Review! The Infinity Chanter by R.G. Hardie & Co. - Matt Willis Bagpiper 

I've had the infinity chanter for a couple of months now. You commented on how nice the birls are, and I've noticed that as well. Birls are something I've alway struggled with, but they seem easier and better with this chanter. I give it 2 thumbs up!

Great review, I will be getting one of these for sure!

Glad I found this video. Been thinking of getting a set of Hardie poly pipes with the Infinaty chanter.

I got mine when I ordered my pipes and I'm glad because my pinkie will fall into a normal chanter hole. Love it!

Thanks again for another good review. i have been considering the Infinity for some time. I have arthritis in my hands and my fingers don't stretch as well as they once did :-) Your review has won me over. My order is on the way :-)

Fantastic as always. I’d love some more uilleann pipe videos too! Maybe tips/tricks, tuning, a tour of your uilleann pipes...

This guy is great. He gives us bagpipe reviews AND whiskey reviews Incredible

I must say, when I got this as part of a trade with a friend of mine (also a fellow bandmate), I got the blackwood version, and I was instantaneously impressed with how it held up with a G1 Platinum reed, so far. I'm still working on a few more kinks with this chanter (including finding out how the low G should be tuned) and get to know it a little more, and while this may have been sanded on the low A hole by the previous owner, I can safely say that this chanter is able to comfortably accommodate to my needs: smaller holes, able to pull off birls and other movements without much of a struggle, pitch at least to 478 - 480Hz, and reeds very well. (Though I only did it with a G1 Platinum, since that is my go-to at the moment. I might consider other reeds, at some point.) As for tonality, I'm still trying to figure it out: I have a number of other chanters, one of which including my plastic band chanter (which is a solid chanter IMO).

I have not searched in vain for the low A hole since getting the Poly & ABW chanters!! ABW definately a lot mellower to the ears. A great review. My dogs leg shaped pinky agrees.

Nice video Matt. Thanks

Might be my ears but the Sheppard was my like.. sounded crisp And you put my foot In my mouth again with the Reed tunner , never knew it existed before now lol.. thanks once again 👍

Nice review - thanks! Have you tried the Colin Kyo chanter? It also has smaller holes and a bit tighter spacing like the Hardie Infinity. I've heard good things about it.

I've been wanting this chanter. My fingers are really long but really skinny. My band chanter holes are so large my pinky will not even totally cover the low G. I hate it. Made me realize that people with skinny fingers have to be far more accurate with finger placement over people with big sausage fingers that can cover the holes with no problem. My current solo is an Inveran, the holes are not too bad.

Hi just received my infinity chanter. Nice holes which made clean playing easier. My tuning is all over the place with my go to reeds. Ill keep trying to find a good reed match.

I remember a good few years ago, having a go on someone’s pipes and they had a Warnock chanter on them and I remember thinking what a comfortable chanter it was to play. I was so fed up with chanters that have a manhole sized low a hole and spaced out too far for my wee fingers. Years later, I got a half sized MacMurchie pipe chanter and that has been fine. My pipes came with an old Robertson chanter which became difficult to find reeds for because of the move toward tin whistle pitch in comparison lol. The spacing on the old Robertson was spot on for comfort. Out of curiosity, I looked for an old Laurie chanter once, because my pipes are Laurie’s but the holes were like grand canyons! It’s all part of the fun of piping, though 😁. Now though, I have very little puff and I worry that my heart could fail me which is why I now have my Blair chanter. I’d like to get a set up with my stopped drones and bag with my Blair! A video about it would be fantastic.

I liked the Chesney Reed sound - much brighter.

Hi Matt, I love your channel and with it you are helping me a lot with learning since I am new with piping. I am now in the process of choosing my first set of GHP, and would like to get a RG Hardie Infinity chanter given my really skinny and bony fingers. I was wondering if it would fit in a McCallum bagpipe, or if there would be any issue with the sound producted due to the different brand? Should I buy a RG Hardie bagpipe instead of a McCallum? Thanks!

