Pipe Makers Union

Thanks for the best year ever!

2011-11-23T20:51:00.001-08:00

Hello to all my friends new and old!

Its been a wonderful year and the seasons have taken us to many new places and in return we have lots of musicians and bands having a grand time with their new instruments. New bands in the Carbony Celtic Winds family include Celtica, Darren McMullen, Kennedy's Kitchen, Blackthorn, Keltic Kudzu, Ben Homes, Peter Purvis and Coyote Run.

In the process of traveling to over twenty different festivals and games this year, we did manage to fit in the development of several brand new instruments and refinements on existing designs. Most notable is the full set of Great Highland Bagpipes and the new dual drone Gaita. We also had a great breakthrough on our Irish flute which now features a hepta-taper design, enhancing the resonance of each primary note.

We created a Carbony Celtic Winds facebook page to share stories, videos and soundclips, if you haven't already, please like us! Also this year we have established Carbony Celtics Winds as a part of Pipe Makers Union, LLC. The registration of this new business name grounds our intent and the future direction of our company.

Enjoy,

Rob

Links to Facebook and Festival

2011-07-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

To assist in navigating to our facebook page or more info on the festival here are some easy to use links:

Carbony Celtic Winds
www.facebook.com/CarbonyCelticWinds

Also we have added quite a few new appearances for July and August:

July 8-10 Chicago's Irish Cultural Center Irish Fest
irishfestchicago.com

July 14-17 Festival of Traditional Music and Folk Dances
Château d'Ars (France)
www.rencontresdeluthiers.org/en/accueil.php

July 29-31 Great American Irish Festival (Utica, NY)
www.gaif.us

August 12-14 An Ri Ra Irish Festival (Butte, MT)
www.mtgaelic.org/Festival1.html

August 18-21 Milwaukee Irish Festival
www.irishfest.com

Thanks again and hope you are having a great summer,

Rob

summer update and facebook announcement

2011-07-06T02:05:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Its been great 2011 so far and our new products are moving as fast as I can build them! We have just created our new Carbony Celtic Winds facebook page and would be honored to have you like us. This will allow you to post your favorite tunes and videos and keep up to date on all our favorite bands and music.

Also we have added quite a few new appearances for July and August:

July 8-10 Chicago's Irish Cultural Center Irish Fest

July 14-17 Festival of Traditional Music and Folk Dances
Château d'Ars (France)

July 29-31 Great American Irish Festival (Utica, NY)

August 12-14 An Ri Ra Irish Festival (Butte, MT)

August 18-21 Milwaukee Irish Festival

and look for us in Estes Park and Muskegon in September!

Thanks for all your support and hope to see you soon,

Rob

Happy St Patrick's Day

2011-03-16T02:37:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful 2011 and to remind you to take in and play some music this week! The year is already on a great start and I always consider March 17th opening day for Celtic Festivals and Highland Games. I have been busy in the shop for a couple months and will be parading out some real sweet creations this year. Already released is a concert A chanter for the Great Highland Bagpipe. Very sweet sound and this chanter will get you into a band with fiddles and guitars. I have a few other neat creations coming out in the next two weeks so watch the website or come out to my booth when I am in your area.

I already have a few appearances locked in for this season:

Dunedin Highland Games, April 9th

Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, April 15,16,17

Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival, May 7,8

Newport Celtic Festival and Highland Games, June 10,11,12

The International Gathering of Instrument-Makers and Master Pipes of Saint-Chartier, July 14,15,16,17

Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival, Sept 8,9,10,11

My calendar is still filling up so email me if there is a show you would like to see me at thats not on the list yet!

Thanks again and check out some of the new stuff on our website, www.Carbony.com

And if you have a sound clip or video you would like to share, drop me an email at Rob.Gandara@Carbony.com. All artists selected will receive a $50 credit towards your next instrument purchase.

And of course in Corvallis on Thursday, look for my band Ordinance downtown. We are playing six sets in four pubs. Starting at 5:00 pm at Squirrels, 6:30 on Cloud nine, 7:30 at the Beaver Tail Brewery and closing out the night at the Block 15 Brewery. Bring your dancing shoes...

Sláinte,

Rob

Carbony™ Celtic Connection, Spring 2010

2010-05-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

Hello Musicians!

Welcome to the spring edition of Pipe Makers Union Carbony™ Celtic Connection. We have several important announcements.

We are revamping our website and are looking to tell your personal story. Relate one or more tales of playing a Carbony™ instrument, include a photo, sound clip or Youtube video. Share your experiences and reminisce anecdotes that evoke emotions of joy, bliss and fun times with your Carbony™ instrument. Tell us where you have taken your Carbony™ instrument and where your Carbony™ instrument has taken you. Whistle stories, technology stories, first time I ever saw my Carbony™ stories. We want them all! If we use your story you get a $25 credit, and if we use your sound clip or video you receive another $25. That's $50 towards your next instrument! Just send an email to Rob.Gandara@Carbony.com

Also we are signing up some new retailers:

In British Columbia, Heritage Music at 350 Hwy 97B NE, Salmon Arm

In Albuquerque, Apple Mountain Music at 10301 Comanche Road Northeast.

