My day job is Associate Professor of Biology at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am wetland ecologist specializing in a number of subdisciplines of the science. On my down time I like to dabble in traditional or Trad Music. I am mostly self-taught on the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and tenor banjo and play in a little group called The O’Neills. 

Piping is a different matter. After a failed attempt to learn in group lessons while in my 20s I recently had a second kick at the can: an opportunity to take pipe lessons from a student of mine, My first lesson was in November 2013. To my instructor’s credit (and some diligence on my part) I am now, more or less, a piper. In this time I’ve become quite passionate about the pipes and have recently joined a pipe band, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Regimental Pipes and Drums, “K” Division here in Edmonton.

My Pipes

2011 Dunbar P2C (polypenco and engraved nickel)

I started out with used 2011 Dunbar P2C pipes and they have been bullet-proof. These pipes are polypenco and based on 1920s to 1930s Hendersons; I like the booming sound and harmonics so much that they are still in regular rotation with my other pipes. I can’t imagine selling these at the moment as they are so useful and sound great.

2011 McCallum Engraved Full Alloy (African blackwood and alloy): NOW SOLD!

These 2011 celtic-engraved full alloy McCallum African blackwood pipes were my band set for close to three years.  According the folks at McCallum, McCallums were originally based on Stuart McCallum’s 1927 Lawries which were further tweaked in 2008 and 2011 to increase stability and drone presence based on the speces of Willie McCallum’s 1898 Henderson pipes. This set of McCallum’s has a fantastic bass with more of a seamless blend with the ringing tenors in the fashion of a Lawrie. In comparing the tone to my other pipes — which were/are Henderson, Henderson-based, or ~ MacDougall-based, I sometimes think of the tone in terms of Naills of all pipes; very tenor forward. These pipes have now been moved on to another player in the band and I was looking for a different tone; I would, however, highly recommend without reservation, McCallum pipes for their tone, stability, ease of reeding and performance. There are more McCallums in our band of close to 25 pipers than any other brand., likely followed by Naill.

WWI Era Henderson (cocus wood and ivory)

Bagpipe set number three came into the fold in 2015; a set of WWI-era cocus wood and ivory Hendersons which have now been restored by Dunbar Bagpipes. These pipes were a case of mistaken identity — I thought I was buying Lawries! For the interesting (to me) story, read my page entitled, A Case of Misidentified Bagpipes. Now, while I love playing my Hendersons, they are kind of a special occasion set of pipes. I won’t take them just anywhere.

1998 Gibson 110-A (African blackwood & plastic) – Now Sold!

Bagpipe number four also arrived in 2015: 1998 Gibson 110-As. These are there mid-tier African blackwood and plastic mounts/ferrules/caps. I was going to flip them but after playing them for a couple of weeks I took them off them market I liked them so much! For more information on these pipes see my Gibson 110-A page. I sold these in late 2016 to finance bagpipe number five.

2016 Colin Kyo CK Sterling #9 Moose Antler (African blackwood, moose antler, engraved sterling silver)

I managed to snag bagpipe number five used, just like the rest of my pipes: 2016 Colin Kyo CK-9s with moose antler mounts. After hearing so much about Colin Kyo pipes, and the fact that I love moose antler, I found these pipes through Murray Huggins, the sole proprietor of Colin Kyo bagpipes. I’m just in the midst trying drone reeds out in these pipes but they could well be my lifetime set. I suspect that I will bring these into rotation for band events. For more details and photos see my page above, Colin Kyo Bagpipes!

I am of the volition that, if circumstances permit, three sets of pipes is the perfect number. One durable set as your main player, a second even more durable set for foul-weather, travelling, or for rougher occasions (E.g., pubs), and a third set, vintage, for those special occasions when you want to play a piece of history.

Here are some comparison images of my pipes:

 

Here are the Gibson 110-As that I sold in 2016. They are now being played in Alaska. I really enjoyed playing these.

Here are my Colin Kyo CK-9 bagpipes. They are used but pretty much look brand new.

 

My Piping Journey

Many years ago, back in my home town, I took group pipe lessons with 8 to 12 year-olds from the Pipe Major Don McAlpine with Fergus Pipe Band — I was in my mid-20s and it didn’t work out that well as I became frustrated with the pace — I ended up picking of the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and tenor banjo and playing primarily Trad Music with a couple ceilidh bands, a couple of Trad bands, and now, the O’Neills.

In fall 2013 one of my Freshwater Ecology students, Dallas O’Donoghue, brought her Great Highland Bagpipes to class on her band practice days. She once played for Edmonton’s Viscount Park, a competitive Grade 2 band and has amazing fingers. We chatted weekly and she kept encouraging me to give the pipes another try. One day she brought in her thistle-engraved full silver Naills and proceeded to play a few of my favourite tunes outside of my office. She then plugged the chanter stock and hoisted this gleaming set upon my shoulder and told to me to blow. After an awkward punch of the bag these pipes fired up and I was enveloped in the sound of the drones. And I was hooked. We started lessons about a month later after I picked up a Dunbar long practice chanter and the College of Piping Handbook.

Here I am with my first set of pipes, 2011 Dunbar P2Cs in delrin (polypenco, delrin). These are big-sounding pipes based on 1920s to 1930s Henderson’s and are quite bullet-proof: perfect for beginners and as foul weather pipes. People mistakenly believe that if bagpipes are plastic they are cheap and don’t sound very good. This is untrue on both counts. Poly bagpipes have the best warranty in the business, lifetime if they are Dunbars. Re sound IMHO,  99% of people, including pipers, would not know the difference between poly pipes and those made of wood. Please see my articles above on plastic bagpipes and wood vs. plastic bagpipes.

 

Miscellaneous Images

Here are a few images of my piping journey, in no particular order:

Practicing in the MacEwan University Parking Garage

Riverdale Canada Day Parade, 2014

Highlandia Festival, 2014

 

 

Going Back to My Roots: Playing at Templin Gardens in Fergus, Ontario, 2014

Ringing in the New Year, 2015

 

Gift from a Daycare for playing for the Kids

MacKenzie Annual Burns Supper, 2015

 

Highlandia Festival, 2015

Here are a few images of me and the RCMP K Division Pipes and Drums in France and Belgium in April 2017.

 

Other Interests

I love bagpipes and piping, but also, perhaps surprisingly, have a few other interests I parlay into various websites…

 

Thanks for dropping by my web site. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or just want to chat.

Cheers,

David Locky
davidlocky@gmail.com

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