Any advice for a wanna be piper?

Jo C · Post by **Jo C** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 4:00 pm

Hi all you experienced pipers,
I would really like to learn the Uilleann Pipes, but I don't know what pipes would be best to start on. As a 16 year old in full time education with no income apart from 1 1/2 hours teaching a week, I don't have a lot of money. I've been thinking of a budget of around £500 sterling for a practice set and I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction, and also tell me about mass produced pipes such as those made by Gremlin - my cousin has a gremlin concertina which sounds like an accordian and is falling apart after a year's playing, so I can assume that the pipes would be equally bad, but would they be ok to start me off? Any tips would be appreciated.
thanks.
Jo.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Nov 29, 2001 9:38 pm

Try to find local pipers and see who's pipes they like. Staying away from imports that are 'factory made' is a good practice.
There are many top notch pipemakers in your area... check these listings for pipemakers and used pipes for sale.

http://www.iol.ie/~npupipes/npuhome.htm
http://www.purplethorn.com/UPIL/

Jo C · Post by **Jo C** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 3:45 pm

thanks Tony. As far as I know there are'nt any pipers in my area ( if anybody knows of any in Pembrokeshire, i'd be interested to hear about them ), but fortunately I have an Irish sort-of cousin who is very very good, so I can ask her. I know that her pipes are made by a French man living in Kenmare, but I can't remember the name and he has a waiting list of about 3 years as well as being very expensive. I will check the links, though.
Thanks again,
Jo.

anima · Post by **anima** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:49 pm

I don't know how far you are from the Dales, but I just bought a practice set (still waiting) from Davy Stephenson in Richmond. He's a bit more than you can afford, but he's a good bloke and maybe you all could work somethng out.
http://www.bagpipeworks.com

Also look at Ray Sloan and Alan Logan's pipes they are pretty reasonably priced.

They both have websites - just plug their names into a google search.

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 3:18 am

Jo... are any of these contacts close ?

Alan Ginsburg
2 Celtic Hse., Stryd Ganol, Bethol, Gwynedd, North Wales. Tel. 01248-671381

Ray Sloan
http://www.ray-sloan.com/

Brian Howard
http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/

Alan Logan
http://alogan@loganpipes.omn.net/

Hubert Kwisthout
659 Newmark Rd., Linclon, LN6 8SA, England. Tel. 01522-501850. Fax: 01522-501841

Allen Moller
Ty Newydd, Rhyd, Penrhydeudraeth, Gwynedd, North Wales, LL48 6ST. Tel. 01766-771227

Keith J Powell
Berllan, Lon Fain, Dwyran, Anglesey, North Wales LL61 6YF. Tel. 0248-430147

Jo C · Post by **Jo C** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 9:33 am

Wow, I never realised that there was this much helpful info around! I've now got loads of info, especially from the NPU site. Thanks for the contact names aswell, but unfortunately the answer is no, they're all at least 4 hours drive away, but if I'm going to be in any of the areas in the near future, I might look them up.

Edit: I'm investigating some pipes that have been advertised on the NPU site (thank you Tony) so if anyone can give me their opinions on makers Christopher Bayley, Des Seery and Charles Roberts I would be grateful.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jo C on 2001-12-01 18:08 ]</font>