My daughter loved the pro pipe work, but termed the tourist pipes as "sound of a lawnmower running over a bunch of children."

1. just when you thought Mike couldn't get any more Scottish 2 . I love the bagpipes 3. As a violinist who is aware that violins can cost thousands -or even tens of thousands- I was shocked that top grade bagpipes are only $2000?

When I was at college, every lunchtime a senior student would practice his irish pipes in an unused 7 storey stairwell. You could hear it throughout the entire building. They sounded GREAT !!

I have to be honest that I wasn't expecting to see Mike play a bagpipe when I sat down at the computer.

I love how emphasized it is. Not just the most expensive, but the best bagpipes. A lot of people buy the most expensive but it doesn't necessarily mean its the best built

Gods above, those cheap pipes sounded like what non-Scots say bagpipes sound like, strangling a bag of cats! The handmade ones however...beautiful. The sound from them is so pure, and the intricate note changes shine thru so clearly. Before I was able to track anything about my family history thanks to both myself and my mother being adopted, the first clue I had was an almost bone deep love of the sound of bagpipes even as a child before I knew what instrument they were. Albannach is my "go to" band for introducing people to what properly played bagpipes sound like, pure primal drums and pipes to fire up the soul.

As a Scotsman and musician, I love this…but even I can say this video is probably the MOST niche comparison review ever

It's honestly surprising that you can even buy such an instrument for just £65

Aye, but how do they compare to the most precious wind-bag of all - James May? His droning is quite formidable.

I'm of the opinion that not enough songs have bagpipe solos. One of the coolest things I've ever witnessed was at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo when it was in Sydney; bagpipes and electric guitar dueling the opening of It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll). The piper was on top of the castle and everything.

Didn't know Mike was a musician! That's awesome!!!

Alright, now let's see what secret talents the rest of the team have been keeping under wraps!

This was fascinating. The Kilberry sound so different- much more musical. Did you ever find the leak in the bag? Great video. Play on!

Just came home from an evening playing some dance tunes on my swedish bagpipes (with people dancing) and here's an unexpected video out from one if my favourite channels about scottish pipes. Perfect timing! Cheers from Sweden!

Even with tou skills, the cheap pipes just took me back to the friends episode 😂

I have traditionally hated the sounds of bagpipes, but you have given me an appreciation of their quality. Thanks so much!

Oh, your guy playing his brand of pipes sound amazing and clean. Beautiful.

I think the tourist shop one is at best a display item you keep high up on a wall. Like a fancy sword that you would buy at a similar price.

Legitimately you can actually play that's insane i had expected this to be torture to my ears.....well maybe the cheap one but mate top marks you legend. I wanna see more random Scottish videos on here

What a brilliant video. I absolutely loved it!it brought a big smile to my face.

I think those ￡65 bagpipes are a souvenir which should really be used for decoration only.

Those cheap pipes may be Welsh and that's why there's a leek in the bag.

I honestly didn'r know that I needed to watch this. Thanks!!

LOVE the bagpipes. The Swedish national intrument is the Nyckelharpa (Key-harp). Would be cool to hear a duo of these two national icons.

As a Student, I did. not have the cash to buy a proper pipe and started learning the pipes on these. I literally thought, I was just not smart enough. Seeing these guys experience exactly the same issues, I do feel a slight relief. But given my family’s sensitive ears and the level of aggression my kids can unfold towards unpleasant tunes, counting in my absolute lack of musicality, I will not try again. Ever. 😂

I must admit that I’ve never been a fan of the bagpipes, but this ‘all you need to know but were afraid to ask’ film was really interesting. I’m amazed that a top spec set can be had for just £2k though.

As someone who played in a pipe band in the past, this is a very cool video to see

Nice to see you back on your home turf Mike 👍

Bagpipes: for those occasions when an accordion or kazoo are not obnoxious enough!

❤ Thanks to your granddad. That‘s been hilarious. 🎉 Made my day.

When you started playing the cheapo version I lost it 🤣🤣🤣 It sounds like you were strangling a bunch of cats!

Thanks Mike . I laughed so hard through this vid and I needed a laugh .

Great stuff, loving it 👍👌

This video should have come with a helpline number for those traumatised by the contents 🤣

Ok Mike, it’s time for a “Pipe Tribe” channel!!!

LOVED THIS!

Ruari is such a nice guy! Kilberry's is more than worth it :)

That was mighty interesting !

Ugh, hearing the din from the cheaper pipes tells me they're probably decorative rather than an instrument.

Quote from another review: "It looks good above the fireplace, or even better in the fireplace"

I love it!!

In German we call them things "Dudelsack". It literally means what you read it as.

Sweet music to my ears, greetings from Wyoming, USA.

I love the sound of the pipes but those cheap ones sounded like a bag of feral cats being murderd

From a channel that usually bring you car based content. "Want to see how cheap vs expensive bagpipes compare?" Me: say less

The definition of a gentleman, someone who can play the bagpipes but dosn't.

Outstanding!

Okay… I play a set of duncan Macrae Sl4s’ and I gotta say, you have to appreciate the sound of quality bagpipes. Seriously, If you’re gonna buy a bagpipe buy something at $1200 minimum, because everything below that is a little bit so-so or literally like listening to someone using a lawnmower as an instrument.

That was great!

👏👏👏 ❤️ PRODUCTION TEAM 🙏 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY EVERYONE ✌️

I've been considering learning the bag pipes

Love it! That was super interesting, and that tune he was playing to close the video was amazing!