We also have some new bands that are touring this summer with Carbony™ instruments:

Omnia has a whistle and slide didgeridoo they are working into their show, www.worldofomnia.com.

Keltia is already touring with a two section didge and writing for a couple whistles and flutes, www.myspace.com/keltiamusic.

Rapalje, wonderful Celtic band from the Netherlands has a D whistle and tuning up a Carbony™ Bb chanter, www.rapalje.com.

Spring has sprung and the Summer schedule of Highland Games and Celtic Festivals has begun! We are returning to some of our old haunts and adding some new ones, check out the list below to find a show near you.

Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games, June 12-13th, 2010, Meeks Park, Blairsville, Georgia
Illinois St Andrew Society Highland Games, June 18-19th, Polo Grounds, Oak Brook, Illinois
Portland Highland Games, July 17th, Mt Hood CC, Oregon
Pacific NW Scottish Highland Games, July 31st - August 1st, 2010, Expo Center, Enumclaw, Washington
An Ri Ra Irish Festival, August 13-15th, Uptown Butte, Montana
International Celtic Festival, August 21-22nd, Hunter Mountain, New York
Longs Peak Scottish Highland, September 10-12th, 2010 Estes Park, Colorado
Stone Mountain Highland Games, October 16-17th, Stone Mountain, Georgia

Take care and I want to hear you on stage, in a session and playing for your soul,

Rob

Happy IRFT Celtic Radio New Year

2009-12-30T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Just wanted to wish everyone a great new year and let you know that my band Ordinance is featured this new years eve on IRFT Celtic Radio, so check it out at www.irftradio.comlu.com.

Be sure to request you favorite Ordinance song when you tune in, they make it fun and easy!

Take care,

Rob

Getting ready for Chicago Celtic Arts festival

2009-08-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hi,

The full 2009 CarbonyTM product line will be on display at Grant Park in Chicago on September 12 and 13. see http://www.celticfestchicago.us/ for band line up.

Whistles in D, C, G, F, Low D with anodized alum blades and marbled ebonite tips!

An Irish flute with a full sound and stainless trim.

Band Chanter and Practice chanter with stainless trim.

Three Section slide Didgeridoo

And a full Carbon Fiber Gaita in C!

If you are in the area would love to have you stop by, admission is free!

Busy Summer turns to Fall

2008-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

Its been a great summer and working on new products like crazy! If you haven't been to the website lately please take a look www.pipemakersunion.com fresh with a photo of Julian Stringle with one of my D whistles at the Bitbury Folk Festival!

I have also added quite a number of new products, high whistle in C and the Great Highland Whistle in A440 (plays exact fingering and scale as the bagpipe chanter by the same name). We also now offer a full Galician Bagpipe, in C and D built to order with one, two or three drones. Check out the product page on the website or the shopping cart for more details.

A couple of more 2008 appearances, Dunedin Celtic festival in November and I will have my inventory on display in Corvallis at the Artisans Market at the old Rexall drug store in downtown from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

In preparation for the NAMM show in Anaheim in January we will be revising all product pricing over the next two weeks. If you are interested in a holiday purchase I would encourage you to place your orders before Thanksgiving.

Keep the Jigs Jumping and the Reels Running!

Rob

New Shopping Cart, Tunable Flute and G Whistle!

2008-03-29T23:19:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

We have revamped our shopping cart and now take credit cards, super exciting! We have a two piece tunable tapered Irish Flute now with adjustable aluminum plug. Also complete and soon to be added is the Low G whistle. This whistle gives you the low whistle experience without all the finger stretching.

Also our products will be available at the Oregon Scottish Cultural Festival in Albany, Oregon on Saturday April 5th and a return to Dunedin, Florida for their Highland Games on April 12th. Stop by if you are in the area and check out all the newness.

Rob

Record sales two festivals running!

2008-03-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

o'hello,

Welcome to the Pipe Makers Union 2008 St Patricks update. Back to back weekend Irish festivals in Dallas Texas and Eugene Oregon set record sales and a promising start to 2008!

My band Ordinance will be performing throughout Corvallis on March 17th, so if you are in town stop by Squirrel's, the Fox and Firkin and Cloud 9 for the festivities. We have a new guitar player that has quite a voice. check out myspace.com/ordinancecelticmusic for more info.

Since I've been back in Oregon I have finalized the design for the Low G whistle with anodized aluminum mouthpiece. The finger reach on this product is much easier than the Low D and it voices both octaves well. Please let me know if you are interested in trying one at rob_gandara@alum.mit.edu

The winner of the whistle drawing at NTIF was Jim Atkinson of Dallas, Texas. Congratulations, Jim. The highlight of Dallas was all the professional players all giving the high and low D whistles a workout.

In Eugene we had quite a crowd when a Todd Johnson of Pacific Winds started demoing all my didgeridoos.

I also want to thank my father for helping with booth duty in Dallas and Tracey Yee in Eugene they are both excellent sales associates and wouldn't be possible for me to continue without their support.

opening day 2008

2008-02-25T00:47:00.000-08:00

Been busy in the shop this winter retooling the product line for 2008 and was commissioned to build a three section slide tunable full octave didgeridoo with tapered opening and stainless trim.

