List of bagpipe makers
This is a list of bagpipe makers. It covers both family-based and commercial outfits from the 17th century to the present era. In the 1950s, the bagpipe traditions of Europe were revived. The market is increasing in size as the popularity of the instrument is increasing, and the list of bagpipe makers is rising.
British Isles pipes
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by
expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Burgess Hay, Scott Burgess Hay |
Burgess Bagpipes |
 Forres, Moray |
|
|
Full Time Maker, est. 2015 |
| Michael MacHarg |
The Wee Piper |
 South Royalton, VT |
2006 |
|
Highland Bagpipes, and Smallpipes |
[1] |
|
D.M. Atherton Bagpipes Llc |
Naperville, IL |
1995 |
|
|
|
| Rob Gandara |
Carbony Celtic Winds |
Corvallis, OR |
2006 |
|
Carbon Fiber Bagpipes, Smallpipes and Gaitas |
[1] |
| Thomas Doucet |
Thomas Pipeworks |
 Niagara Falls, ON |
|
|
Custom Bagpipes, repairs and restoration. Apprenticed with Jack Dunbar. |
|
| James Ramsay Oswald |
Unknown |
 Melbourne |
1941 |
2003 |
One of only two bagpipe makers in Australia. |
[2] |
| Martin MacBeth |
Macbeth and Co Bagpipes |
Brisbane, Australia |
199x |
|
Began in Brisbane 2010? |
[2] |
| Ross, AndrewAndrew Ross |
John and Robert Glen Co. |
Edinburgh |
|
1978 |
|
|
| Fisher, WayneWayne Fisher |
Fisher Bagpipes |
Sarnia, ON |
|
|
Self-taught pipemaker. One of only a handful of bagpipe makers in Canada. |
[3] |
| Glen, Thomas McBeanThomas McBean Glen |
John and Robert Glen Co. |
Edinburgh |
|
|
|
|
| Glen, JohnJohn Glen |
John and Robert Glen Co. |
Edinburgh |
|
|
|
|
| Glen, RobertRobert Glen |
John and Robert Glen Co. |
Edinburgh |
|
|
|
|
| Gibson, JerryJerry Gibson |
Gibson Bagpipes Inc. |
Willoughby, OH |
|
|
Great Highland Bagpipe, Scottish Small Pipes, Ceilidh Pipes, Reeds, and Practice Chanters |
|
| Kron, Charles E.Charles E. Kron |
American Bagpipe Makers Inc. |
Dobbs Ferry, NY |
1987? |
|
|
[4] |
| Kilgour, GeorgeGeorge Kilgour |
Kilgour and Kilgour |
Marypark |
1943 |
1995 |
|
|
| Kilgour, RobertRobert Kilgour |
Kilgour and Kilgour |
Marypark |
|
|
|
|
| Littorin, RolfRolf Littorin |
Rolf of Sweden |
 Sweden |
1990s |
|
Custom made bagpipes: Great Highland Bagpipes, Smallpipes, Practice Chanters. Self-taught pipe maker. |
[5] |
| Sinclair, WilliamWilliam Sinclair |
William Sinclair and Son |
Leith |
1906? |
|
|
|
| Sinclair, William M.William M. Sinclair |
William Sinclair and Son |
Edinburgh |
1926 |
|
|
[6] |
| Sinclair, AlastairAlastair Sinclair |
William Sinclair and Son |
Leith |
|
|
|
|
| Sinclair, EwanEwan Sinclair |
William Sinclair and Son |
Leith |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hardie, Robert G.Robert G. Hardie |
R.G. Hardie and Co. Ltd. |
Glasgow |
|
|
|
|
| Henderson, JoeJoe Henderson |
R.G. Hardie and Co. Ltd. |
Glasgow |
|
|
|
|
| Weatherston, JohnJohn Weatherston |
R.G. Hardie and Co. Ltd. |
Glasgow |
|
|
|
|
|
Hakam Din & Sons |
 Sialkot Pakistan |
1880s |
|
|
|
| Soutar, AndrewAndrew Soutar |
Soutar of St. Andrews |
St. Andrews |
|
|
|
|
| Soutar, DuncanDuncan Soutar |
Soutar of St. Andrews |
St. Andrews |
|
|
|
|
| MacLellan, RoddyRoddy MacLellan |
MacLellan Bagpipes |
Monroe, NC |
|
|
Former Tiffany & Co. silversmith. |
[7] |
| Booth, DavidDavid Booth |
|
Alva, Clackmannanshire |
|
|
|
|
| Crisler, PeterPeter Crisler |
Peter's Pipes Inc. |
Middletown, KY |
|
|
|
|
|
Cushing Bagpipe Co. |
New York state |
|
|
|
|
|
J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd |
St. Catharines, ON |
|
|
|
|
| Thomas McBean Glen |
John and Robert Glen Co. |
Edinburgh |
1827 |
1978 |
|
|
|
Thomas Pipeworks |
Niagara Falls, ON |
|
|
|
|
| Tim Gellaitry |
|
Stirling |
|
|
|
|
|
Gillanders & McLeod Ltd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grainger & Campbell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MacLeod Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Henderson Bagpipes |
Glasgow, Scotland |
|
|
|
|
|
Inveran Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Murray Huggins |
Colin Kyo Bagpipes |
Medford, OR |
|
|
Maker of Highland bagpipes, reeds, smallpipes and chanters. Forms and hand engraves silver and nickel. |
|
|
RG Lawrie |
|
|
|
|
|
