Category Archives: For Sale

1947 button mounted ebony Robertson – $SOLD

For Sale, Great Highland Bagpipe Solo

I had this idea to play tunes that haven’t been published yet. So, that requires a bit of sight reading so I figure it’d be good to work on those tunes just a wee bit before getting them up on the pipes. In lieu of unpublished tunes, I’m currently sight reading tunes I used to play ages ago when I was teenager and had nothing better to do, to at least have some idea of what notes are going to come next. Needless to say, it’s been a while! It is also near impossible to sight read Piobaireachd and arrive at something remotely close to sounding like music.

I’ve got the Robertson spec carbon fiber Rockets going again here. Pipes are for sale. Imitation ivory ringcaps and bushes, nickel ferrules, button mounted, ebony Robertsons from 1947. No blowpipe or chanter, but the rest of the set is complete. Sticks only. David Murry is the owner of the pipes. You can contact him for more info at: (contact info deleted after sale). I’ll note if you need a bag I have a lead on small and large sized Gannaways that I think both have grommets and zipper. In order to tempt you I have played some nice little tunes and then with an appeal to you Piobaireachd players, I did my best! Of course, these Rockets can go with the sale too.

The Wasp (RS Taylor) and The Homewrecker (Bob Worrall)

Charlie MacDonald (D Ogilvie) and Caroline’s Jig (Bruce Gandy)

Random notes that just happen to be in the same order as Patrick Og MacCrimmon’s Lament

Robertsons with Canning and other Rocket reeds

Drone Sounds of the GHB, For Sale, Great Highland Bagpipe Solo

This post is the 2nd in a series about a set of Robertsons on loan to me that are for sale. The previous post featured several recordings with Robertson spec Rocket drone reeds with carbon fiber tongues. The general impression was that the tenors were too quiet and the bass too loud, relatively speaking, and the overall blend was lacking. We rectify that today with two sets of different drone reeds: Canning and the Naill spec (I think) Rockets that up until a few weeks ago were the reeds dedicated to my Hendersons until they were supplanted by Atherton MacDougall spec Rockets. You can tell, I love getting my hands on Rocket reeds (they all come second hand to me).

In both cases, you’ll hear a marked improvement in tenor volume and overall blend. First the Cannings. For each recording in this post I start with a slow tune and face the mic with 4 different orientations that roughly change with the change in parts, taken in the following order: mic behind the drones, mic on my left (tenor side), mic chanter side, mic on my right (bass side); then I take a generic stance with the mic off to my left side (half way between mic chanter side and tenor side) for the faster tunes.

Fair Maid, Iron Man, Balmoral Castle, and Orange and Blue – I don’t play strathspeys often enough.

Wth my Naill spec Rockets:

Gallawa’ Hills, The Curlew, and Alan MacPherson of Mosspark – I was trying to start into Kalabakan (see next set) but I played the Curlew instead, then my brain farted again and I played Alan, whatcha going to do (when they come for you).

The Mermaid, Kalabakan, and Broken/Crooked/Old/Boogery/Slimy Bridge – I can’t ever remember what the name of the last tune is.

David Murry is the owner of the pipes and he’s selling them. You can contact him for more info and price at: (contact info deleted after sale). I’ll note if you need a bag I have a lead on small and large sized Gannaways that I think both have grommets and zipper. There is no blowpipe or chanter but the set of drones and stocks are both complete.