David Daye practice set on Ebay (not cheap)...

[ston]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a bid on this new auction just because it's now listed with "uilleann" in the title. Before it was just "irish bagpipe" or something like that.

-David

[Antaine]

yeah...before the old one ended I posted a "question to seller" and suggested that he relist at his original price with "uilleann" in the title. That's my good deed for the year

[olehan]

I can't vouch-safe quality, but in his latest note to me, Mr. H mentioned they've been modified-the old practice sets were prototypes-and now the modified chanter, with bellows and bag, is expected to be shipping this week. I can easily understand that the plastic or delrin chanters and sythetic bags, etc. might seen as inferior by tradition-concious players.
I know that's the opinion of a GHB-playing friend.

Is this a common opinion with UP players?

Surely theres an old thread discussing it which includes Daye's penny chanter. I love the true tuning of my composite whistles, but there's nothing like the warm tone color that wood imparts, and the sound of a cane reed (I imagine) over a plastic reed.

There are any number of fine UP makers (highly-skilled craftsmen, dedicated to preserving piping tradition, I'm sure) that have all the orders they can handle.
I'm looking at the Hepburn set as an entry-level instrument, and a stepping stone to the Real Deal, if my meagre skill develops that far.