Kinnaird Bagpipes News - July 2021
Upcoming Events

July 3 Almonte Celtfest (Virtual)


Video Clip

Here's a video of the Blue Devils and Top Secret Drum Corps at 2015 Basel Tattoo.
Scottish Humor

McGrouther had been the owner of the only bar in Auchenarder and when he retired the locals looked in amazement at the grand mansion he was building in which he was to spend his retirement. An old friend visited him and said with a smile: "I suppose it was all that whisky you sold that produced the profits for that palatial house you're building?" McGrouther thought for a moment and then admitted: "Na, na - it wisnae the whisky. It was the water I put in the whisky that made me rich..."
Scottish Trivia

William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton and John Brown & Company of Clydebank were 2 of the most internationally renowned shipbuilding companies in the world from the mid 19th to the mid 20th century. They built world-famous ships, such as the Cutty Sark (2nd fastest clipper of all time), the TS King Edward (1st passenger steamer powered by turbines), the RMS Lusitania (fastest ship of its time), the HMS Hood (world's biggest warship for 20 years after being launched), the HMS Repulse (world's fastest capital ships upon completion), the RMS Queen Mary, the RMS Queen Elizabeth (largest passenger liner ever built until 1994), and the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. Clydebank used to be the greatest shipyard in the world. 
Featured

Setting Up Your Drone Reeds

Proper set up of synthetic drone reeds is key to ensuring that they perform and sound their best in your bagpipe. Improper set-up can prevent you from getting the best sound from your drones, and create difficulty with strike-ins and double toning. I follow a fixed routine whenever I set up drone reeds in a bagpipe. What follows is my method for setting up synthetic drone reeds:

1. Check Condition of the Instrument
It is futile to try and set up drone reeds in a poor quality instrument or one that is poorly maintained. I always check to ensure that the bagpipe is airtight and not leaking air. I also have a quick look at the stocks and bores to ensure that they are clean and smooth with no obstructions. The joints should be properly hemped and airtight. There shouldn’t be any cracks in any of the sections that are leaking air. For more detailed information on checking your instrument, see “Getting the Most Out of Your Bagpipe – A Maintenance Checklist”.

2. Install Drone Reeds in Reed Seats
Remove the drones from the instrument and lay them out on a table in front of you. Take each drone reed and seat it securely in the tapered reed seat in the bottom of each drone. Ensure that the reeds are seated straight and in line with the bore of the drone. A proper, airtight fit is critical here. If any air leaks past the reeds through the reed seat, the drones will have a tendency to shut off with minimal pressure. If the reed seats are small, remove some hemp from the drone reed until the reeds seat securely. If they reed seats are large, add some hemp until the reeds are seated securely. After you have all three reeds in the drones, remove the top section(s) from each drone. Place a finger over the bore at the top of the tuning pin and place the drone reed in your mouth so that your lips are on top of the bridle. Blow into the reed. You shouldn’t be able to get any air through the reed. If air is leaking it is likely that it is leaking through the reed seats. Try adding or removing hemp until you get the reed to seat airtight. You may also try adding some soft wax to the taper on the reed to assist with sealing the reed.
Product Reviews

McCallum AB4 Bagpipes

"Purchased the AB4 Full Alloy for my first set of pipes. As a beginner, not able to provide much insight into instrument as no point of comparison. But the purchase experience was positive. I felt good info was valued over up-selling, shipping was fast, well packaged, and were set-up to play."