Some breakthroughs and investments provide a new look for the new year, all products will have a weave outer and the company logo engraved on all metal. Website should be updated shortly with a new shopping cart as well. The product tour begins at the North Texas Celtic Music Festival in Dallas Feb 29th, March 1st and 2nd. www.ntif.org. Some great acts this year so if you are in the area or are looking for a good road trip this will be the place to be! The following weekend I will be showing the new lineup of products at the Eugene Irish festival www.eugeneirishfest.org.

Enjoy!

Rob

Whistle Winner and New Product Update

2007-12-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

First off I want to thank all the wonderful people in Dunedin Florida for making me feel right at home. Golf, sun and record sales for PMU. My mom helped again with booth duty and we announced the new line of Carbony Didgeridoos and Low Whistles with success and sales and rolled out a new banner and sweepstakes.

The winner in a random drawing of entries for the high whistle was Joel Kuhn from Largo Florida. There was a lot of excitement over our products and constant stream of people trying out the carbon fiber sound.

As far as new products we have two didgeridoo models, the tapered 2 tone and the tunable straight slide didge. We also have low whistles in D available with other keys available on special order. My priority for the next week will be to finish up the Irish flute head joint for release.

Other business news, we are now a retailer for Mel Bay so you should see some recommended lesson book available and we are listing our more mature products on amazon.com.

Chanter winner announcement and Low whistle intro

2007-11-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

Stone Mountain was great! Good people and a very well organized event, I was stationed right in the piper area where everyone was stopping by to test drive the latest innovation in piping technology. We also raffled off a carbon fiber competition pitch chanter. The winner in a random drawing was Richard E. D'Arata from Winter Springs Florida. I especially want to thank my friend Peter and my mom for helping me with booth duty.

I have been getting ready for the Dunedin Celtic Festival in November and have completed my development of a Carbon Fiber low whistle with an anodized aluminum mouthpiece. I will have photos and sound files up on the web site soon!

Ordinance shows this weekend, release goose and apperances in the southeast

2007-09-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

My band Ordinance has two shows this weekend. Tonight at the Fox and Firkin in Corvallis and Sunday at the Cozmic Pizza in Eugene. Come out to hear a Carbony Gaita in action!

We have added the goose to our product line after a successful acceptance of job one.

Also PMU will have a product booth at the following two events: Stone Mountain Highland Games, Oct 20th near Atlanta and the Dunedin Celtic festival Nov 17th near Tampa. Hope to see you there!

California Gold

2007-09-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

Pleasanton was a blast, good games, good music and established some new relationships. House of Bagpipes was impressed with the Chanters and is holding three. If you are in the bay area give Lynne Miller a call and give them a toot! Also met with Cory of Hobgoblin music who will be retailing my whistles at all future events!

Worlds first carbon fiber goose and a trip to Pleasanton

2007-08-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Well it is complete, the worlds first Carbony Goose! Looks and sounds great with a loud practice reed like the Gibson.

I am off to Pleasanton to show my new products, we developed a weave outer (not for the purists) for those really want that carbon fiber look. I will be camped out at the House of Bagpipe booth at the Caledonian Highland Games with products brochures and maybe even wearing a MacKenzie kilt. Stop by and see the worlds second ever carbon fiber goose!

Whistles and a Goose!

2007-08-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

More and more good stuff following up after Seattle. I have been commissioned to build a practice chanter goose, which is my practice chanter design modified to fit into a full size bag and play as one would play a regulation chanter. The advantage of this product is one can practice both bag and finger work without waking the neighbors. Once I have acceptance of the commission don't be surprised to see this new product on the website. Also working now a with whistle maker on an aluminum fipple to fit on my whistle and a low D version of my sold out Carbony design. And probably the most exciting news is a recent project outfitting a full band, no formal announcements quite yet but the plan is to have a competition band at the games next year performing on RG MacKenzie chanters.

Seattle was a piping frienzy

2007-07-30T02:50:00.000-07:00

The wave we made at Bellingham just keeps getting bigger, had about 20 different pipers interested in giving the carbon fiber chanter a go... Big was a common description of the sound. Also premiered the carbony whistle and sold out of stock. Big hit with accomplished musicians one of the performers showed me a trick in tuning the overtones and within an hour i had it spot on, the best whistle I've ever played were the words coming out of his mouth. It speaks lightly as most tapered designs but has the volume of an instrument twice its size. Also the practice chanter design received great accolades from everyone who tried. nice sound and easy to play, one tweak to the G as highland pipers play a minor 7th scale, will take care of this in the next build. The new signage gave no doubt as to what we sell so we are getting much better at this booth duty highland games style.

Seattle or Bust

2007-07-18T00:06:00.001-07:00

We are preparing currently for the Seattle highland games, putting a few projects to get some products ready for introduction. will be announcing a competition pitched highland chanter with some cool trim. Also have the Bb chanters available for purchase and the Carbony whistle.

look for our booth, right near the pipe competition field!