Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

466 - Should you switch to a sheepskin bag? (Dojo Conversations Episode 136)


Listen Later

Why do some pipers prefer a sheepskin bag?  

In this episode, Jim and Andrew dive deep into the world of hide bagpipe bags – especially the legendary sheepskin. They draw some surprising parallels between Linux and sheepskin bags.   

Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned piper, or just bagpipe-curious, you’ll get the inside scoop on why sheepskin bags are so beloved, what makes them tricky, and whether they’re worth the investment.   

(P.S. Make sure to tune in next week for some nitty gritty about hide bags in part 2…)  

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]  

Here’s what we cover this week:  

  • 0:00 – Browser privacy, Chrome vs. Brave, and why Jim prefers Linux 
  • 2:41 – Introducing the sheepskin bag: “the Linux of bagpipe bags” 
  • 4:39 – Does the bag really affect the sound? The science and the skepticism 
  • 7:13 – Andrew’s journey: from hide to synthetic to sheepskin (and back again) 
  • 11:06 – Jack Lee’s advice and the quest for the perfect tone 
  • 14:48 – The sheepskin epiphany: does it really sound better? 
  • 17:23 – Hide vs. synthetic: what’s the real difference? 
  • 21:49 – The trade-offs: cost, maintenance, and lifespan of sheepskin bags 
  • 27:20 – Is sheepskin right for beginners? Why it might not be 
  • 31:36 – Daily playing, seasoning, and keeping your bag in top shape 
  • 36:06 – Moisture control: sheepskin vs. canister systems 
  • 41:07 – High-level competition: why even the pros sometimes switch to synthetic 
  • 44:28 – Hybrid solutions and the “holy grail” of bagpipe sound 
  • 47:13 – Final thoughts: is sheepskin worth it, and who should try it? 
  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Piper's Dojo Audio ExperienceBy Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team

    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    40 ratings


    More shows like Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

    View all
    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    91,086 Listeners

    Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    78,293 Listeners

    The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    227,887 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,576 Listeners

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

    38,739 Listeners

    The Moth by The Moth

    The Moth

    27,226 Listeners

    99% Invisible by Roman Mars

    99% Invisible

    26,175 Listeners

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing

    10,732 Listeners

    The Adam and Dr. Drew Show by PodcastOne / Carolla Digital

    The Adam and Dr. Drew Show

    8,755 Listeners

    Wetootwaag's Bagpipe and History Podcast by Jeremy Kingsbury

    Wetootwaag's Bagpipe and History Podcast

    24 Listeners

    The Big Rab Show Podcast by Big Rab

    The Big Rab Show Podcast

    48 Listeners

    Shawn Ryan Show by Shawn Ryan

    Shawn Ryan Show

    44,001 Listeners

    Droning On by Heritage Bagpipes

    Droning On

    19 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,152 Listeners

    Enjoy Your Piping! With Gary West by Gary West

    Enjoy Your Piping! With Gary West

    45 Listeners