Sheepskin bag advice

Need some advice on picking a sheepskin bag.

Back in the dark ages I only ever used a hide bag Made by a man in Comber Co. Down called Sammy Boyce, A gentleman of the highest order, whose value to Pipe bands in NI over the years is without doubt.

When I came back to the game it was with a plastic set up.

Lasy year on moving to Ballycoan, I moved to a sheepskin, which was my first.

It went on in mid March, and was scrap after the worlds, still airtight, but not absorbing moisture, reeds werre wetting very quickly. 5 months out of a bag at 130 quid is pretty shabby IMO, if it was an item from Currys I would being wanting a refund

Have looked at the Bennett Goat skin, but have doubts, although its advertised as being more absorbant.

We have a batch of Bags in transit, So how do you pick the best of them, what do you look for in the hide, or what should I avoid

Other guys in the band have had the same problem, I used to get 2/3 years from a hide bag easily

Cheers

Yip..its a problem...now that a lot of bands are going back to "sheepskin" and cane reeds...maybe the bag is getting hammered..!! with all the practicing...and playing at competitions most weekends...or have we lost the art of keeping a sheepskin in top condition...just like most young players have never seen a real cane reed and don't know the wee tricks getting them going and keeping them going...seasoning was in the old days the big secret..Edcath,Lawries ,Hardies..all had their own brew..and if you can remember Discount Highland Supply in Edinburgh(now sadly gone) had a liquid substance,that smelled lovely...and was always very good..I have a set of new nickel silver..pipes..(Macallums) that came with a Gortex bag...when you finished playing the whole instrument just falls off your shoulder..!! so I have been toying with the idea of a hide Bannatyne,,Zipper...just like to be able to get access inside for cleaning etc..(anybody experienced them.?.!!)to hold the weight of these pipes...I do feel that at £140...the sheepskin bag should last longer than 5 months...or have we been spoiled by the Gortex...?

Go fer it m8, we have just kitted out the complete band wi the Bannatyne Hide zipper ( bottom zip ) and the new MCS........a big thumbs up.

The feel of a real skin bag, good control / cut off's and strike in. Sits well under the arm and gives you total control of chanter position.

10/10 excellent product ( even if it is a modern invention lol )

I.m convinced if its good enough for me Irish buddies....its good enough for me...!!

Honest m8, yill not be dissapointed, ad been raised on sheepskin bags all ma piping days.....this IS the only bag that'll give the feel of a natural bag.

Give Richard a shout he had ours sorted out in days m8.

Redneck wrote:Go fer it m8, we have just kitted out the complete band wi the Bannatyne Hide zipper ( bottom zip ) and the new MCS........a big thumbs up.

The feel of a real skin bag, good control / cut off's and strike in. Sits well under the arm and gives you total control of chanter position.

10/10 excellent product ( even if it is a modern invention lol )

I was given a quick look round the factory the other week and was impressed. Again im like redneck and raised the macalister way, sheepskin and cane reeds. But these bags are quite simply superb I havnt got 1 yet but I was after the look round going to buy the system, but when bannatynes heard what bend I was in they told me not to buy 1 as my new band supply them. Now thats pretty damn good service they could have easily have not said owt and took my £150.

scots wa hae wrote:. Now thats pretty damn good service they could have easily have not said owt and took my £150.

Thats no like Craig and Derek - was it after lunchtime you went - must have been just outah the pub

Hmmmmmmmm, must make a pointa calling just before lunch then.......