| Douglas MacPherson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
McCallum Bagpipes Ltd |
Kilmarnock |
|
|
|
|
|
Ian Murray Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Naill & Co |
 Minehead |
|
|
|
|
|
RK Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd |
Cardenden |
|
|
|
|
|
Wallace Bagpipes |
Glasgow |
|
|
|
|
|
Somers Bagpipes |
Calgary, AB |
|
|
|
|
|
Chris Terry Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Alan Waldron |
Stirling Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anderson Bagpipes |
TN |
|
|
Self Taught Pipemaker and not base on any previous design |
|
| John Walsh |
John Walsh Bagpipes |
Antigonish, NS |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Kenna, TimothyTimothy Kenna |
Unknown |
 Dublin |
1768? |
1794 |
|
|
| Sean Jones |
Jones Instruments |
Staffordshire England |
|
|
Full time maker |
|
| John Rutzen |
John Rutzen Musical Instruments |
Donegal, Ireland |
|
|
Maker of Bagpipes including Uilleann pipe sets with full regulators |
|
| Kenna, ThomasThomas Kenna |
Unknown |
 Dublin |
|
|
|
|
| Sloan, RayRay Sloan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Taylor, WilliamWilliam Taylor |
Unknown |
Philadelphia, PA |
1840-1872 |
1901 |
|
[8] |
| Taylor, CharlesCharles Taylor |
Unknown |
Philadelphia, PA |
1840-1872 |
1902 |
|
[8] |
| Brown, Patrick A.Patrick A. Brown |
|
Boston, MA |
1910 |
1958 |
|
|
| Britton, TimTim Britton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Childress, B. C.B. C. Childress |
BC Childress Bagpipes |
Kennebunk, ME |
|
|
|
|
| Daye, DavidDavid Daye |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dixon, C. J.C. J. Dixon |
|
Canada |
|
|
|
|
| Dunne, MickeyMickey Dunne |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Froment, AlainAlain Froment |
|
|
(deceased) |
|
|
|
| Christopher Bayley |
|
UK |
|
|
Full time maker of bespoke Uilleann & Pastoral Pipes |
|
| Gallagher, SethSeth Gallagher |
Seth Gallagher Workshop |
New York City |
|
|
|
|
| Güntzel, JensJens Güntzel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hamon, SethSeth Hamon |
|
Arlington, TX |
|
|
|
|
| Hillmann, MarkMark Hillmann |
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
| Tim & Stephanie Benson |
|
NY |
|
|
|
|
| Michael Hulme |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Adrian Jefferies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Joe Kennedy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kirk Lynch |
kirklynch.com |
Kansas City, MO |
|
|
|
|
| Kenneth McNicholl |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Patrick O'Hare |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Martin Preshaw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Andreas Rogge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Leo Rowsome |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brendan Ring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Aaron Setunsky |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pat Sky |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Michael Vignoles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nick Whitmer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dave Williams |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Geoff Wooff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jesse Uilleann Pipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Koehler & Quinn |
|
|
|
|
|
| San Uilleann |
|
|
|
|
|
| Patkós, RichárdRichárd Patkós |
|
 Pogány Hungary |
2000 |
|
|
[9] |
| Zienert, MarekMarek Zienert |
|
 Tišice Czech Republic |
2007 |
|
|
[10] |
Scottish smallpipes and borderpipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Burgess Hay, Scott Burgess Hay |
Burgess Bagpipes |
Forres, Moray |
|
|
Full Time Maker, est. 2015 |
| Michael MacHarg |
The Wee Piper |
South Royalton, VT |
|
|
Full time maker |
|
| Sean Jones |
Jones Instruments |
Staffordshire England |
|
|
Full time maker |
|
| John Rutzen |
John Rutzen Musical Instruments |
Donegal, Ireland |
|
|
Maker of Scottish Smallpipes |
|
| Banton, NateNate Banton |
Banton Bellowspipes |
Portland, ME |
|
|
Border Pipes |
|
| Gandara, RobRob Gandara |
Carbony Celtic Winds |
Corvallis, OR |
|
|
