Bagpipes are musical instruments made up of wood with reeds that are filled with air in a bag. This musical instrument has been played in all the ancient and modern times. The pipe is filled with air by blowing the air in the blow stick/ blowpipe. The function of the bag is to act as a reservoir of air that holds the air for a long time and maintains the pressure to produce an even sound. The traditional bags are made up of animal skins such as goats, cows, dogs, and sheep. Modern bags are made up of synthetic materials such as Gore-Tex.
The side effect of synthetic material is that they develop fungal spores that can cause lung infection to the user. Therefore, it needs to be cleaned up on a timely basis. On the other hand, the advantage of a synthetic bag is it consists of zipping that helps to fit in easily to the instrument and traps the moisture in the bag.
There is a variety of bagpipes used all around the world in the music industry. These are originated from ancient Egypt and were brought to Scotland by the Roman Legions afterward. Later, bagpipes were banned in Scotland because they were considered as “War instruments”. The government of that time punished people who used to play this instrument. However, nowadays still have people use this unique and historic instrument to create many beautiful bagpipe music pieces.
A person who plays the bagpipe is called a Piper. Bagpipes are commonly used to produce a high, shrill, and wailing tone. A mouthpiece is attached to bagpipe that can be fixed around the round or oval blowpipe. It can be easily installed and removed. Bagpipe mouthpieces are used as protectors by pipers. It helps to protect the teeth without restricting the airflow and pressure in the blow stick. These mouthpieces are available in different sizes and materials, such as plastic and rubber.
What are the Best Bagpipe Mouthpieces to Buy?
2. McCallum Bagpipe Mouthpiece
- Round-shaped
- Plastic with Alloy Tip
8 Best Bagpipe Mouthpiece Reviews
1. Pipers' Choice Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The Pipers' Choice Oval Airstream bagpipe mouthpiece is available in three different sizes, such as 3.5 inches, 4.5 inches, and 5.5 inches. All the sizes are easily accessible. It is available in only brown color. This color is considered as a natural color that can be matched with many different colored bagpipes. It is oval and can be easily fixed with the oval-shaped bagpipes. This oval mouthpiece will not be suitable for round shaped bagpipes.
This mouthpiece is easy to fix with the bagpipe and easy to clean. It is made up of plastic and therefore requires timely maintenance and clean up. The bagpipe mouthpiece does not cause any hindrance to the airflow and pressure in the bagpipe. It is one of the most commonly used bagpipe mouthpieces in the music world.
2. McCallum Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The McCallum bagpipe mouthpiece is available in 8 exciting colors. Imitation ivory color is one of the popular colors amongst the eight colors. It is made up of plastic with an alloy tip. The McCallum bagpipes are made in Scotland. The design and style of the mouthpiece are very delicate, beautiful, and elegant. It is one of the most common mouthpieces used by professional pipers.
The mouthpiece is round in shape; therefore, it is suitable for round shaped bagpipes only. It is easy to fix with the bagpipe. It is made up of plastic; therefore, it requires regular clean up. This model is easily available in markets and online as well. The material used in the manufacturing of the mouthpiece is durable and non-breakable. Practicing musicians can also use this mouthpiece.
3. Mid East Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The Mid-East bagpipe mouthpiece is made up of synthetic material and available in white color only. It is one of the most commonly used mouthpieces for the round bagpipes. The only size available in this model is 6 inches. It is the most exquisite handcrafted mouthpiece that has an outstanding material quality that is not easily breakable. There is no compromise on the sound quality either.
Regular maintenance and clean-up are not required for this mouthpiece. Easy to install and easy to replace the mouthpiece. It is easily available in the market and online as well. Mid-east bagpipe mouthpiece is mostly used by the beginners and intermediate level music players. It can also be used by practicing students. Therefore it is not considered to be suitable for professional musicians because of its basic and limited features.
4. Ayrshire Bagpipes Mouthpiece
The Ayrshire bagpipe mouthpiece is a bent, shaped mouthpiece. They are one of the innovative and modern forms of bagpipe mouthpiece. It is available in black color only. This model is made up of polypenco. Polypenco is a thermoplastic material that is durable, flexible, and unbreakable. The Ayrshire bagpipe mouthpiece can be bent up to 40 to 45 degrees. The reason behind it is that it can reduce the pressure on teeth.
