Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire My son, the bagpiper

I've been entertaining y'all with stories about the little Scotsman that the Lord blessed us with. Why God would want to bless the union of a hillbilly girl and her German-American husband with a little Scotsman is beyond me, but we're coping. He's going to be 9 in April, and last week he sat in for his first practice with the Caledonians, the big pipe band here in Cincinnati.

Well sir, last night was a big night for us. His teacher came over for dinner and gave him a bagpipe lesson. We ate steak and then settled into the den and brought up the projector video and I opened up a browser session and we started to figure out what kind of pipes to order for our little Angus. He's just so big for his age, and so far along in his piping, that it was deemed appropriate to start him early. So there we were, the culmination of about 2 months of research on our part.

Buying bagpipes is at least as intricate as buying a new rifle, at least the way the rifle looneys on here talk about it. Each manufacturer has a distinct sound. You've got about 10 major variables, and then you get into the ornamentation-- nickel versus silver, blackwood versus plastic, and so on. Then you have the aftermarket add-ons. He needed the equivalent of a Timney trigger and a Leupold scope for what he's into. He's had two teachers so far, and they disagreed on which pipes to buy-- sort of a Sucks vs Savage thing. The teacher's father put his oar in the water, and suggested I go up to Cleveland and visit Gibson, the only bagpipe manufacturer in the States. I may still.

Angus cut to the chase. He did not want anything to keep polished. He did not want any engraving. He wanted it plain and simple. Why? He wanted to keep costs down. (I told you, God gave us a Scotsman). The nearly plainest set of pipes from a good manufacturer set us back about a grand, and then the teacher took the helm and added on a bunch of extras. I came back on to add the credit card #, and off we went.

Angus put the finishing touch on it. "Pull the trigger on it, Dad!" I clicked, and they were ordered.


Here's what we settled on:


McCallum AB2

. . . ordered from thePipersHut.com -- sort of like MIDWAYUSA for the pipers.

They're coming from Scotland, and at this point I have no idea when they'll show up, but they'll probably be here for his birthday in April.

While you are waiting you can get the boy some cheap practice.

What you do is have him stand on a cat's tail and stretch the cat up as high as he can. Blow in the cat's ear.

He can modulate the tone by how hard he squeezes on the cat.


YEEEEooorrrrrwwwww ffffttt!

BCR

Actually, cats are too unpredicatable. He prefers practicing with live geese. You put one under your arm and then strangle it slowly with both hands around its neck. Try it. I think you'll like the richness of the sound a lot better.

Practice goose

. . . or you can go all the way like this guy-- see attachment. Mind you, you have to store your instrument in the freezer between sessions, and then allow plenty of time for it to thaw before a concert.

Very, very excellent. My sister is a piper. My HS girlfriend was a highland dancer. The sound of the pipes runs in my blood. I hope your son sticks with it. Someday he'll have steady work playing weddings and funerals!

Cool Beans shaman, I truly love the pipes and have it requested they be played at my funeral.

The pipes are a wierd thing, you either hate or love them. I happen to love them!

Congrats!!!!!!

Could be worse, he might want to play an accordian...

My old man's definition of a gentleman - "someone who can play an accordian, but doesn't!"

Two guys drive to a bar,park at the curb in front the start to go in,passenger notices an accordian in the back seat and said to the driver,you had better put that in the trunk out of sight! Driver replies, oh it will be ok! sure enough,when they come out----- there are now two accordians in the back seat!

No disrespect meant, but I am a hater.
Still remember the SNL skit with Mike Myer; "Let's see what kind of OBNOXIOUS instrument we can invent, today!" in his Scottish accent.
And, "If it ain't Scottish,... it's CRAP!"

Tis my ancestory, I grew up with the bagpipes around me, I enjoy them and certain songs still bring tears, even though my Grandfather passed away in 67, I still have not lost my enjoyment of them.

aye, the pipes.
they break my heart and boil my blood.
hope your boy sticks with 'em, shaman.
i can hear 'em callin' now ...

Very Cool Shaman,
My brother took up the B'pipes a few years agao and really enjoys it. Good luck to the lad.

Elf ( a scottish one at that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)

Thanks all for the good wishes (mostly).

The Piper's Hut called today and wanted to know the shipment might be delayed a couple of weeks due to complications-- I guess it's heavy icebergs off the coast of Scotland or something. We told the guy we needed them by April, and not to worry.

No, no, no

The proper response would have been ..... We needed those pipes yesterday and are distraught that you can't provide them as promised. However, a bottle of single malt squeezed into the case would go a long toward making everything right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Have you thought about DNA testing? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, very cool for son to be interested in an instrument. I know nothing about the pipes, but do love the sound. Of course I am a little deaf from all my years of playing guitar through big amps! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lucky for me, my son wanted a guitar. I started piecing together a 1963 Fender Duo-Sonic and gave it to him for Christmas.
The lucky part is that he doesn't have an amp yet! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I watched the little booger come out. I know it's hers. Why would I need DNA testing?

Amps? Who needs an amp? Cheese and Rice, these suckers are so loud he needs hearing protection to practice-- no joke! We went to a concert last spring and 30 pipers in a high-school gym had my ears ringing for two days.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />



That's why I'm lucky. My boy's guitar isn't very loud without an amp! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> He does play a mean Smoke on the Water though! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have a friend that has played the bagpipes for over 35yrs. Pretty funny when he fires up with "Louie-Louie" or "Hard Days Night".

Didn't care for the pipes till I started travelling with my daughter for stepdancing competitions. They definately can get in your blood and stir the soul.

Good for Angus !!!!!