Another Honest Look at Our Bagpipes
I want to start by personally thanking Ray Main for his comprehensive review of our bagpipes. His technical feedback has been incredibly helpful as I work to further improve the Bagpipes we make here at Hakam Din. You can check out his Youtube channel @RayMainBagpiper.
In his video, Ray initially struggled with drone stability, but as he notes later on, the original drone reeds were simply set up incorrectly. Once he corrected the setup, he found that the drones sounded "pretty good and unified."
Ray pointed out a few specific issues with the older set in the video, and I want to share the work we’ve done since then to resolve them.
The Wood and Its Finish
For our beginner and intermediate sets, we craft our Bagpipes from Indian Cocobolo (Dalbergia Sissoo). I chose this wood for the warm tone it provides, its natural ability to handle moisture, and its overall musical resonance and stability. The wood is also relatively low maintenance when compared to African Blackwood.
As you may have noticed on our website, we offer a "Black Shaded" finish. This is the same Indian Cocobolo, but stained to give it a classic black appearance. We have never claimed these sets are African Blackwood (though we do offer genuine African Blackwood on our premium models, which are listed separately).
In the video, Ray noticed the black color coming off on his hands. Since then, we have completely refined our staining process. Every new "Black Shaded" set leaving the workshop now features a deep-penetrating finish that stays on the wood, ensuring the color remains solid and professional no matter how much you play.
The Chanter: From Concert Bb (466Hz) to Band Pitch (480Hz)
Ray mentioned using a polymer chanter from another maker because the chanter included with his bagpipes was tuned to a perfect Concert Bb (466.16Hz). While that pitch is great for playing with other instruments and for solo performances, the modern standard for pipe bands is higher.
I am pleased to tell you that our sets now offer our new Band Pitch Chanter (480Hz). It is crafted from a high-density polymer, ensuring it holds its pitch in any climate and delivers the volume and tone you expect from a modern chanter.
Drone Reeds
While we still include a set of standard practice drone reeds, I always recommend a professional setup for the best experience. Just like Ray did in the video, I suggest pairing our Bagpipes with Pipe Dreams Ezee Drone Reeds. We have tested these extensively with our heritage bores and can confirm they are a perfect match for a stable, harmonic sound.
Managing Moisture
Ray noted a limitation: his drone reeds began to condense after about 2.5 hours of play. To be honest, this is a challenge that almost every bagpipe faces, it's the inevitable result of when warm air meets cooler air inside a small opening.
This can be solved easily with moisture control systems available from reputable shops like Henderson Imports. I am currently working on an integrated moisture control system for our new sets so this isn't an issue "straight out of the box," but until then, I recommend a simple canister or tube system if you plan on playing long sessions.
The Instrument in the Video
The specific set that Ray is playing is one of our most popular beginner models, the B-2, crafted from Indian Cocobolo Wood with Imitation Ivory Mounts and Nickle Ferrules. It is a fantastic foundation for any piper looking for professional-level projection at a fraction of the cost of our top of the line African Blackwood sets.
You can view the full specs and purchase the exact same bagpipe set Ray plays here:
My Goal as a Maker
I, Hakam Din Jr., don’t just want to sell you a set of bagpipes; I want to build a brand you can trust. My mission is to provide beginner and intermediate players with maximum value, bagpipes at a fraction of the cost of Scottish makers, while still being perfect to start your learning on.
Every bit of feedback from the community helps me bridge that gap. If you currently own or have previously owned a Hakam Din bagpipe and have constructive criticism for me, I truly welcome it. You can reach me directly at my email: hdjr@hakamdin.co.uk