The Ayrshire bagpipe mouthpiece can be easily fitted to any standard sized blow stick. The standard size of the blowpipe should be 9/16”30 TPI thread, 5 ½” lengths, and 8mm bore. The bent, shaped mouthpiece neither compromise on the sound quality of the bagpipe nor air pressure. The bent, shaped mouthpiece is mostly used by professional musicians and is not suitable for beginners.
5. McCallum Oval Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The McCallum Oval bagpipe mouthpiece is available in 3 sizes, such as 3.5 inches, 4.5 inches, and 5.5 inches. It is available in dark brown color only. This mouthpiece is made in Scotland. This is an oval-shaped bagpipe mouthpiece; therefore, it can be easily used with any standard sized oval bagpipes. The McCallum bagpipe mouthpiece is made up of plastic. The material is not easily breakable but requires timely cleanup.
This model is easily available in the market and online as well. The McCallum bagpipe mouthpiece is very basic in features, but there is no compromise on the sound quality and air pressure. It is most suitable for beginner and intermediate users. The professional musicians cannot benefit from it because of the limitations in the features, although it is very easy to install and fix.
6. McCallum Plastic Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The McCallum plastic bagpipe mouthpiece is available in four different sizes, such as 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches. It is available in natural brown color only. The design is delicate and simple. The mouthpiece is round-shaped; therefore it will be fitted with the round-shaped bagpipes only and will not be suitable for the oval-shaped bagpipe. All the different sizes are easily available in the market and online as well. A wide variety of sizes makes it compatible with the majority of the bagpipes.
The McCallum plastic bagpipe mouthpiece is suitable for the users of all levels, such as beginners, intermediate, and professional. The material used is plastic; therefore it is not easily breakable and does not require timely maintenance. This mouthpiece is long-lasting and is preferred by professional musicians as well.
7. LEE Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The Lee Bagpipe mouthpiece is available in three different vibrant colors. Four sizes are available that will be fit for many blowpipes. The size of the blowpipes can be altered easily rather than buying new blowpipes. These mouthpieces are made up of solid material and cannot be broken easily. The solid material does not create any hindrances for the air pressure. This will also protect the teeth as well.
Due to a variety of sizes, this is suitable for users of all categories, such as beginners, intermediate, and professional. There is no requirement for timely cleanup and maintenance of this product. The mouthpiece is round-shaped; therefore it will be compatible with the round bagpipes only. All the four sizes and three colors of Lee bagpipe mouthpiece are easily available in the market and online as well.
8. Tru-Tone Ltd Highlander Bagpipe Mouthpiece
The Tru-Tone Ltd Highlander bagpipe mouthpiece is made from nylon black. It is not fragile and does not require maintenance. This model is available in 5 sizes, such as 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 5.5 inches, and 6 inches. The only available color is natural brown. It is a round-shaped mouthpiece; therefore, it can be easily fitted with the round-shaped bagpipes.
Teflon tape or an additional hemping can be needed at times to tighten up the mouthpiece. The product material and sound quality are fabulous. The Tru-Tone Ltd Highlander bagpipe mouthpiece is recommended for the users of all levels, such as beginners, intermediate, and professional. The design is simple yet elegant. Due to its vast range in sizes, it is preferred by professional musicians. All the sizes are easily available in the market as well as online.
Choosing the Best Bagpipe Mouthpieces
The above mentioned are some fantastic bagpipe mouthpieces that are available for the users of all levels. The users should always identify the level of need and requirements and then make a choice. The basic difference between the mouthpieces is that some are round-shaped, and some are oval-shaped.
2. McCallum Bagpipe Mouthpiece
- Round-shaped
- Plastic with Alloy Tip
Oval shaped mouthpieces will not be suitable for the round bagpipes, and the round-shaped mouthpieces will not be fitted with the oval-shaped bagpipes. Some are made up of fragile material, whereas some are made up of solid material. The users have to decide which mouthpiece will be most compatible with their available bagpipes. You can find bagpipe mouthpieces at your local music store, or you can also look for your favorite bagpipe mouthpiece online on stores like Amazon.