In an effort to make my life easy by not lugging a rifle case around, I got a Kilter Highland pipes case. The problem with it is that you have to totally deconstruct the bass drone, including taking the reed out, to fit the thing in the case. This seemed okay enough until my pipemaker, who I saw this past weekend, pointed out that reeds really didn't like being popped in and out all the time. He was right - I'm finding the bass drone getting a bit unstable on me, probably due to all the abuse. So I am gonna flog the Kilter case on ebay but that leaves me looking for something to put the pipes in which is lighter and more airline friendly than a rifle case, strong enough to be dragged all over the world, and hopefully not requiring much in the way of modification. I still like the idea of a Highland pipes case as they don't require the guts to be removed, like a viola case would. Does anyone have experience with ones that may be longer than the Kilter case (I wish I had dimensions for it but can't seem to find them, or a measuring tape)? Are those Bagpiper cases longer?
Aren't bass drone reeds cheaper than cases? How about getting a couple of spares made?
I have made some successful wooden uilleann pipe cases, so I've explored this problem quite a bit. I've built some nice cases that were just exactly big enough to contain the whole kit, in whatever configuration the piper wants it assembled. Do you know any cabinetmakers you could ask to help with this?
One piper I know has an Alf Kennedy of Cork set, which has a nice feature. When you remove the bass drone bar, there's a short cap inside it that contains the reed. This is airtight and doesn't need to be removed when the pipes are disassembled. You might want to talk to your pipemaker about this idea.
Case woes
Case woes
In an effort to make my life easy by not lugging a rifle case around, I got a Kilter Highland pipes case. The problem with it is that you have to totally deconstruct the bass drone, including taking the reed out, to fit the thing in the case. This seemed okay enough until my pipemaker, who I saw this past weekend, pointed out that reeds really didn't like being popped in and out all the time. He was right - I'm finding the bass drone getting a bit unstable on me, probably due to all the abuse. So I am gonna flog the Kilter case on ebay but that leaves me looking for something to put the pipes in which is lighter and more airline friendly than a rifle case, strong enough to be dragged all over the world, and hopefully not requiring much in the way of modification. I still like the idea of a Highland pipes case as they don't require the guts to be removed, like a viola case would. Does anyone have experience with ones that may be longer than the Kilter case (I wish I had dimensions for it but can't seem to find them, or a measuring tape)? Are those Bagpiper cases longer?
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Case woes
Aren't bass drone reeds cheaper than cases? How about getting a couple of spares made?
I have made some successful wooden uilleann pipe cases, so I've explored this problem quite a bit. I've built some nice cases that were just exactly big enough to contain the whole kit, in whatever configuration the piper wants it assembled. Do you know any cabinetmakers you could ask to help with this?
One piper I know has an Alf Kennedy of Cork set, which has a nice feature. When you remove the bass drone bar, there's a short cap inside it that contains the reed. This is airtight and doesn't need to be removed when the pipes are disassembled. You might want to talk to your pipemaker about this idea.
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by Jumper
Re: Case woes
Bass reg bar, that is.
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by Jumper
Re: Case woes
I'm not a piper, so I might be talking through my arris, but I think a keyboard case might do what you need - they come in a variety of sizes:
http://www.transitcases.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=384_421&osCsid=3f1740047769bd29ffffac71f3cd45f2
Otherwise take a look at this site:
http://www.samcases.co.uk/cases/
They're bound to have something that will fit.
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by skreech
Re: Case woes
Don't worry Silver, let the train take the strain
# Posted on May 27th 2009 by bazouki dave