I have been playing this ebony Duncan MacDougall set for about 8 months, and it is one of the finest MacDougalls I have played. The bass tunes higher than most, but it is one of the richest, most voluminous MacDougall basses I’ve heard: a real joy to play.

Though not stamped, it is clearly Duncan MacDougall, with full natural mounts. When the pipes were stripped we found there were cracks beginning in both tenor tops, the bass mid-joint and the bass stock. These have been invisibly whipped and the pipes have been refinished.

One odd feature of this set is the tuning pins, which look as though they are made of a different wood from the rest of the pipes. It is possible that they are replacements, though it would be odd of have four replacement pins on a set that is in otherwise good shape.

The blowpipe stock may be a replacement. There are spider lines and tiny nicks on some of the mounts, but the wear and tear on this workhorse did not detract from my pleasure in playing them.

I am replacing them with a lovely Gavin MacDougall set in mint condition and with its own special sound, but this set is a tonal masterpiece.