David Naill & Co.
A Great Bagpipe Begins With The Maker
To understand why David Naill bagpipes are so coveted, you must first know the company's uncommon history. Bagpipe maker Leslie Cowell began his career as an apprentice to the famous London bagpipe maker Henry Starck. The Starck family made bagpipes and other instruments for several generations, and Les worked there from 1946 to 1955. Starck bagpipes were widely known for exceptional tone and workmanship. Later on Les worked for instrument makers Boosey and Hawkes, and in 1976 he opened David Naill & Co.
Setting new standards of excellence. Les Cowell's years of training and experience as an instrument maker went into the design and manufacture of his bagpipes. In the beginning years of the company David Naill set new standards of excellence and expectation in the way bagpipes are finished — from exquisite turning and bores, precise beading and combing, to the finest hand engraved metalwork from in-house silversmiths. From early on Les diligently sought input from champion players on what makes for the best-sounding instrument. And throughout the years since, his bagpipes have been the result of the marriage of unsurpassed craftsmanship with the master player's ear — bagpipes both equal in beauty and harmonics