Matt--you are costing me a fortune in pipe gear with your great helpful reviews and having to just go and get what you recommend! For this chanter, is this one better for pipers with wee hands and fingers or will his work on us larger Texas sized large Army pipers? Some of the other great chanters on the market especially with round holes, are just too close in hole space. G1 Elite, MacCallum oval are both great size. Thanks Matt!

Matt, I’ve read that the Infinity is often referred to as a solo chanter. Would the poly Infinity be a suitable band chanter in non-competitive playing? Perhaps a future video on the differences between solo vs band chanters? BTW you might find Tomatin 12 YO Scotch a nice dram.

Any chance you can recommend your reed vendor(s)? You probably have in other videos, but I'm currently finding self searching for chanter reeds.

Hi Matt, First of all I'd like to thank you for your tutorials, I've been off base for a couple of years (Medical reasons) Just got back on point after a couple of months practice. I play a Warmac 1988 African Blackwood Bagpipe chanter. The other one I play (and It sounds beautiful) is an AG Hardie Silver soled African Blackwood chanter with the hall marks PN (Peter Nicholas) Birmingham (Anchor) Lion rampart (London assay mark) and date S?? can you help me regarding the dating of the RG Hardie ?? And the RT Shepherd reed sounds brighter.

Matt, I am thinking of purchasing a RG Hardie infinity Pipe chanter (Poypenco). Our band has RT Shepherd Classic 3 Polypenco chanters. would the infinity chanter sync with the Shepherd at 476hz?

Hi. I need some advice about a suitable reed for the Infinity. I have tried a lot - Caldwell, G1, MacLellan - Chesney - Shepherd. I have no problem when reeding G1 or Shepherd chanters. But the Infinity!!! I tune the Infinity to low A 481 HZ and the high A in tune, but B to High G are mostly too Sharp or way too sharp.

I just wanted to ask you I know you have to start with a practice chanter but do you know if they actually make ones that actually sounds like the ones that come out of the bagpipe because since I won’t be able to play the actual pipe I will be able to play it like that way. Author this is one of my favorite things to talk about. Could you and I chat over FaceTime? Because I’ve always wanted to talk to another bagpiper. This is been an interest I’ve had for a long time.

Matt - I have a blackwood Infinity chanter and I can't fault it. I've used Donald MacPhee and RT Shepherd reeds in it and echo your comments about the birls, they're effortless. It tunes at 480-482 without any issues, likewise for my David Naill chanter with MacPhee reed. However, I can't get my Shepherd blackwood chanter to tune at 480 no matter what, it's always flatter between 475-477 with a Shepherd reed. Any tips?

I just received one of the Infinity chanters. I'm not overly thrilled, but it is ok. I was wondering what you thought about easing the sharp edges of the holes, ever so lightly, with some super fine sandpaper? Would that affect the performance of the chanter ?

Matt or anyone else, how is the low G on this chanter if you have a shorter, skinnier pinky that normal? I have no problems with any of my other fingers except for my pinky on the low G (McCallum chanter), I can hardly cover it, and where I cover it is right on the first knuckle so air is always leaking out unless I have a death grip on my chanter. Would this chanter help with that at all?

Hi Matt! I'm curious.. it always seems like my high g is the only note sharp on an otherwise balanced chanter. Do you have a fix? Thanks

As a new Grade 4 competitor looking for a dedicated chanter for solo work, would you recommend this for light music?

The blackwood one has the same pitch , a bit sweeter tone and quieter than the poly of course , really the poly is rather for the bands , blackwood for solo players.

Seeing that no one made the joke yet... Was this the chanter that Thanos used. Can't really say anything yet because I'm only beginning to learn on the practice chanter!

Anyone got tips for preparing my bagpipes for colder and hotter temperatures? Are there any risks when playing in the cold?

I liked it better with the chessney reed. That's just my opinion but what do i know lol

Will this chanter fit on a McCallum stock?

Those tapered reeds don't sound that great.