Complex Sets

The bagpipe has traditionally been an instrument of change and invention.  The Great Highland Bagpipe may seem ancient and immutable now, but if you look through any good bagpipe museum, you’ll see great variation in the style, design, and function of bagpipes from the British Isles throughout the centuries.

In this spirit, we’ve been tweaking, modifying, and adding to the boundaries of the Scottish bellows pipe.  There’s nothing wrong with “standard” sets, but customers have asked for more, so we have been providing.

What is a “Complex Set”?  It’s just a broad term to mean anything that’s not “Standard”. That can mean adding a bunch of keys to a chanter, or a five drone set with the drones laying across  lap, or drones with complex shut off keys.

A good example is a set come with a Contrabass drone and a drone switch.  The contrabass drone is a full octave below the bass drone – a real rumbler!  In addition, with the drones resting on the lap rather than hanging across the chest, uilleann pipe style, the drone switch is moved close enough to activate with the wrist or heel of the hand.  That means the drones can be comfortably activated and silenced as the piper plays.