At 2:00 this afternoon a guy in a black corvette pulled up to the house (new UPS vehicles?) and dropped off my chanter by Michael Hubbert. Stained Boxwood, art ivory, and brass. So this afternoon I heard for the first time in my life a flat set in person. I love the sound. Wow. SO mellow.
FYI Michael is a really great guy to work with. Seems like a perfectionist, which is very good, I think. He came out and said he’s not too keen on the reed that’s in it now (he seems VERY passionate about reeds), and will be sending more along in the near future.
I hope to get something recorded right away so everyone can hear what he makes - just as soon as I get a little more comfortable with the B - C stretch.
BTW, I’m flying out of Chicago for London, so I’ll be up aound Milwaukee and Fond du Lac for a few days prior seeing a few people. I was wondering if WUPC has any activity going on in January. If so, I’d love to stop in and meet some other pipers…maybe hear some different makes of pipes… Or maybe a bunch of us could meet up in a pub somewhere…
Thanks for the congrats. She sure is a beauty. Call me crazy, but I think I’d describe the sound as almost “medieval” (it’s got this roundness to it). Unique, although I’ve never actually heard another flat in person, so I can’t really compare it…
Thanks to whoever introduced Michael to the board last summer.
Hi Joey,
Nice one, The Lairig Ghru is and old drover’s track through the Cairngorms from Aviemore to Breamar, there is another, The Lairig An Laoigh which goes through on the other side of the Cairngorms, more or less. An Fear Liath Mór, the Big Grey Man, is supposed to inhabit Ben MacDui , 2nd highest mountain in Scotland (And UK) after Ben Nevis. The photo is actually Coire An Lochain, there’s a massive slab of rock where the snow has come away, something to avoid in winter. I figured Boyd would recognise the photo. Apologies for hijacking your thread by the way and congratulations on your new chanter, I still have a few months to wait.
NO NO MAC. It’s fine, although I have to confess I had to ask google for help on the Grey Man… The pass I recognized just from the ridiculous amount of reading I’ve been doing about walking in Scotland…
I found this view into both Coire an Lochan and Coire an t’Sneachda, with Loch Morlich in the foreground. This is 10 miles from my house…about 20 by road.
There’s an avalanche every year on that big slab in MacEachain’s pic …luckily, most climbers know to stay out of that area in the Spring.
Boyd,
you live 10 miles from Glenmore? you lucky sod The pic of Coire an Lochain was taken pretty late in the spring, late May if I remember correctly. The slab area is almost as notorious as the Red Burn I think. Did you take the 1st pic on a call out?
The guy on the stretcher had fallen in a white out. Fell about 800 feet.
Amazing that he lived to tell the tale. I think there was such deep snow
that night that his impacts were cushioned.
Honestly those pictures are amazing. I can’t even believe you live so close to that. For a few years I’ve been rolling over moving to Scotland for good once I finish med school. I don’t know how that would work though, to start a practice in a different country…
Honestly I would give my left leg, the only body part I don’t need for piping, to live there.
I walked up to the top of Ben MacDui one early summer. No signs of An Fear Liath Mór, but the swarms of midges gave me quite a fright! Breathtakingly beautiful country. I love it there.
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The Lairig Ghru is and old drover’s track through the Cairngorms from Aviemore to Breamar, there is another, The Lairig An Laoigh which goes through on the other side of the Cairngorms, more or less. An Fear Liath Mór, the Big Grey Man, is supposed to inhabit Ben MacDui , 2nd highest mountain in Scotland (And UK) after Ben Nevis. The photo is actually Coire An Lochain, there’s a massive slab of rock where the snow has come away, something to avoid in winter. I figured Boyd would recognise the photo. Apologies for hijacking your thread by the way and congratulations on your new chanter, I still have a few months to wait. 
