Posts Tagged ‘Kinnaird Bagpipes’

Kinnaird Bagpipes- Healthy Bagpiping!

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

June 2008

 

Featured Article

 

Healthy Piping!

Playing the bagpipes is a great way to build up your lung capacity and is great for the cardiovascular system, but have you ever wondered what you might be breathing in?

Not only is moisture control important for maintaining a steady & reliable instrument, but it can also prevent the appearance of pathogens. Moisture can build up in many areas of the pipes, becoming a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.

Being an organic substance, animal hide bags tend to be great breeding grounds for bacteria. Moisture from the piper’s mouth and lungs builds up over time inside the bag causing bacteria and fungi to grow. Some bag dressings can address this issue, but not completely eliminate it. In fact, some dressings act as culture mediums for the bacteria.

Pipe bags are not the only issue. Moisture can build up on the reeds and in the drones. As the piper breathes, they may inhale any spores that have collected in the pipes. This can lead to lung infections and diseases, pneumonia, even brain diseases. Some early warning signs to look for are changes in ability to breathe and play, or voice fatigue.

New technology has greatly reduced these issues. Synthetic pipe bags, synthetic reeds and moisture control systems all help to reduce the amount of moisture build up in an effort to keep the pipes clean and pathogen free. Synthetic bags do not absorb moisture like hide bags do and do not require seasoning, which greatly reduces the opportunity for fungi and bacterial growth. Synthetic drone reeds also reduce moisture build up, unlike cane reeds which can absorb moisture. Best of all, moisture control systems are designed specifically to reduce the amount of moisture inside the bag. They come in a variety of designs from a basic water trap to a desiccant filled canister system. Their use will keep your pipes safe to play.

Always make sure you keep your pipes clean and dry them out whenever you get the chance. Happy, and healthy piping!

 

Sincerely,

 

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Kinnaird Bagpipes – The History of Bagpipes

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

The History of Bagpipes

What would give anyone the idea to put some sticks into an animals stomach and blow on them?? A hornpipe-like instrument was the first of its sort, but it is unclear when the bag was attached. Similar instruments were used in the Middle East long before the birth of Christ. They have been an important aspect of Scottish life since Medieval times.

In 400 BC, Ancient Greeks used bagpipes made with man’s best friend. That’s right, a dog skin bag with bones for chanters!!! Emperor Nero was said to have played the pipes as Rome burned. Starting in the second millennium, bagpipes start frequenting many artists canvas’ and we began to see more written information as well.

It is also said that the pipes were present at the famed Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland in 1314. For over 1000 years, the pipes have been associated with the Celtic race.

Although the Great Highland Bagpipes are the most common in the world, there are actually over 30 varieties in many different countries. Since their history was first studied in the 18th century, the bagpipes’ distinct sound and appearance has become recognizable throughout the world.

 

Bagpipes, did you know?

·        The trumpet was the instrument of the Roman cavalry, and the bagpipe was used by the Roman infantry

·        The original pipes in Scotland only had one drone attached. It wasn’t until the1500’s that a second was added, and the 1700’s until the third drone was added.

·        Queen Victoria was the first monarch to have her own personal piper. She requested her own after her trip to Scotland in 1842.

·        The Brazilians call the bagpipe gaita de foles, which is Portuguese for “screams of the tortured monkey”.

·        Bagpipes were originally made out of bog oak. Bog oak would have been buried deep in peat bogs, and the wood is hardened and preserved for up to thousands of years due to the bog conditions.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Getting the Most out of Your Pipe Bag – Kinnaird Bagipes

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

November 2007

 

Have you tried the Piper’s Pal humidity control system? It can extend the life of your reeds and ease the break in period. Have reeds ready when you need them. Available in 3 styles: Piper’s Pal Reed Protector, Piper’s Pal (holds 4 reeds), and Piper’s Pal Bands (holds 40+ reeds).

 

Featured Article

 

Getting the Most Out of Your Pipe Bag

The pipe bag is one of the most likely areas to leak air. Any air lost through the bag is air that you have to replace, making it harder to play.

Regardless of the bag material, it must be airtight. To check this, plug the chanter and drone stocks with rubber stoppers. Blow up the bag until it is as full as it can get, then squeeze it for 30 seconds. If after 30 seconds, it takes more than 1 breath to fill the bag, it is losing too much air.