Carbon Fiber Smallpipes [1] |
|
| Jones, EJEJ Jones |
Tidycottage Smallpipes |
Asheville, NC |
|
|
|
|
| Felsburg, RobertRobert Felsburg |
Quietpiper Smallpipes |
Irwin, PA |
|
|
Bespoke maker of Scottish Smallpipes as well as Great Highland, Border Pipes, Bellows, and Pipe Bags. |
|
| Chris Pinchbeck, Chris Pinchbeck |
Pinchbeck Pipes |
Hope, ME |
|
|
|
|
| Anistratov, AlexandreAlexandre Anistratov |
|
 Moscow |
|
|
|
|
| Walsh, JohnJohn Walsh |
|
Antigonish, NS |
|
|
|
|
| Fisher, WayneWayne Fisher |
Fisher Bagpipes |
Sarnia, ON |
|
|
Self-taught pipemaker. |
[3] |
| Kinnear, IanIan Kinnear |
|
Edzell |
|
|
|
|
| Bill Hart |
Iona Bagpipes |
New South Wales |
|
|
|
|
| Hamish Moore |
|
Dunkeld |
|
|
|
|
| Nigel Richard |
Garvie Bagpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
| Richard and Anita Evans |
|
 Cumbria |
|
|
|
|
| Fred Morrison Smallpipes |
|
|
|
|
Smallpipes and Borderpipes |
|
| Sonoda, ToruToru Sonoda |
|
 Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Jean-Yves Peran |
|
 Plouarzel |
|
|
Smallpipes/uilleann pipes |
|
|
Lauriebeck |
? |
|
|
|
|
| Ray Sloan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Seth Hammon |
|
Texas |
|
|
|
|
| Robbie Greensitt & Ann Sessoms |
Heriot & Allen |
Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England |
|
Retired |
|
|
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Dunn, JohnJohn Dunn |
|
, Newcastle upon Tyne |
1764 |
1820 |
Developed keywork for the Northumbrian smallpipe around 1800 |
|
| Armstrong, G.G.G.G. Armstrong |
|
|
1877 |
1955 |
|
|
| Armstrong, JackJack Armstrong |
|
Wideopen, North Tyneside |
1904 |
1978 |
|
|
| Reid, RobertRobert Reid |
|
, Newcastle upon Tyne |
1786 |
1837 |
|
|
| Burleigh, DavidDavid Burleigh |
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
| Clough, TomTom Clough |
|
Newsham |
1881 |
1964 |
|
|
| Evans, RichardRichard Evans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liestman, JohnJohn Liestman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nelson, MikeMike Nelson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ross, ColinColin Ross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Say, Barry and JuliaBarry and Julia Say |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shaw, DavidDavid Shaw |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Burke, JohnJohn Burke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ketchin, IanIan Ketchin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lincolnshire bagpipes
Cornish bagpipes
Welsh bagpipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Tose, JohnJohn Tose |
|
 Wales |
|
|
|
|
| Evans, JohnJohn Evans (Glennydd) |
|
Wales |
|
|
|
|
Continental European pipes
Armenian bagpipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Hakobyan, KarenKaren Hakobyan |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Belgian pipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| , CorwynnCorwynn |
|
.svg.png) Belgium |
|
|
Pipasso (muchosa) |
|
| , Rémy Dubois and Olle GerisRémy Dubois and Olle Geris |
|
Belgium |
|
|
Cornemuse du Centre, Musette Bechonnet, doedelzak, muchosa |
|
| , Geert LejeuneGeert Lejeune |
|
Belgium |
|
|
Cornemuse du Centre, Musette bechonnet, Pastoral pipes, muchosa |
|
| , Jan SoeteJan Soete |
|
Belgium |
|
|
Cornemuse du Centre, Musette bechonnet, doedelzak, muchosa |
|
Estonian bagpipes (torupill)
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Taul, AntsAnts Taul |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Taul, AndrusAndrus Taul |
|
|
|
|
|
|
French and German pipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Jones, SeanSean Jones |
Jones Instruments |
United Kingdom |
|
|
Full time maker |
|
| Dubois, RémyRémy Dubois |
|
Belgium |
|
|
|
|
| Lejeune, GeertGeert Lejeune |
|
Belgium |
|
|
|
|
| Blanc, BernardBernard Blanc |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
| Hattink, FransFrans Hattink |
|
 Netherlands |
|
|
|
|
| Lutgerink, MariusMarius Lutgerink |
|
Netherlands |
|
|
|
|
| Rogge, AndreasAndreas Rogge |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Branschke, MatthiasMatthias Branschke |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Tetz, ThorstenThorsten Tetz |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| MacHarg, MichaelMichael MacHarg |
