Bagpipes roundup
The Best Bagpipes for the Money
From the most recommended student sets to the instruments that professionals choose, here are the specific models worth your money at every price point.
Bagpipes are expensive and not easily returnable — which makes picking the right set at the right price more consequential than most instrument purchases. Abigail has gathered the models that genuinely earn their keep at each price point, from student practice chanters all the way through to professional-quality instruments worth saving up for.
Best Practice Chanter: Colin Kyo
Before any conversation about a full set of bagpipes, the practice chanter deserves its own recommendation. The Colin Kyo practice chanter (£55–70) is consistently the first choice of pipe teachers across the UK and beyond. It produces a clear, consistent tone, the keywork sits comfortably, and the reeds last well. A close second is the Dunbar practice chanter, which offers similar quality at a slightly lower price. Start here before spending anything more substantial.
Best Student Bagpipes: McCallum Student Set
The McCallum Student Set (around £650–750) is the most frequently recommended beginner instrument among UK pipe teachers. Made in Kilmarnock, Scotland, these bagpipes are properly manufactured, play reliably in tune once set up, and come from a maker with a full range of spare parts and reeds. McCallum fits synthetic drone reeds as standard, which gives beginners one fewer thing to worry about. Longevity is good: these are instruments players keep for years before upgrading.
Best Value Bagpipes Overall: Kintail
Kintail bagpipes sit at a slightly lower price point than McCallum (around £500–600) and offer genuinely good value for players on a tighter budget. Quality control is slightly more variable than McCallum but easily within acceptable limits for student use. The sound is warm and responsive, and Kintail instruments handle well once a good reed is fitted. A solid choice for anyone who wants a reliable first full set without stretching to the upper end of the student price range.
Best Mid-Range Bagpipes: Dunbar
Dunbar bagpipes (£800–1,100) are widely used across UK and North American pipe bands and represent the upper end of the student-to-mid-range market. Made in Canada from African Blackwood, they produce a bright, projecting tone well suited to band settings. Dunbar has built a strong reputation for consistent manufacturing quality and good reed availability. Pipers often stay with Dunbar well into their competition careers, making this a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about pipe bands or competitive solo piping.
Best Premium Bagpipes: David Naill
David Naill & Co. (Kilmarnock) represent the gold standard for Highland bagpipes in the UK. These are instruments that professional soloists and Grade 1 band pipers choose, hand-crafted from the finest African Blackwood with meticulous attention to bore dimensions and tonal quality. Prices begin at around £2,000 for a standard set and increase with customisation. These are not beginner bagpipes — but if you reach the level at which a professional instrument matters, this is where many of the best pipers in the world land.
Best Irish Bagpipes: Timothy Sherlock
For uilleann pipes — the national instrument of Ireland — Timothy Sherlock and Kieran O'Hare are among the most respected current makers in the UK and Ireland. A set of beginner-level uilleann pipes (half-set, without regulators) costs from around £1,200–1,800. The instrument is significantly more complex than Highland bagpipes, and the waiting list for established makers can be long. For beginners, a well-set-up secondhand half-set from a reputable dealer is often the most practical route.
For a full breakdown of what to look for before buying, the buyer's guide covers every consideration in detail. New to the instrument entirely? The beginner's guide is the place to start.
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