The Ebay Bagpiper: Devil Drone Reeds by Vince Janoski

Wherein Pipehacker purchases and test drives assorted bagpipe junk from ebay—so you don’t have to. If you spend any time sorting through the bagpipe offerings on Ebay you’ve seen them. The strange and wonderful variety of “off-brand” drone reeds from just about every continent on Earth. Serious pipers will simply give these goofy entries a [...]

Junk Bagpipes—Now that’s a Pipehacker! by Vince Janoski

Junk pipe indeed! It appears that the intrepid pipehacker who constructed these pvc and duct tape bagpipes knows Ohio piper Andrew Bova, who gives them a spin in the video below. Full instructions, if you dare, are up on Instructables.com. I imagine, far in the future, after the apocalypse, among the ashes of civilization, that [...]

HP Lovecraft on Bagpipes, Make of It What You Will by Vince Janoski

I have often caught myself in similar mannerisms when trying to explain bagpipes to uneducated. That drone, that endless drone…

Merry Christmas from Pipehacker! by Vince Janoski

Here is a photo of Santa Claus during his champion piper days when he was competing under the alias “Donald Cameron.” I hope all pipers everywhere have been good boys and girls so Santa will bring you everything on your list. Good holiday tidings to all and a joyous and prosperous season to bagpipers everywhere! [...]

Friday Fun: Shaun the Sheep’s Bagpipe Buddy by Vince Janoski

OK, let’s be clear, the problem with this episode is the obvious solution to the burst bag is the skin of one of those fuzzy critters. Nevertheless, Shaun the Sheep is my new favorite show. I have also been known to have the same reaction as the farmer when I pick up my own bagpipes. [...]

Maestro of the Pipe by Vince Janoski

In this awesome video we see Luigi Lai of Sardinia, living master of the launeddas, also called the “triple pipe.” The instrument has been played since the bronze age and uses the same split cane style reed that is still used today on Highland bagpipe drone reeds. The style of music and playing bears some [...]

Pipehacker 2011 Holiday Bagpipe Gift Frenzy: Black T-Shirts “Today Is a Good Day to Pipe” by Vince Janoski

McNab was staring at his weapon thinking of the day to come. All his training had led to this. One final, Thunderdome-like smackdown. He pressed his kilt three times in preparation, each pleat like a razor’s edge. His ghillie brogues shone like waxed obsidian. When he thought of all the hours he put in, all [...]

Pipehacker 2011 Holiday Bagpipe Gift Frenzy: Embossed Bees Wax by Vince Janoski

A furious feeding frenzy in which various unique, gifty bagpiping items are offered for holiday giving in a reality similar to our own.     “Hey there, I need to hemp my drones. Can you spare some wax?” “Bzzz bzzz?” “Some wax. You know…” “Bzzzz bz bz bzzz.” “Well, I don’t know, a decent sized [...]