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------Est. 1980 Glasgow
city centre's oldest bagpipe shop------
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Newsletter - May 2011
Dear Piping Enthusiast,
So here we are - it's time to put the talking into
action and let the judges decide - cries of "is it that time
already" and "why didn't we practice more" are now too
late. But those who have had a disciplined approach during the close
season will hopefully get their just rewards. Well what's been happening
in our bagpipe shop? - a lot as usual. We have
now reached the stage of having a waiting list for bags. Sales are
booming which is great, with another 19 just finished but we have plenty
of raw materials in stock so no need for any real panic. It's great to be
doing a lot for Scottish Power -as well as Boghall.
They are two of the rising stars of the Scottish scene and potential
candidates for a top finish. It is going to take a lot to push the likes
of SFU, SLOT and the Field Marshall off the top spots but these bands
have now got what it would take. I am privileged with having a global
customer base and that enables me to take a global view of piping. Piping
is alive and well in many of the traditional piping countries outside of Scotland like Australia,
New Zealand, Canada and the USA
but watch out for some new rising stars - it wouldn't surprise me to see
a Grade 1 band from Germany
within the next 5 years and the same could be said of the potential from
within Holland.
It's all very encouraging!
Yours aye,
James C. Begg
www.beggbagpipes.com
News
We have a variety of used pipes in stock in a good
price range of £400-£500 as well
as our new hand made sets
starting at £680. There is a set marked Henderson for £400
and a MacCallum
at £500. We also have a full ivory Lawrie with
engraved German silver
antique slides. Delivery is
swift and you can customise any way you like
-silver, bag size,
cover colour
-you name it and we can do it.
 Had
an interesting 3/4 march composed for me by my pal P/M Willie Cochrane.
He has a bit of a wicked sense of humour and so
I don't know if this march is aimed at me directly or has been inspired
by all the shenanigans of the Royal Wedding. Hope you can read the music
on the Newsletter - if not, drop us an email and I will post a copy to
you.
A-Z of Piping - a Personal View by James C. Begg
J is for Jogged
and Jolted
My memory has been jogged and jolted by looking at a
few past issues of the Piping Times which I selected completely at random
- I looked at January 1985 and September 1992 and what a change in piping
since these days! The first thing that amazed me
was the number of piping retailers who are no more. Adverts and the
general attitude and tone have also changed and the scary thing is that
it all seems to me like yesterday. Grants whisky advertised in support of
the College
of Piping - the Scotway Group promoted the Glasgow City Chambers Lord
Provost competition -I was starting off in my first shop in Robertson St
-pipe bags were £25 -tapes and not cds were the
norm -the famous Seamus MacNeill was on good
form - it all forms great memories. We are in fact one of the few
retailers left from that era - H MacPhersons/Gillanders
and MacLeod/ R.G Hardie/Henderson/Kintails have
all gone. Other vanishing acts are Paterson Publications and the angled
chanter stock (what was that about - just as well that disappeared!) -
Macintosh, piob mhor
and the bold Mr R Wallace had adverts too (Rab, did you ever imagine back then that one day you
might be the editor of the Piping Times?). It is sad to see some aspects
of our history disappear but that's life and other things will take their
place. Glad to say we going strong and always here to be of service.
Online Special
Offer - Big Bore Blowpipe
 Reduced
this month to only £41.67 (plus vat if applicable).
3/8" bore. Sturdy, replaceable built in valve.
Turned from solid delrin for durable
construction. Includes oval mouthpiece. Standard mouthpiece thread
diameter, so your own mouthpiece can fit the blowpipe.
The length of a blowpipe is taken from the mount to
the tip. The length does not include the tenon(the hemped part). Available from 7-13 inches length.
Free delivery worldwide.
YouReport
If you would like to report on any aspect of the Piping World from
wherever you live, we'd be pleased to hear from you. mailto:bill@beggbagpipes.com
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