Chris Apps will retire soon

I must retire soon

The time has come for me to teach someone else all I know
so that I might retire and relax a little

Why am I retiring? In 1991 I sat myself down in the only room of my tiny cottage – in front of the fire as we had no central heating - and taught myself how to make bagpipe reeds. It was 1991 and the recession had hit Britain. I was one of many who had been made redundant.  I was 29. I’m now 63. I’m tired, my spinal stenosis has progressed, and things just hurt. I am making great reeds, but I can no longer get out and about for workshops and highland games. And so, the time has come for me to teach someone else all I know so that I might retire and relax for a bit.

Interested in learning how I make Apps reeds?
I make a lot of reed adjustment videos, but I have never taught anyone how I make reeds. The time has come though. I hope to find someone who shares my passion for everything bagpipes. A piper with skill, integrity, tenacity, and most important an eye for detail. Someone who will strive, as I have, to be quietly innovative and helpful to the piping community at large.

Interested in Apps Reeds LLC?
My life has been enriched by hearing others benefit from what I’ve created.  I’ve never pursued having top grade bands playing my reeds. Instead, I have focused on the multitude of pipers who are passionate about bagpipes. I have listened to their needs and created reeds and accessories that address some of their issues. My reward has been hearing that someone who hasn’t played for x number of years who is now able to pipe again because of something I have created and supplied – be that a super soft reed, a pressure gauge, an adjustment book, or the PitchGuard© Split Stock System.  Of course, there are also my cane practice reeds. I’m the only person in the entire world keeping that tradition alive and I think it’s important that that tradition continues. I believe that someone younger, and with more business acumen than I, will be able to build great things on this base I have created over the past 34 years.

Please tell me about yourself
If you are someone who loves pipes, being alone, working with your hands, are quite pedantic, and interested in owning your own business please let me know. I’ve created a little questionnaire for those who are interested. It is designed to give both you and I some guide on how you would fit the role of reed maker. Feel free to download, fill out, and return by Oct 31, 2025. I look forward to hearing from you. 

The Questionnaire

Reminder for my customers, Please be assured that I will continue to make reeds until everything is  in place for a successful transfer and the same exacting quality of the reeds you now receive.