Aaron Setunsky

Uilleann Bagpipes and Bellows

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The bellows of Uilleann bagpipes allow pressure to be maintained in the bag, without the need for the musician to blow into a mouthpiece. In this manner, the player can sing or talk while playing. With dry air from the bellows powering the reeds, the adverse effects of moisture on tuning and longevity of the instrument are reduced. Bellows are constructed with two wooden paddles, a leather gusset sewn or tacked in between, a valve to allow air in, and two belts to hold the bellows in place while playing.

While most makers build tacked or pinned bellows for ease and simplicity of design, I much prefer sewn construction, using two layers of leather, linen thread, and beeswax in the traditional, albeit more time-consuming, manner to produce durable and reliably airtight bellows. I also include padding, made from neoprene covered with deerskin, for the hip and arm contact areas. Each set of bellows is tested before shipping to ensure they are airtight.

Aaron Setunsky
Tacoma, WA    USA

erniethepiper@hotmail.com