Hi all,
I’ve noticed a few flute makers using an Australian wood for flutes called Gidgee. I also have heard of this being used for pipes. It certainly looks beautiful, but how well does it work as far as stability, tonal qualities, durability etc.? Thanks in advance.
Davey will have the answer for this one, he has a half set made from purple gidgee on his website for sale. Certainly looks great as a wood for pipes.6
You mean these pipes?
The term “gidgee” always conjures up images in my little mind of the Ajax lady from “Up In Smoke”. 
djm
Them there are some sexy pipes. Ahem, the ones in the photo that is.
Davey used to have another shot of them on his website which showed the streaks of purple running through the grain of the wood…pretty cool stuff this gidgee.
I’ve been told that whilst some of our native timbers are aesthetically pleasing and probably tonally acceptable, they, including gidgee if I’m not mistaken, can really blunt a reamer much quicker than ebony and blackwood.
Cheers,
DavidG
That makes sense. Angelique is a tropical hardwood prized for keel timbers in wooden boatbuilding. It’s so hard and dense that even large saw blades and auger type drills get bound and need constant resharpening. I’d imagine that answers the stability question.
Hello–
I happen to play a chanter made out of this stuff; Kirk Lynch made it for me a couple of years ago. In my opinion, it is a beautiful wood for tone and for general feel, and, so far (fingers crossed!) it has proven to be quite stable in terms of maintaining its structural integrity in its bore and so forth. Kirk has always been open to trying out new and unconventional timbers, and we’ve been extremely pleased overall with gidgee. I’m unsure whether Kirk has made other chanters of this wood, but, for what it’s worth, I like mine!
Kieran O’Hare
…ah yes, here it is:
…to the best of my knowledge, this set may still available for sale…at least, that is what I gather from his website.
Too bad I can’t afford the asking price! Also, I’m just starting, so a wide bore half set is probably not for me. They are beautiful though.
Curious, meemtp, why not a wide bore?
That’s a rather personal question, Joseph. 
djm
…that’s me, Mr. personal.
well, probably best at this stage for me not to completely piss off my neighbors! I’ll most likely be using a practice set with a narrow bore chanter. Still needs to be reeded though, loaner.
Awwww c’mon, that’s what neighbors are for.
If I had the money, even though I can’t use it to its potential, it certainly would be a nice set to have. I could just ogle it when playing wasn’t working out. 
Someday, you will have the resources to purchase a set. And when you do, you will be pleased that you took the plunge…even if all you are able to do is oggle it. But I think, because you dedicated so much time learning to play the fiddle (no easy feat, I know), you will most likely use the same fortitude in learning the pipes. I too wish I had been able to start playing the UPs at an earlier age, but for pretty much the same reasons you have stated, was unable to. I took the GHB route instead, but it has never sated the obssession. I have been playing the fiddle since childhood…and I had to look to it for comfort while I waited (for what seemed like an eternity) to be able to obtain a set of pipes. Now that I have them, there is nothing stopping me from going where I want to with them…nothing. Yes, they are expensive. However, I would rather spend everything I have (or do not have) on them, than spend a lifetime of regret and longing for the instrument that speaks so loudly and deeply within my soul.
Wow, very well put Joseph.
I just found out today that ‘gidgee’ is also known as ‘Stinking Wattle’ because it emits a powerful odour at approaching rain. So if you have a set and it starts to smell bad, better come inside
On the other point about not wanting a wide bore D set because it is too loud, try having someone play a tenor saxophone along side what some would consider a louder-than-usual set of wide bore Ds and suddenly they become a very quiet instrument after all as I found out when we started using a sax in the band - holy dooley!!! I thought I was loud So your neighbours will probably not hear as much as you think they will. Anyway, I bet they have no concerns about mowing their lawns on Sunday morning with their motor mowers.
Cheers,
DavidG