I.had the sudden urge to look up cheap vs expensive bagpipes, i like what i found

Wow that guy can really play. Amazing.

Referred to in uilleann pipe circles as PSO (pipe shaped objects). Although a full uilleann set from a reputable maker start around double the GHB pro set 😳

As a woodworker, I know that a TON of that expense is the "African Blackwood"...it's half again as costly as Ebony which can be $100 /sq.ft. and it's like working with aluminum for hardness and wear on tools. HONESTLY, considering a bassoon can easily run $30,000 U.S., a few thousand pounds is next to nothing for what that luthier is creating and the history he is preserving.

Do this with cheese!

Every time I hear bag pipes I think of my mom. They were her favourite 🎶

great episode

Awesome video 👍

The £65 bagpipes are more of a decorative piece than an actual instrument.

2k for the best bagpipes sounds like a bargain coming from the world of violins and cellos.

Well, if I needed something to spawn Nessie and Cthulhu together... can't go wrong with a 65 pound set of pipes lol 😂

How mike expensed a trip home 😂

Clan Gray appproves!

I was given a Pakistani made Irish flute and it was so hard to play for a beginner! I swaped it for a basic maker-made flute and it was massive difference, I wasn't as bád as I thought, it was the flute. Definitely worth investing into the instrument you'll enjoy playing.

The underlying drone (I don't know what it's called) is way too loud on the cheap one. It sounds like a car horn. Love the way the expensive one sounds.

Haha tassels, what piper calls cords tassels 🤣

I have to learn to play my dads pipes.... He played for the Canadian forces in the 60s and his uncle bought him what were at the time very expensive pipes.

its a shame who ever engineered the cheap pipes didnt know what they were doing.

"you know the song! sing along!"

As a guitarist 2 grand for handmade top end kit makes me envious. High end guitars tend to start way higher than that 😅 PRS Custom 24's start at around 3 and half...... and then add in amps etc.....

Next Mike should try Highland drumming!

I play a bunch of instruments so I was looking into buying a 65$ bagpipe cause I only want to play a few songs and I may not play it alot, but that sound is brutal hahaha thanks :)

Hats off to you bro

Please do a deep dive video of how these are made! Non of that fast forward montage nonsense. Something similar to The Reassembler, I think you may know that bloke and his crew.

People say bagpipes sound terrible but when you hear bagpipes in an old war movie it sounds epic

Cheap ones sound like cats, calves and a swarm of bees having a go at each other.

I can’t play a note, but even to my ear it was blatantly obvious which were the pukka pipes. Such a great sound when played well though, real hair raising stuff

I was shocked to see that the chanter (finger hole part) can be removed and becomes a snake charmer flute.

Thank you for this demonstration. I play the fiddle (guess my name gives that away) & equally a cheap violin is painful to play (especially a beginner) & painful on the ears, however many low priced instruments can be set up to actually be quite playable & sound OK. Since I had been interested in playing Scottish fiddle & Scottish Country Dancing etc., I thought I'd buy a set of bagpipes made out of rosewood & yes, they leaked like a sieve. I haven't hung them up on a wall yet. 😉 I have great respect for pipers.

What is the music he was playing in the expensive bagpipe?

The cheap one just sounds like a dying sheep. Hilarious

i have a feeling the £65 ones are the ones you give your kid to see if it’s really something they want to dedicate their time and money into learning. Granted even for £65 the pieces shouldn’t be put in backwards. That’s just sad.

The sound of my area from June to August z👌

I cant take Ross and Phoebe out of my head now

Very cool 😎 👌

Let’s be honest. The cheap one they sell at a tourist shop is probably targeted at people who don’t know how to play a bagpipe. So all they need to do is look like a bagpipe and make a vaguely bagpipe-ish noise. I’m pretty sure there are mass produced modern bagpipe that actually works at a reasonable price tag.

Did want a bit of Scotland the brave though

thumbs up for the pipes but not the £65 ones 👍

Next up in the Scottish Cheap vs Expensive Challenges: -Haggis -Whisky -Cullen Skink And we find the answer the age old question: what flavour actually even IS Irn Bru??

You could use them as a fire alarm. People would leave faster than a pulling a fire alarm...

Actually.... I have a set of sheesham wood pipes that actually sound very nice. I have them set up with an old Warnock plastic chanter, and I have the drones set up with balance tone high resonance drone reeds. I will state that the Bass drone WILL NOT tune well with standard drone settings, but the tenors tune perfectly. The bag is made of a material called rexine and it does not breath very well at all and the pipes are "watered" out after about 2 hours of playing. I have also been able to set up "wall hanger" small pipes soprano and bass ones. I've had fun playing my pipes over the years .... and I have also faced a ton of criticism for setting up "alternate versions" of bag pipes. The important thing is.... if you can make them work and you have a willing audience, go out and have fun. And um... well .... I probably have more sets of pipes than a piper should be allowed. LOL.

Wow wow wow... That was incredible. He sounded incredible on his own pipes. Wow

Great video, all you need is May on his piano and Hammond with his bass

MORE PIPES!!!

Go Ruari!!!!!!

I think the cheap bagpipes are for testing one’s resolve and passion for really learning how to play them… When are you going to do a video on other types of pipes, such as the Irish or Northumbrian pipes? A video on pipe band drumming wouldn’t be bad either.

listening to pipes in a video is great, but in an enclosed room or small hall (i heard a set played in the Church of St Cuthbert, Edinburgh) they are unbelievably LOUD.

I love Scotland!!!!! :D