|
VT |
|
|
|
|
| Högfeldt, MagnusMagnus Högfeldt |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Sonoda, ToruToru Sonoda |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Maître, Jean-SylvainJean-Sylvain Maître |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
| Durin, SergeSerge Durin |
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
| Swayne, JonJon Swayne |
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
| Jaquemin, BernardBernard Jaquemin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ross, JuergenJuergen Ross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Güntzel, JensJens Güntzel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rizzo, WalterWalter Rizzo |
|
 Italy |
|
|
|
|
| Danilo Turchetti |
Musica Inspirata |
Italy |
2001 |
|
|
|
Greek Bagpipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Pantazis, YannisYannis Pantazis |
La Ponta |
 |
|
|
Venetian Tower Greek bagpipe exhibition-workshop |
[13] |
Hungarian bagpipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Bese, BotondBotond Bese |
|
|
|
|
|
[14] |
Spanish pipes
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Kieth, AlanAlan Kieth |
|
California |
|
|
Galician gaita |
|
| Gandara, RobRob Gandara |
Carbony Celtic Winds |
Corvallis, OR |
2006 |
|
Carbon Fiber Galician gaita |
[1] |
| Seivane family, Seivane family |
|
 Galicia, Spain |
|
|
Galician gaita |
|
| Chus Solis, Chus Solis |
|
Asturias, Spain |
|
|
Galician gaita |
|
| Sonoda, ToruToru Sonoda |
|
Germany |
|
|
Galician gaita |
|
| Luques family, Luques family |
|
 São Paulo, Brazil |
|
|
Galician gaita, Sanabrian Gaita |
|
| Moreno García, CarlosCarlos Moreno García |
|
Asturias, Spain |
|
|
Asturian bagpipe |
|
| Chus Solis, Chus Solis-Santorini |
|
Asturias, Spain |
|
|
Asturian bagpipe |
|
Swedish bagpipes (säckpipa)
| Name |
Firm |
Location |
Apprenticed |
Retired |
Notes |
Refs |
| | | | |
|
|
| Faust, AlbanAlban Faust |
|
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
| Öhman, Börs AndersBörs Anders Öhman |
|
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
| Eriksson, LeifLeif Eriksson |
|
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
| Hamon, SethSeth Hamon |
|
Texas |
|
|
|
|
| Favre, BorisBoris Favre |
|
BC |
|
|
|
|
| Högfeldt, MagnusMagnus Högfeldt |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Branschke, MatthiasMatthias Branschke |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Tetz, ThorstenThorsten Tetz |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| Sonoda, ToruToru Sonoda |
|
Germany |
|
|
|
|
| , Luques FamilyLuques Family |
|
Brazil |
|
|
|
|
Sources
- Bibliography
- Hardy, Neal (March 1990). "Changing Traditions: Bagpipes in Australia". Australian Folklore (4): 64–73.
- Merryweather, James W. (May 2001). "Two-chanter Bagpipes in England". The Galpin Society Journal. 54: 62–75. doi:10.2307/842446.
- O'Neill, Francis (1973). Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1st Norwood ed.). Darby, PA: Norwood Editions. ISBN 0-88305-494-9.
- Teahan, John (May 1963). "A List of Irish Instrument Makers". The Galpin Society Journal. 16 (16): 28–32. doi:10.2307/841092. JSTOR 841092.
- News articles
- Online resources
References
- 1 2 3 4 http://www.carbony.com
- 1 2 The Advertiser, November 22, 2003
- 1 2 The Observer, November 16, 2009.
- ↑ The New York Times, October 8, 1995; Westchester County Business Journal, September 29, 1997.
- ↑ Hermansson, Mats d (2003). From Icon to Identity: Scottish Piping and Drumming in Scandinavia, University of Gothenburg, diss.
- ↑ The main source for this information is the history page of the William Sinclair and Son website. See also:
- ↑ The Times and Democrat, November 5, 2006.
- 1 2 O'Neill 1973, pp. 160–161.
- ↑ Richard's website
- ↑ http://www.caillagh.com
- ↑ Lincolnshire bagpipes? 'Scottish' instrument a piece of county's history. Sunday Telegraph, 1 January 2010
- 1 2 Merryweather 2001.
- ↑ January/February 2013 issue of Songlines (#89) article:Postcard from Santorini
- ↑ Botond Bese's contact information from the Hungarian Bagpipe Ensamble's website