5:19:12 GMT
I won them here: www.aberdeenbagpipe.com/store/aberdeensmallpipes.htmlThe switchbacks do have a nice sound, and I look forward to playing them (indoors) in the future. Very touchy on air pressure - only takes a wee bit, and I tend to overblow. It turns out that my PC will fit the stock, and I can tune the drones and use them as a mini GHB for longer practice sessions, but it does not help me develop my wind - and my PC has a couple of out-of-tune notes, so I don't use them very often.
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Post by FINN on Jan 17, 2006 21:18:04 GMT
I've been trying to figure this out for a while and just havnt been sure. I'm looking for a set of small pipes, and need to know if the fingering is the same for the differnt keys, like (bottom) gABCDEFGa (top). (bottom) gABCDEFGa (top). is this the same for chanters in the key of A,B,C, and D? becase i'm not ready to invest in a chanter that i have to relearn the fingers on, im just to lazy. but if anyone could give me a flat out YES 'so & so is the same' or NO 'so & so is not the same' I would be eternaly in your dept
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Post by mrzdavid on Jan 17, 2006 23:11:08 GMT
With scottish smallpipes the fingering is identical to the big pipes. It's the same for all chanters. The Uilleann and Northumbrian might well be different, in fact I'm sure they are.
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Post by rick on Jan 18, 2006 0:10:35 GMT
The fingering is the same, but the hole placement can be a bit different. I think this differs from brand to brand.
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Post by piperlady on Apr 20, 2006 1:16:37 GMT
I am teaching my hubby to play smallpipes. I got myself a set of Fairylore parlor pipes - I like the technology of them. The base of each stock is the same size as GHB, so it uses a regular Canmore bag and a Little Mac valve. The synthetic drone reeds are odd - the tongues are upside down compared to my GHB Shepards. It makes it easier to insert the drones into the stocks without snagging the tongue. Question for you folks: Does anyone make a mini little mac valve? The wall of the blowpipe on the smallpipes is very thin - that is, inside diameter is close to outside diameter - causing a rubber or leather flap to warp and leak back. Any suggestions?
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Post by rick on Apr 20, 2006 19:32:37 GMT
I would like to hear more about the Fairylore pipes. Something I am considereing for myself. I have a set of switchback smallpipes, but I would rather have a set that sit on my shoulder. My smallpipes are also VERY pressure sensitive and cut out with just a little air pressure - I can't keep the pressure very low & steady.
Did I understand that there is a little Mac valve in each drone ? I don't know of a mini - little mac. Maybe you can more easily replace the blow stick. I have similar problem with leakage on mine.
Are the finger holes on the chanter the same spacing as GHB ? Ideally, I would want a GHB at about 1/2 or 1/3 volume.
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Post by piperlady on Apr 20, 2006 21:58:36 GMT
You can check out the Fairylore line at www.highlandcircus.comThe Fairylores were developed for GHB players who want quieter pipes for indoors. They are made so you don't have to back off with your blowing, although you don't have to work very hard to keep them going. I just tried to overblow them and I couldn't do it. The chanter went a bit out of tune, and I thought my head might explode, but otherwise they were stilling sounding good. My set has an A chanter, but the drones will tune to A or Bb if I want to switch out the chanter. The center drone is a baritone and tunes to E with the A chanter. The only downside - and I got used to it quickly - is the baritone drone is about 6 inches from my left ear. The chanter is close in size to a long practice chanter. The little Mac is the blowpipe valve. I'm using one in my GHB that is at least 27 years old and still working great; cost me $5 and I thought that was an extravagance at the time! Are switchback pipes the same as shuttle pipes?
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Post by BigHairyPiper on Apr 22, 2006 21:32:22 GMT
I play small pipes, I also make them, I prefer them in the key of D although the fingure holes are closer together than a chanter in the key of A. They are great for practicing. I make them so they take the standard little Mac. but i have made a good valve out of thin leather that works well.
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Post by rick on Apr 24, 2006 17:40:49 GMT
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Post by thismomistired on Oct 26, 2006 13:22:24 GMT
I've been pining for a set of ceilidh pipes (Gibson makes them). I heard them a few years back at a festival and have wanted a set ever since. Anyone heard of them? I'm not sure how popular they are...
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Post by mrzdavid on Oct 27, 2006 10:07:28 GMT
I've never heard them but do believe they are quite popular. If you like em, just get em Who cares what anyone else thinks.
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Post by FINN on Oct 28, 2006 0:31:44 GMT
I've been wanting to buy a set for a while, probably with bellows. im learning the Uilleann pipes now so bellows arnt a problem. I've heard with the Ceihld (sp) pipes that the drones are rather hard to tune. Have you had any troubles with this?
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Post by thismomistired on Nov 3, 2006 12:08:43 GMT
I don't own any, just want them. I dont know anyone with a set of them so I'm not sure about the tuning. The ones I heard sure did have nice tone to them though.
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Post by mrzdavid on Nov 3, 2006 17:43:08 GMT
Like I said above, I got a set of plastic Walsh small pipes. They meet my needs and I haven't had any complaints from freinds and family that have heard them. They are good fu to play and practically maintenance free as long as you don't mess with the reeds. I've taken them into the hills and exposed them to faily wild conditions, something I wouldn't do with blackwood pipes. My only regret is that I didn't get a set that could be converted between the keys D and A. Mine are in A but I'd like to try the D too for a change. I like 'em... www.johnwalshbagpipes.com/smpipes.htm
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Post by thismomistired on Nov 7, 2006 14:42:17 GMT
I own them now! Just bought a set of ceilidh pipes from ebay for $310.00. Woooo Hoooooo!!!!!!!!!
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Post by elbowmusic on Jan 23, 2008 19:45:51 GMT
I hope this is kosher. I wasn't sure where to put a plug for my business. I am a full-time maker of Scottish Smallpipes and Border pipes: www.elbowmusic.comIf anyone needs help in the new york area with smallpipes or border pipes of any make, I'd be happy to hear from you. I'm also looking for smallpipers or border pipers to play with. Just moved my shop to the area. Nate Banton
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Post by mrzdavid on Jan 23, 2008 20:21:43 GMT
I see no harm in it Nate. Welcome to the forum! Happy posting.
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