Northumbrian Pipes, Scottish Smallpipes and Border Pipes

These are a small bellows-blown bagpipe with a sweet, mellow tone. The simplest type has a keyless chanter and three drones, a pattern dating back to the early eighteenth century.
The keyless chanter is obviously rather limited, although a surprisingly large number of tunes are available. Almost all the sets we make are fitted with keys.
The basic modern instrument has seven keys on the chanter and four drones. This instrument can play music written in 'G', 'D', 'A minor' and 'E minor'.
The commonest version of the pipes, most widely played, actually transposes the music down one tone, and is refered to as an 'F' set. Concert pitch 'G' sets are becoming more popular, particularly for playing with other instrumentalists.

Northumbrian Pipes, standard design

We make two patterns of instrument. The 'Standard' sets are of an attractive design, with minimum decoration, developed to provide a robust and very playable instrument at a competitive price.
Each drone on these sets plays a choice of two notes, selected by moving the sliding part in or out. In addition, there is a rotary valve (a 'tuning bead') to provide a further note on the bass 'G' drone. This level of flexiblity is sometimes refered to as 'complex drones'.

Northumbrian Pipes, fully mounted (Reid style)

Our 'Mounted ' sets are more elaborately decorated, in the traditional pattern associated with the nineteenth century maker Reid. Here, drone flexiblity is provided by the use of a total of five tuning beads. There is a large amount of decorative work on these sets, which is reflected in their higher price.
The difference between these two patterns of instrument is purely visual. The same attention to detail goes into every instrument we make, including reeding and tuning.

Five Drone 'G'/'D'/A' Combination Set

Set with Northumbrian 'D' chanter, shown here in Blackwood, with Black Buffalo Horn Mounts and Plated Brass metalwork
The drones can be matched with 'G' and 'D' Northumbrian chanters, and 'A' and 'D' Scottish Smallpipe chanters. Supplied with stitched bellows.

• Northumbrian Pipes in 'G'
  Including contra-bass 'G' (1 octave below normal bass 'G')
• Northumbrian Pipes in 'D'
  Including alto 'a'
• Scottish Smallpipes in 'A'
  Including alto 'e' and 'A' 'A' 'a' options
• Scottish Smallpipes in 'D'
  Including alto 'a' and contra-bass 'A'