I founded Atherton Bagpipes with with one goal in mind -- to make the finest bagpipe that can be made. This means starting with the best materials, learning everything there is to know about them, and using traditional processes to craft them into instruments of unrivaled sound and aesthetic beauty. Every instrument I create is a reflection of this quest. My goal is to make every instrument perfect. I look at every new instrument I make as an opportunity to achieve that perfection. I've spent nearly two decades studying, learning, and applying that knowledge to my craft.
Having repaired, restored and resurrected countless vintage bagpipes -- my unique understanding of style, visual elegance, and profound sense of pride in my work is greatly influenced by the best of the Golden Age pipe makers. I hand-turn my pipes using the same type of tools and processes used 100 years ago, so it's only natural that I would look to those with similar skill for inspiration. I refuse to cut corners by using streamlined, cost-saving methods -- I use the technique and process that will yield the best result regardless of time and expense. I make instruments to a standard, my own, and not to an arbitrary price point. I'm not interested in quantity because that is the enemy of quality. I work alone, producing a very limited number of pipes and I have no interest in expanding or growing my business into a high volume factory model as this would inevitably risk compromising my standards and core beliefs. My respect for tradition and my craft extends to the pipers who have chosen my pipes over others. Talking to them, and understanding their dedication to musical excellence, continues to inspire me to deliver instruments worthy of their goals and ambitions.
