Buying Supplies

After purchasing a bagpipe, a student should set aside money for buying supplies. The necessary supplies and Highland clothing will probably cost as much as the actual bagpipes. Although a well made bagpipe should last for many years, periodic maintenance is required. All of the different sections of the bagpipe are sealed with wrapped hemp, and the hemp will need periodic replacement. In addition, purchase of additional chanter and drone reeds will be required. One of the largest expenses will be the purchase of Highland attire (if not provided by a band).   Supplies for the Bagpipe By having proper supplies, a piper ensures that maintenance can be performed when needed. A list of essential supplies is provided below. The book, "College of Piping Tutor: Part 2," provides an extensive description of proper bagpipe maintenance. It is a very useful tool for the new piper. The other supplies are needed for periodic maintenance. Many of these items are provided as part of a package when a bagpipe is purchased. If a retailer offers such a package, it can save a great deal of money. Case Swab Black waxed hemp Hemp Beeswax Drone stoppers Rubber stoppers for drone stocks Chanter cap (to protect reed when chanter is out of the bagpipe) Extra reeds Bag seasoning (for natural skin bags only) College of Piping Tutor: Part 2   Highland Attire If a student is not part of a band, or the student is a member of a band that does not provide a uniform, he or she will need to purchase attire. For a piper that will only play as a hobby, Highland attire may not be necessary. However, a piper that plans on competing or being hired to perform will need a proper outfit. The list below provides a list of items that are necessary as a minimum. A jacket may not always be required, but it is a worthwhile purchase in locations where the weather can be cold at highland games: Ghillie brogues (shoes) Hose Flashes Kilt Sporran White dress shirt Tie Hat (balmoral or glengarry) Jacket (usually optional)   Making Purchases Most cities do not have a retail store that sells bagpipe supplies. For this reason, mail ordering supplies is usually the easiest method of making purchases. However, many suppliers have booths at bagpipe competitions, and this provides another outlet for purchasing equipment. A list of suppliers is provided in Figure 7. Many of these suppliers have catalogs on the World Wide Web. This makes shopping by mail order even simpler. Buying supplies at a bagpipe competition from a vendor booth allows for firsthand inspection of the product. This can make shopping for equipment much easier. The piper also has the opportunity to speak to the seller in person, who can answer any questions about a particular product. One of the main disadvantages is that the supplies may be quite picked over by the end of the day. This is not really a problem for items such as music books and clothing, but it can be a problem for items such as reeds. Reeds are not all alike, and some are better than others. If a piper tries to buy a reed toward the end of the day, there may be only a few reeds left. These may have already been rejected by several pipers. When shopping mail order, the disadvantage of not being able to see the product is always a problem. Before buying a product by mail order, it is a good idea to determine what the return policy is. With products such as reeds, a piper will not have a chance to test several before making a purchase. The piper must instead rely on the proprietor to send a good reed. The main advantage of mail order is selection. A mail order house will have a much broader selection of items than a booth at a Highland games. In addition, prices will usually be lower, as overhead is lower. Now that many mail order stores have catalogs on the World Wide Web, consumers can review prices and selection at several stores before making a purchase.   By having the proper supplies on hand, a piper does not have to worry about performing maintenance when required. The total cost of necessary supplies and clothing can easily exceed $1000, so a student must keep that in mind when purchasing a bagpipe. By utilizing the World Wide Web and shopping at Highland games, a piper can compare prices and products from many suppliers with relative ease.

                                               

Home Page | Introduction | History of the Bagpipe | The Great Highland Bagpipe | Getting Started | Buying a Bagpipe | Buying Supplies | Music of the Bagpipe | Bagpipe Competitions | EUSPBA | Conclusion | References/Bibliography

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Date last modified: 8/8/98