Instruments I put on pile with German backing (7)
I believe the answer is:
timpani
'instruments' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'i put on pile with german backing' is the wordplay.
'put on' says to put letters next to each other.
'pile' becomes 'nap' (both can refer to the surface of a fabric).
'with german' becomes 'mit'.
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'nap'+'mit'='napmit'
'napmit' in reverse letter order is 'timpan'.
'i' after 'timpan' is 'TIMPANI'.
(Other definitions for timpani that I've seen before include "Percussion section" , "set of instruments" , "> kitchen equipment?" , "part of kitchen?" , "Main pit (anag) - drums" .)