Adventures in plastic. Polypenco pipes?

[bear]

I'm looking for a (cheapish) set of pipes that I can play now and again for busking, the odd pub gig and impromptu session when I'm out and about and other occasions when I don't want to have to take my big flashy set of Fletchers out. I've been offered a set of Polypenco pipes. Anybody here play a set or know anything about them? What is the difference in sound between plastic and blackwood drones? Or should I just spend a bit more on a battered old set of 78th-hand pipes off Ebay?

[Greg_in_London]

They have quite a good reputation, although the only person I knew who had them, well I didn't think they sounded good. Nobody else seemed to mind though.

For the purposes that you suggest they should do just fine.

[stickmagnet]

Poly Pipes hold many advantages vs. Blackwood; but this needs a little clarification.

1. Poly pipes are nearly "nuke proof" - they don't crack, chip or become brittle.

2. They don't require oiling

3. They are waterproof - something that is a huge factor for the folks in Europe.

4. Easily "alterable" for things such as the "Little Mac" valve.

5. Did I mention that they are nearly nuke proof?

6. You can get them with "O-Rings" vs. wrapping help.

7. All the cool stuff for "Real" pipes, works with the Poly's too.

Drawbacks of Poly

1. They are very thick and can sonld a bit less "crisp" that a well running wood set of pipes - though the greatest spoiler is the REEDS one chooses vs. material; wood vs. poly.

Poly pipes are not a "beautiful" set of pipes most of the time

weather seems to bother them little


Hope this helps,

stickmagnet

[PipeSgt]

I have a friend that left a set of polypenco pipes in his car on a hot day. He leaned them up on the seat, and they now have a bend in the bass drone that they cannot straighten out. I have heard that the polypenco pipes have a nice sound. I have a polyenco blowpipe stock tied into my pipe bag. They don't crack like the blackwood stock that in there previously.