http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150327926989
My Fellow Pipers…
I’m going to say that this “Ram’s Head” set is by a Hungarian Maker, active
in the 1970s-80s. Mickey Zekeley had this kind of Single Chanter Duda in one his early
“Lark-in-the-Morning” catalogues. The large size and style of this “Abstract” Head makes
me think of this possibility. Tobak Ferenc would know something about this Maker, as for
some years there, he was the only KNOWN Bagpipe Maker in Buda, or Pest.
There are some Ethnic Group (or Groups) that play this kind of Pipe as part of their
Tradition. Good Luck with It, for any buyers who WIN this Baaaaaaaaaagpipe !!!
Sean “The Ram” Folsom
I’d add some more clarification to avoid confusion: The head is weird but has some Hungarian bagpipe characteristic, but the chanter is definitely not a Hungarian bagpipe chanter. There is no such a thing as single-bore Hungarian chanter.
Miki
In the collection of the Italian Zampogna Society’s museum there is a modern Czech Dudy that has carving on the head in a very similar style. However, this pipe is certainly not a Czech dudy. I’d say it’s definitely a truebred bastard instrument.
Thanks Miklos for your clarification, but you should really check out who ever it
was that made Pipes in the 1970s for Zekeley’s Lark in the Morning store.
I threw out my old catalogs that listed this maker’s instruments, and as near
as I can recall he was making some kind of Single Chanter Bagpipes in Budapest.
He probably was some kind of amateur Maker, and the Pipes were not “Traditional”
and he was very probably making some kind of copy of a Bulgarian Gaida,
but with a (Please change the word order to one of your preference)…
Czech-Hungarian-Hutsul-Polish-Slovack Ram’s Head Chanter Stock.
I never saw one of these “Things” in person, but I do think they were, quite possibly,
pieces of Sht.
I hope I’m not making anybody angry by pining this “O’Horgan Pipe” on a Hungarian maker,
it’s just the look of that UGLY Ram’s Head Chanter Stock, that reminded me of the Catalog Photos
from Lark in the Morning, and the Advertising Copy that said these Single Chanter Bagpipes were
made by this mystery man in Budapest.
As always…When in doubt about Quality, there’s the “Fall Back” position where
some “Artistic” feature is added on to the Sht-Pipe, and/ or, that it has a Velvet Bag Cover,
so it can make a nice WALL HANGING DECORATION.
Well meaning people get taken in by this stuff, ALL THE TIME, and not just on Ebay either!!!
So I hope nobody bought this THING and if they DID BUY IT I’m very sorry for them !!!
Your correspondent, Sean Folsom
The following info was sent by an observer and posted on ebay regarding this set of pipes:
“This bagpipe made by a Hungarian maker Jozsef Bige. It is a modernized duda. This maker made this kind of pipe from the 60-s. Hi died approx 10 years ago.”
Thank You Inish Fada !!!
So…O.K. Miklos, have you ever heard of (I Love This)… “MISTER BIG(E)” ?
Sold. Thanks for the helpful comments on the board.
Neil
The buyer of this duda emailed me and is happy with it. He got it working and posted a clip on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3dBJQSr3dU
Sounds pretty good to me. What do you think?
Neil
I am very pleasantly surprised ! It isn’t a “traditional” Hungarian Duda, but it is
a working in-tune Bagpipe…what more could anyone (reasonably) want ?
Congratulations, Caleb !!!
Sean Folsom
I had a look at the video, and I’d say that this sound and playing style and architecture/designe has nothing to do with Hungarian bagpipes, nor any pipes in the Carpathian region.
The sound, the drone and chanter design is more a Bulgarian/Rumanian/Macedonian bagpipe.
I’d say this is a “world music” bagpipe with great sound.
Caleb is an excellent piper.
Miki