It is usually bellows-blown and produces a mellow, low pitch. A carved goatshead stock similar to the duda is common. The single reeds are often made of a cane blade lapped onto copper tubing. In paintings of Bruegal and Teniers we see the renaissance pipers playing an instrument with two drones in a common stock. No pipes of this type survived.
Some sets use commercially available reeds.
While it is probable that some of the pipes of this time had single reed chanters, the frequency of the conical shaped chanter and vent holes make the likelihood of double reeds stronger. In later times we see statuary with double chanters and a bass drone. Reproductions of medieval pipes are available with various types of reeds. Some claim that medieval can only have been one and one drone have failed to take into consideration the fact that Nero minted a coin in 57 A.D. on which a double chantered bagpipe and bellows was embossed.