All,
I am getting ready to order a half-set of pipes.
My practice set is in D and I am thinking of instead ordering a flat set.
I love the more warmer sound of the flat sets and I won’t be worrying about playing sessions with the pipes for a good long while (I have the fiddle for that).
This half-set will be for pleasing my ear more than playing with others.
What are your thoughts?
What are the pros and cons of a D, B or C set.
I am a newbie so forgive me if is so general a question or matter of taste as to be stupid.
-Jer
Since you have a practice set in D, why not go for a flat set if you have the means? For sessions use the D chanter, for your own personal enjoyment play the flat set.
I agree with Joseph completely. I play my flat sets more that the D and use them for my enjoyment, playing solo and sometimes with a fiddler as they tune down. Use a D chanter for sessions if you want to play sessions.
…Ed
Get the flat set.
Try out all chanters to ensure that you will be happy. Some people find that ‘covering’ a B or Bb chanter is not for them - sometimes due to hole placement and their span, sometimes due to size of the tone holes and the width of the chanter.
My vote is for the flat set. They are much easier on your ear if you are playing for yourself. And in my view, they are more fun. There are nuances of fingering on flat pipes that don’t generally work with concert pitch pipes (IMO). However, sometimes things don’t work too well on flat pipes either when the tone holes are very small and getting tricky just chokes the sound.
Generally speaking, C pipes are cleaner sounding than B or Bb, which tend to be more nasal. This nasal quality is the haunting sound that is typically associated with flat pipes. Sometimes the C pipes can be a little too clean, and B/Bb can be too nasal; there is a fine line (IMO) between bringing out tone color with upper partials and getting annoyingly buzzy. All this depends on the maker and the reed.
I think you’ll get the most “flat” enjoyment from B pipes.
Oh, and flat chanters are relatively a dream to reed (IMO). A big, big plus.
I’ve got a D half set and a C chanter. I wish I had a set of C drones to go with the C chanter as I play it solo more often than the D. I also prefer to practice on the C chanter as it’s less stressful on my marriage. 
I think the people have spoken - go flat. 
Which is why we also have C# pipes which, to me, are the sweetest sounding of them all.
Cheers,
DavidG
C# - so you can REALLY be out of tune with everyone else! 
Flat it is!
Thanks, thanks all for the feedback.
I’m sure the flat pipes will also go easier on my marriage as well.
Any feelings about boxwood vs ironwood regarding the flat set chanter?
(I know. Newbies: gimme, gimme, gimme)
-Jer
Hi Jer_Mac_an_Jac
I personally like the look of boxwood so would say go for that.
David
I wish everyone played in a lower key at sessions because I am MADLY in love with flat sets. There’s nothing like 'em. ::sigh::
Cheers,
Armand
Hey BigDavy - I like the look of the boxwood myself. That’s why I asked.
I guess I just wanted to see if anything negative came out about a boxwood chanter.
I’m on my way.
Jer
ps: Sometimes I think I’m nuts to be trying to learn this instrument at my age…but I the love the damn things.
It’s great to have some advice and company on this road.
so what’s your age?
Me 50
carel
Boxwood would be my preference. Where’s why:
http://www.uilleannobsession.com/photos/koehler&quinn/boxdch2.gif
http://www.uilleannobsession.com/photos/koehler&quinn/boxdch1.gif
If you did a search on this forum you would see the pros and cons of boxwood have been brought up several times. The con for boxwood that seemed most significant to me is its tendency to warp over time.
djm
Age:53
I hope I learn to play a few tunes decently before I go feeble or deaf.
It’s a race.
-Jer
Hmm, isn’t that one actually “castella boxwood” ? If so, it won’t warp appreciably.
Bill
I love the look of boxwood. I would be hesitant about having a chanter made from it… warpage being the cause.
Nope. Both of those chanters are the real thing, from France. Have not yet heard of either chanter having warped, but that’s not proof that they haven’t. The “neo-beehive” set is castella box, but the two D chanters pictured here are buxus sempervirens.