~ Universe of Bagpipes ~ ![]() |
Plus $8.00 S&H via USPS Priority Mail |
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consider this outstanding instrument. |
The bagpipes of the Canadian firm J. Dunbar Ltd.
have long been considered excellent instruments by the piping community.
The "P" series synthetic pipes (described extensively on this site)
have earned the respect of pipers everywhere, not only for their unequalled
durability and price-to-performance ratio, but as first-class instruments
regardless of cost. Elsewhere in these pages I discuss the acoustic differences between wood and synthetic materials in regard to wind instruments; in short, the sound of most wind instruments, including bagpipe drones, is almost entirely a function of the bore configuration and internal surface finish - not of the material of which they are made. However, in a powerful wind instrument having thin walls, such as a Great Highland Bagpipe (GHB) chanter, certain components of the sound energy are transmitted through the material itself. While relatively small, these components do affect the overall sound of the instrument. African blackwood and other very dense, stiff hardwoods have long been used for GHB chanters because these woods yield a crisper, brighter sound than softer varieties. Synthetic GHB chanters made of normally formulated materials, (including Delrin) are usually not quite as crisp-sounding as is a fine hardwood chanter. However, while redesigning their chanter Dunbar also addressed this issue. Working with the manufacturer of the synthetics, they developed a special formulation of Delrin that is closer acoustically to the hardwoods. The new formulation actually chips, rather than curls, under a knife-blade. The result contributes to the bright sound of this new chanter. J. Dunbar Ltd. enlisted the help of a number of world-class pipers, including Jim McGillivray, Ringo (Ron) Bowen (Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band) and Lindsay Kirkwood (former 78th Frasier, current Peel Regional Police) during the redesign of their already fine chanter. The new chanter, called the "Elite," thus represents an enormous aggregate of experience of both pipers and pipe-makers. The new design is also available in Blackwood - please enquire for price and availability. We've provided a number of these chanters (in both Delrin and Blackwood) since they were first issued, for use on existing pipes. We've also issued a significant number with Dunbar pipes, with which they now come as standard equipment. In that time, we've not heard anything but positive reports about this fine chanter, and we are confident enough of its excellence that we will cheerfully refund the purchase price, and shipping costs, to anyone who buys one and doesn't like it. If you're looking for a new chanter for your old pipe, you can't go wrong with this one. (Note: We also stock the "Elite II" which differs only in being pitched a bit higher, should you have a specific need for such a chanter.) |
Please feel free to contact us by email at bagpipes@hotpipes.com or by telephone at (707) 937-1626 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific Coast time (GMT minus 7- 8 hours), seven days per week. We suggest you do so if you have any questions and especially if you have any doubt about the suitability for you of your intended purchase. We're anxious that you get what you need, and we're not interested in selling you something you don't need! We can accept payment in many different ways from just about anywhere in the world: Credit Cards: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards by three methods:
Other Payment Methods: We cheerfully accept personal checks, money orders, wire transfers, bank drafts, cash and so on. Let us know your preferences (or problems) and we'll work with you. The prices on this site are in U.S. dollars and are current. We never issue surprises in this regard. There is no fine print about fluctuating currency exchange rates or such. You may find some lower posted prices elsewhere, but you will also find dealers who don't update their sites, and/or who add qualifiers to their stated prices, and/or who do not actually stock what they sell, and/or who provide little if any real customer service. Not here. We can offer modest discounts on quantity purchases of some items - feel free to inquire. We stock what we sell. Occasionally there are unpredictable runs on items, and/or short re-supply delays. If an item is going to be out of stock for more than a few days you will find a notice to that effect at the top of this box. Fine bagpipes and bagpipe accessories are made in small lots by meticulous craftspeople, not mass-produced & warehoused, and buying them should not be viewed like zipping down to the 7-Eleven for a six-pack. Feel free to ask us to reserve items for you, even if you're not quite ready to order - it will help us, and avoid a possible delay for you. Domestic (US) Shipping: We usually ship the next business day after an order is received. We normally ship by U.S. Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation, except for small items such as reeds and CDs which are normally shipped First Class. Standard shipping costs are listed with each item's price. We do not attempt to profit on shipping and charge no "handling" fees or such. Our packages are insured by a private company (DSI Insurance) so no signature is required on delivery of most packages. (This also means packages can be left if no one is home - a good thing for most people, but if that might be a problem please let us know.) Priority Mail has been very reliable and fast, taking three days or less to cross the country. If faster shipping is required we can provide Express Mail (two days from here to most US locations) or Federal Express - but be aware that these services are pricey. If you are ordering more than one item, please contact us for shipping costs, which will be less than the total of the respective amounts. We guarantee delivery and in the very rare event of a lost or damaged shipment, we send a replacement first and worry about the insurance etc. later. We ship to APO and other military addresses at no extra charge. International Shipping: If you're not in the US or at a US military address, please email us for shipping options and costs. We ship something overseas just about every day, so we can offer advice based on experience. We send most medium-size packages (practice chanter outfits, electronic pipes, Kitchen Pipes, etc.) by postal Global Priority Mail, which costs only very slightly more than ordinary airmail and is safe and fast. We stand by everything we offer, as do the manufacturers and our suppliers. We sell only properly made, high-quality items in the first place, so problems are altogether rare. In the unlikely event of any difficulties, you will be dealing with us on an immediate and personal level. If necessary, we will deal with the maker or distributor of the item on your behalf - we are a major customer of most of them, and have a bit of clout. We (and the makers of the items we sell) are keenly interested in maintaining our hard-won reputations for quality and excellent service, and we do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy! (707) 937-1626 From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Coast time (GMT minus 7 - 8 hours), seven days per week. To Order by Email: bagpipes@hotpipes.com We try to answer all email within a few hours - rarely, a day at most. If you don't hear from us, something's wrong - try giving us a phone call. To Order by Mail: please send your payment to: Oliver Seeler Universe of Bagpipes P.O. Box 447 Albion, California 95410 Please make your check or money order payable to Oliver Seeler. To Order On Line by Credit Card: ![]() Click on the above logo To Order Using: ![]() Go to your PayPal account and initiate payment to bagpipes@hotpipes.com Always feel free to ask questions and thanks for your interest! |