Anistratov Higland Bagpipes
At Anistratov Bagpipes, we are proud to uphold the revered heritage of Great Highland Bagpipe making, offering instruments of distinguished character and tonal excellence. Each set is handcrafted with the utmost care, reflecting both precision and a deep reverence for tradition.
Our pipes are available in two principal pitches:
– The traditional Highland B♭ at 446 Hz, favoured by pipe bands for its bright, commanding tone.
– A concert B♭ at 440 Hz, ideally suited for solo performance or ensemble playing.
Additionally, sets in concert A at 440 Hz may be commissioned upon special request.
Clients may select from three tiers of refinement: Standard, Premium, and Deluxe. Each instrument is crafted from one of three fine timbers — African Blackwood, Cocobolo, or Mopani — chosen for their tonal richness and aesthetic distinction.
The Standard configuration comprises three drones — two tenors and one bass — and is fitted with a durable plastic chanter. Instruments of the Premium and Deluxe classes are supplied, as standard, with a finely turned wooden chanter, hewn from the very same timber as the rest of the set, ensuring tonal harmony and visual unity throughout.
Anistratov Bagpipes stands as a testament to artisanal integrity — blending time-honoured methods with exacting modern standards, for pipers who demand not only performance, but legacy.
Chanters
The development of the Anistratov Great Highland Bagpipe chanters represents the culmination of seven years of focused research, acoustic experimentation, and traditional study. Over this period, Alexander Anistratov examined a wide range of bore profiles, reed behaviours, and historical references, meticulously refining each element until form and function met in perfect accord.
The result is a family of Highland chanters distinguished by clarity, power, and tonal integrity, available in three precisely engineered pitches:
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Solo Chanter – Bb (475 Hz)
Crafted for expressive solo work, with a broad tonal palette and deep, resonant voice. -
Pipe Band Chanter – Bb (480 Hz)
Designed for ensemble performance, offering strong projection, stability, and perfect blend across the ranks. -
Highland Chanter – A (440 Hz)
An elegant concert-pitch chanter, ideal for integration with modern instruments and cross-genre performance.
Each chanter is voiced for a balanced tone throughout the scale, delivering a clean, authoritative Pìobaireachd G and a bright, centred high A. In addition to standard Highland fingering, players can achieve two additional semitones through refined forked fingering techniques, expanding the musical range without the need for modification.
For optimal performance, Alexander recommends pairing these chanters with high-quality reeds from renowned makers such as Frazer Warnock and Jamie Troy, whose craftsmanship complements the chanters’ acoustic design with reliability and character.
Measured, responsive, and musically articulate, the Anistratov Highland Chanter is a fitting companion for both the competitive piper and the soloist — built not just to perform, but to endure.
Drone Bore Patterns
The first one – is MacDougall Pattern. Drones with such internal design are made according to the drawings of the great bagpipe maker Allan MacDougall. This is a craftsman whos works belongs to era of the Golden Age of Great Highland Bagpipes. Allan worked in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His work was based on earlier versions of bagpipes 17th centuries probably. The internal design of the "McDougall" provides very "big" and powerful, bold and juicy sounding drones balanced at low and high frequencies, similar to the effect of 3D. Suits really much both the plastic and wooden chanters. |
The second pattern is the bore design which was based on drawings of Henry Starck, one of the great maker of bagpipes of the first half of 20th century. Drones Henry Starck Pattern produce clear, rich and very clean sound, quieter and more elegant than McDougall. The sound has less variation in frequencies and create a very solid and strong "sound wall" that supporting sound of the Chanter, but do not mix with it. They are very good in combination with wooden chanters. Alexander would say it`s ideal for solo playing.
The third one is David Glen Pattern- classical drone bores design. This design was developed by Alexander after measuring and testing several sets of David Glen & sons of Edinburgh-greatest pipe makers of the 19th century. The drones sounds robust but not booming, very steady, and with a sonorous bass sound. The tone is rich and refined: the more ‘mellow’ that will setisfy the taste of a true connoiseur and gourmet of Highland Pipes. .
Fidheagh Standard design. African Blackwood, Ferrules & Tunig pins: Nickel silver, Projecting Mounts and Bushings: boxwood
Coileach Original design. Blakwood, Ferrules: bronze, Button Projecting Mounts and bushings: imitation horn, luxury mouthpiece: imitation horn & ebonyte
Solo Highland Bb chanters in Cocobolo, Boxwood with Cocobolo sole, Blackwood
Ferrules, Mounts & Tuning pins
Drone Designs & Pitches
As you can see on this page Aexander has develope several drone designs. Different designs have various proportions, lines and decorative elements. An important role is played by materials from which drones are made in this or that design. The choosen elements are effects directly to the timbre.The design of drones does not end with their exterior-the main is hidden inside. Alexander use three types of internal bore patterns in his drones for Great Highland Bagpipes.
Anistratov drones can be build in classical Bb pitch or also in "flat" A pitch to suit for A chanter, and also in C-to play Breton music in minor.
Fidheagh Standard design. African Blackwood, Ferrules & Tunig pins: Nickel silver, Projecting Mounts and Bushings: boxwood
Coileach Antique design.(Chalice tops) Cocobolo, Ferrules: boxwood, Projecting Mounts and Bushings: boxwood
Coileach Original design.(Mjolnir tops) Afican blackwood, Ferrules and Tuning pins: bronze, Button Projecting Mounts and Bushings: imitation horn
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