I have experienced nothing but humility and kindness by those of you in the Uilleann Pipe world. I thought searching for a flute many years ago was exhausting, but this search? I mean I’ve already dug past China! I know what a quality starter set is worth to a poor musician who appreciates a well made instrument (Thank God I didn’t go for those “Get the cheapest Uilleann Pipes gauranteed!” Jimminey Cricket!") I live in NC, soon to be in Asheville. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. There are so many good pipe makers out there!
A David Daye set is an excellent way to start. Dave can help you set up one of his chanters to suit you. His sets hold their value and you can turn them over for about what they cost you when you are ready to move on.
I believe we have several pipers in North Carolina. In addition, Pat Sky is a maker in Spruce Hill, N.C. who makes budget quality starter sets.
Best bet is to hook up with your local pipers before you jump into the deep, dark end of the pool. You’ll need their help with all sorts of little tips. . . .
why on earth & 12 stars one would ever want to leave the bright, aeolian, sylvan plains of pan where calm zephyrs gently blow; for the heavy foul smelling subterreanean realm of vulcan with its wheezing relentlessly pumping bellows and squeals of agonized torture, is beyond me.
reconsider, o noble , fellow descendant of jubal, reconsider…
I second the Pat Sky suggestion. It’s good to live near a pipemaker, and he’s a wonderful guy. You might also want to plan for his Spruce Pines piping weekend this September. I hear it’s a gas, and you’ll meet some lovely pipefolk from all over the Southeast.
I don’t know about your climate there, but here in Southern California David Daye chanters always work, always play reliably.
When a beginner shows up with a David Daye chanter I know we can get down to learning the instrument, and not spend time trying to figure out how to get the chanter to work.
The scale is right, the octaves are right, the 2nd octave is easy, the hard bottom D is good, etc.
When people show up with chanters made in Ireland the reeds usually don’t play right. Our climate is too different, too dry.
You might be in a more reed-friendly place of course. But here, David Daye is the way to go.
As people are saying, the ideal thing is to play a chanter for which there is a local source for reeds. Reeds aren’t interchangeable between makes of chanter. So if you’re lucky enough to have a good local reedmaker, find out the specific chanter for which his reeds are designed, and get one! Then you’ll have a much easier time of it.
Here in Southern California we have a great reedmaker, Michael O Donovan, whose reeds are designed to play in Michael Hubbert chanters. It behooves anyone living here to get a Hubbert chanter.
