Just recd these bellows from Mark Hillman and I feel like I am flying FIRST CLASS…wow! they are cushy and air tight not to mention beautiful workmanship! Why dont more makers put these cushy leather pads on the inside and out…??? No more rib rash…If you pipers can afford these bellows just get a pair they are worth every penny.
Thank You Mr Hillman
Some do… try here:
http://www.raysloan.com/bellows.html
I don’t make pipes, but I’ve made a few sets of bellows with pads. I just finished this set. ( the waist belt has been added since I took the picture) The pads on this set are about 1" thick.
Jim
so, between jim and phil we have just proved the point. mark hillman is someone who takes great pride in everything being of the highest standard of materials, appearence, craftsman ship, etc. i have just had the privilege of getting in contact with him, and we are considering making him the piper and pipemaker in residence of the DC Pipers club. However, his stuff is very pricey. i could not afford it at this point. for those of you who are new to the circuit and may not know, mark is a full service pipemaker and piper- and many are impressed with his work.
jim’s bellows, which i play at work, are pleasent to look at and absolutely perfect in how they work- and you come in a little over 200 bucks depending exactly on what you choose. my wild guess is that mark spends twice that just on his materials.
for a beginner who wants to mix and match, and who wants to watch the bucks, i suggest the following:
- get a bellows from jim
- get a bag from macharg
- then get the best playing and easiest playing and easiest reeding chanter you have access to. if money is tight, that is where you want to spend it.
for a player of refined tastes such as phil, mark is the man.
meir