It could be worse. You could be a guitarist! We always "need" a new guitar, new amp, new stompbox, etc...
Heck, even pianists have it better. They only need to buy one piano and you can get one of those for $600.
Yeah, I've got a few extras. Some replacement parts that didn't really need replacing. Of course, we have a band uniform we had to pay for, too, and there have been a couple of iterations of that.
I kinda want a set of smallpipes or real pipes, too, but they cost about as much as a full bagpipe and they don't solve the problem of the pipes physically need played regularly.
I don't have a uniform - but I have stage clothing and a lot of that is expensive and some of it is tailored.
Then again, lots of poor people have turned into great musicians. Maybe I just love buying new stuff?
Are there many consumables that go along with the pipes? What needs replacing?
Most of the stuff I go through is really minor.
There's 4 reeds in it. I used to go through a lot of cane chanter reeds, but we went to a synthetic one for the band because they're less finicky and now we've all got the same brand. They replaced our chanters all with a matched one, too, just so we sound more similar. They are starting to do matched drone reeds, too, but I haven't bothered to install those yet. So I've got 2 chanters and 3 sets of drone reeds.
The bag and bag cover wear out over time, but how fast depends on use. I could use a new bag cover, but my bag is ok. There's stuff you put into the bag every few months to help keep it from leaking. Gotta oil all the wood at least once a year to prevent cracking from moisture/heat changes. The waxed hemp on all the joints and fittings needs replaced, too, and components of any moisture control you might use. I have 2 different moisture control things, not currently using either of them.
There's a little leather flappy bit at the bottom of the blowstick that keeps the air from coming back up when you squeeze, that wears out. I also have 2 blowsticks because my set came with one, but I didn't know how long I'd need it, so I got an adjustable one, too. We also go through a lot of electrical tape because we use it to adjust the size of the chanter holes to tune, and we put it where our teeth rest on the blowstick. It helps with the unconscious urge to clench your teeth when concentrating on a difficult set.
Earplugs and lip balm are also important. I got a cool sling that folds into a belt pouch to use after parades, just in time for corona, too, so I've never gotten to use it.
You can get pianos for free, lots of people give them away when they move
True! I want a grand piano in my basement. I keep going through phases where I want a piano. The phases are shorter than my motivation, because I never get one.
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