Border pipes are bellows-blown pipes with a conically-bored chanter and three drones in a common stock. The chanter is played with ‘highland’ fingering in ‘A’ with a flattened seventh, with accidentals of C natural, E flat, F natural and a high G sharp available with cross-fingering.  A ‘G’ version is available with the same fingering as our English Pipes, as is a mouth-blown version.

Gallery

Drones

The drones on ‘A’ sets are configured as bass/tenor/alto (Aae) but are also available as bass/tenor/tenor (Aaa). On G sets thay can be configured Ggd or Ggg. Options include a switch key which switches all drones off, and a stop key on the tenor drone which is useful when playing in some keys/modes.

Bellows

Bellows are available hand-stitched with purfling inlay or in a simpler nailed pattern in a variety of woods and sizes.

Bags

Bags are in stitched leather, dry suede side out for grip, and featuring an elegant swan-neck for stability and comfort, air tight with a lubricant inside to maintain subtleness. Bags are available in a choice of styles and sizes to suit the player. Colours black, brown and light-brown chosen to compliment the colour of the woods.

Reeds

The chanter reed is a brass staple with plastic blades which gives it an excellent tone and volume while ensuring stability and reliability in a wide range of climatic conditions. The drone reeds similarly are brass bodied with a single plastic tongue. Cane reeds are available, though we don’t believe that they have an advantage over the more stable plastic reed on this instrument.

Woods

The choice of woods affects the tone and character of the sound, and this is a matter of personal choice for the individual player. The set pictured above is in Mgurure with Hawthorn detailing.  We make them in a wide variety of woods, including African woods; Blackwood, Mgurure, Mopane, Fruitwoods; Pear, Apple, Laburnum, Plum, Yew etc. 

Style

We make pipes in a range of styles – some of which can be seen on the gallery pages – but are always happy to make instruments to our customer’s unique requirements.