Drums vs. pipes

The news that Field Marshal isn’t playing Pearl drums any more got me thinking again. It’s a rare day when a band communicates that it’s changing bagpipe stuff. Top bands get free chanters, just like they get free drums, but, for whatever reason, bands don’t like to talk about what chanters or reeds or bags or whatever they play.

Maybe there’s far less risk to a band that announces that it’s dropping one make of drums for another. Perhaps judges who are drummers don’t seem to care that much what you’re playing, but maybe many piper-judges take brands into account before the band plays a note.

Not sure what the answer is, but, being on the receiving end of news from bands, talk of chanters or reed changes are few and far between.

Comments please!