Common sources for leaks are the seams, around the stocks, or the stocks themselves. If you can’t hear or feel the leak, use a soapy water solution to check. If the leaks are through the seam on a hide bag, a good seasoning may correct it. If the leaks are through the seam on a synthetic bag, it likely needs replacing. Re- tie in the stock for leaks around the stocks on a hide bag. On a synthetic bag, if the leak is between the rubber grommet and the bag, it will have to be replaced. If the leak is between the stock and grommet, you can wrap some plumber’s tape around the stock at the top of the grommet, or remove the stock and build up the diameter at the tie in groove with the tape. If the leak is through the stock, there is a crack in the wood. These cracks are most common underneath the stock ferrules, but can also occur lower down. If this is the case, you will need to have the stock repaired by a bagpipe maker/repairer.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Kinnaird Bagpipes The Bagpipe Tree-

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

February 2008

 

Looking for a specific bagpipe tune? The Encyclopedia of Tunes is a complete listing of 22,300 tunes from 328 pipe music books. It can save you time and energy when you’re trying to find the right tune!

 

Featured Article

The Bagpipe Tree

The Mpingo tree, also called the African Blackwood, is a member of the Rosewood family that grows in the Miombo woodlands of Africa. It has a high density, great durability, and natural oils that seal the surface of the wood, making it great for musical instruments like the bagpipes.

These trees often grow naturally knotted and twisted. To use them for musical instruments, they must be straight and without defects. Less than 2% of all the wood harvested can be used for this purpose! It takes about 70 years for the Mpingo tree to reach maturity followed by 3 years of processing before it can be used to make an instrument.

The middle of the wood is black and so hard that it can blunt an axe and must be drilled before screwing or nailing it. The wood is very resistant and the roots support bacteria that increase soil fertility.

As Tanzania’s national tree, it is the most valuable tree harvested and also the most expensive, requiring special equipment to harvest. These trees are currently at risk of being wiped out. There has been a shortage over the last 20 years due to weather, political instability and economics. In many places, the trees are illegally cut down or burned to clear the area for farming and livestock. Burning kills the younger trees and leaves the older trees deformed and diseased.

There are efforts in place to save the “bagpipe tree” and create a sustainable supply for the future. Reaching these goals will not only increase the amount of trees legally harvested, but will also reduce poverty in the area, help to rebuild the forests, conserve water, reduce soil erosion and, keep the music playing!

All of the Blackwood we use comes from a supplier that purchases wood from a government approved seller whose trees are legally harvested and documented. The wood is only supplied to musical instrument companies.

The government of Tanzania is trying to cut back on the amount of tree smuggling by scanning and conducting physical searches of cargo shipments. There are increasing efforts to monitor the legal trade of African Blackwood and police the illegal trade. All of these factors add to the cost of the wood. Most reputable Bagpipe manufacturers use wood from legally harvested trees. Ask us about fair trade bagpipes!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Kinnaird Bagpipes – Tuning your Bagpipes with a KORG tuner

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

September 2008

 

Featured Article

 

Tuning Your Bagpipes with the Korg Chromatic Tuner

Tuning your pipes can be difficult- the drones must be precisely tuned to each other and also to the chanter. Each note of the chanter must be pitched so that it properly harmonizes with the constant background sound of the drones. This tuning can be done with a well trained ear, but if you’re lacking one of those, a chromatic tuner can be used.

Tuning the Chanter
Sound the low A on your chanter and note where it is tuning on the meter. Adjust the calibration buttons until your low A reads “0″ on the meter. The green tuning light will come on when your meter is in tune with low A. Use the meter notes and offsets from “0″ in the following table to tune the other notes of the chanter. Ensure that the meter is reading the correct “note” which will show up in the top right corner of the tuner. Notes “C” and “F” show up as “C#” and “F#” on the tuner. The first column is the Note. Second column is the ratio to Low A. Third column is the Meter Note. Fourth column is the Meter Offset.

Low G_________7/8 ___G____-31
Low A__________ 1____A____ 0
B_____________ 9/8___B____+4
C_____________5/4___C___ -14
D_____________4/3___D____ -2
E_____________3/2___E ____+2
F_____________5/3___F#___-16
High G_________7/4___G___-31
High A_________2/1___A_____0
Tenor Drone____1/2____A____0
Bass Drone_____1/4___A_____0

If the top hand is sharp compared to the bottom hand, lift the reed slightly out of the chanter to bring the pitch of the top hand down. Add some hemp to the reed if necessary. If the top hand is flat to the bottom hand sink the reed further into the chanter. This will bring up the pitch of the top hand relative to the bottom hand. To flatten individual notes, add a piece of tape to cover the top of the first open hole on the chanter. Sharpening individual notes requires modification to the chanter reed or chanter and should only be done by experienced players.

Tuning the Drones
The drones are tuned to the low A on the pipe chanter. Sound low A on your chanter and adjust the calibration button until the meter reads “0″. Adjust the tuning on each of your drones until they are reading “0″ on the meter also.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

 

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Kinnaird Bagpipes – Carbon Fibre Drone Reeds for Bagpipes

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

December 2006 – Merry Christmas from Kinnaird Bagpipes!

