Our Gaitas
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Materials
We go out of our way to select raw materials of the highest quality available.
Woods
The woods we use in creating gaitas
include African blackwood, ironwood,
rosewood, and boxwood
European boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and granadillo (Dalbergia melanoxylon) are the primary woods used, although there are other possible alternatives depending the client’s needs in terms of loudness, price or climatic conditions.
We put the utmost care in selecting the wood for the chanter, especially in the case of instruments made with boxwood. The drying process we use is natural, meaning that we allow the wood to dry thoroughly between the cutting of the tree and the shaping of the instrument. This is especially important with boxwood, given the difficulty of obtaining raw material of optimal quality. We only use wood which has already dried for at least 5 or 6 years. For extreme climates this species is not recommended, given the great risk of warping.
Bags
A synthetic pipe bag that we use
A Canmore bag with a Gore-Tex® membrane is also available
We used to give clients the option of choosing between goat skin bags and quality synthetic bags made of a breathable membrane. Nowadays, unfortunately, we can only offer the synthetic bags. Although these are not our first choice, we have no trouble stocking them and they require no maintenance by the user.
Joints and Valves
An example of the thread wrapping we use on joints
and the special rubber flap valve we use on the blow tube
After a number of tests with various materials, we finally chose to wrap the pins (the male portion of a joint) with thread. This traditional method is still the most practical and least problematic.
For the blowpipe valves, we used a special rubber which is not subject to rotting.
Reeds
Asturian gaita chanter reeds
Asturian gaita drone reeds
Our bagpipes uses two kinds of sound-producing reeds. The drone reeds (“payones”) are made of plastic and sheet metal. The chanter reeds (“payuelas”) are made from a Mediterranean cane known as “Giant reed” (Arundo donax) because we do not yet have any other material which matches the sound qualities of this plant.
Optional Rings
An imitation horn ring on boxwood
and an imitation ivory ring on African blackwood
The bagpipes can be simple, with only the wood pieces, or adorned with rings of imitation horn, imitation ivory, or silver. The silver rings can be plain (smooth) or with engravings (our luxury model).
Bag covers and fringes
A handsewn velvet bag cover with silk fringes
We use authentic velvet for the bag covers and silk for the fringes.
Finishes of our Bagpipes
We offer several different options for the finishes on our instruments: shellac, wax, oil, or natural. In every case, the finish is always applied by hand.
Types and Keys of Bagpipes
A display of the sizes of the chanters we make,
from the key of D (shortest) to A (longest)
Our workshop focuses primarily on the production of Asturian bagpipes. The keys we presently make include: C# (DO#), C (DO), B natural (Si natural), B flat (SI flat), and A (LA), although we are experimenting with the development of instruments in other keys, such as D (RE).
Our chanters follow the characteristics of those constructed by traditional craftsmen of the past. We pay particular attention to the work of Antonio Alvarez, who was known as “Antón of Cogollu.” He standardized the gaita’s tuning to 440 Hertz and improved the normalization of the intervals, in accordance wih the tempered scale. Our bagpipes, therefore, are designed to be played together with any other standard musical instrument (accordions, guitars, flutes, clarinetes, etc.).
Occasionally we also create Scottish bagpipes and Galician gaitas, either as complete sets or as individual parts, such as chanters.
Materials that Preserve the Environment
We work to ensure that our workshop contributes to environmental preservation. We do not use genuine ivory and we reject any woods that are not harvested from sustainable timber operations. In those bagpipes which are adorned with decorative rings, we used plastic resins which imitate either cow horn or genuine ivory, and we are always in search of the most natural appearance possible.