 

Featured Article

 

Kinnaird Carbon Fibre Drone Reeds:

Who is using them?

 

            4 of the top 5 bands at the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships use some combination of Kinnaird Drone Reeds. Youth bands, Legion bands, and many others get a competitive advantage with our reeds!

 

Why are they a superior choice?

Unique curved carbon fibre tongue results in a vibrant rich cane sound. Reeds are simple to set-up: O-ring bridle is used to set the strength of the reed and adjust the tuning position. Adjustment screw allows for fine tuning. Reeds are incredibly steady & require very little maintenance. Available with “Regular” or “Lower Pitch” bass reed. The regular bass suits most older sets of pipes, while the lower pitch bass works very well in newer pipes. If you play an easy reed or struggle with your pipes, consider the “Easy” versions which come set up out of the box easier than our regular reeds. Customization available, please inquire.

 The Kinnaird Carbon Fibre drone reeds are the best made reeds on the market today, and also one of the most expensive. Although the initial cost is higher than some other reeds, the quality and features more than make up for the price in the long term.

First, the sound of the reeds is second to none; they are the most cane-like sound available today. Many top level players are switching to these reeds as the sound is superior and more stable than other reeds. The reeds, once set up, will last considerably longer than plastic tongue reeds since the tongues will not fatigue. We “curve” the tongue instead of bending, which reduces the stress at the tongue just behind the bridle (where the fatigue cracks initiate). We also provide a very high level of customer service. We serialize each and every set of reeds and record all of the manufacturing information. If down the road, a customer needs parts, set-up assistance, or troubleshooting, we can track down the original set-up of the reeds for reference. Finally, the carbon fibre tongues are durable and have proven to stand the kid test where plastic tongue reeds bend. The stiffness of the carbon fibre also helps minimize pitch fluctuation with unsteady blowing.

Compared to other carbon fibre drone reeds, the Kinnaird Carbon Fibre Drone

Reeds are the only ones with a curved tongue. This generates a sound closer to cane than any other reed. The tongues are molded into the proper curve and not heat bent in a jig. This provides improved manufacturing consistency and superior matching of the tenor reeds.

We offer 4 styles of Drone Reeds:

• Regular (suitable for most older pipes)

• Lower Pitch Bass (suitable for most newer pipes such as Naill)

• Regular Easy (We have found this is suitable for very young or old players or those with health problems such as asthma.)

• Lower Pitch Bass Easy

Anyone can order a custom set. We simply need to know if they are seeking regular or easy strength and what pipes they are playing. Finally, we offer exceptional customer service. We ship most orders in 48 hours. At times, custom orders take a bit more time.

 

·        Innovation

·        Quality

·        Service

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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Kinnaird Bagpipes – Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

July 2008

Featured Article

 

Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

We get calls and emails regularly from people who need help with the Kinnaird Drone Reeds. This article addresses some of the most commonly asked questions.

1. Double Toning- The reed is not getting enough air pressure. The most likely reason is that the reed is set up too strong. Move the bridle towards the vibrating end of the reed to make it easier. Another issue may be air restriction to the stock. There may be a build up of seasoning in the bottom of the stock or a drone valve or enhancer may be too restrictive. Remove the valve or enhancer to see if it solves the problem. Check their instructions to adjust them so that they take less pressure to open. Canister systems can also cause restrictions. Check that all hoses are not kinked or leaking and that the canister is not too close to the bag restricting airflow.

2. Squealing- The reed tongue could be too short. Lengthening the tongue should fix it. If not, there may be some debris underneath the tongue. Clean under the tongue by inserting a dollar bill or business card under the tongue and dragging it out the side, while applying gentle pressure to the top of the tongue. You can also remove the tongue and clean the tongue and bed of the reed with warm soapy water.

3. Drones Shutting Off- Often the reeds are set up too easy or there is excess moisture. If the reeds are too easy, move the bridle away from the vibrating end of the tongue to make them stronger. If the reed is fine when you start, but shuts down after playing for a while, it is likely a moisture issue. Insert a dollar bill or business card underneath the tongue to absorb some of the moisture. You can also remove the nose cone and put a pipe cleaner up the bore of the reed & in the end of the nose cone. Dry out the bores with a cotton brush. Moisture control systems are great solutions and come in a variety of styles.

4. Make sure that your reeds are installed correctly. Many issues are due to improper set up. Full set up instructions for Kinnaird drone reeds and their replacement parts can be found on the FAQs portion of our website.

These are just a few of the most commonly asked questions. For more information, refer to the FAQs portion of the website. If you still can not find an answer to your problem, don’t hesitate to call or email us!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

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