This is really, really hard for me to do, and with a broken heart I am forced to offer up my concert pitched David Boisvert 4-drone 1/2 set in cocobolo, boxwood and brass. This was/is my dream set… very difficult to part with…
The fourth drone is an A drone with a shut-off pin.
This is a very pretty set, wonderfully crafted and plays flawlessly. The drones are bold but not overpowering and the chanter is comfortable and great sounding. It has a good reed in it and all the drones have great working reeds.
I am very loth to part with this set but I see no other way around it considering recent personal developments.
Joseph (such a good name),
I’m very sorry that your current situation is causing you to have to sell your set. I hope you get top dollar (or Pound or Euro) for it. I’m assuming the set was reeded by you. If so, then someone will certainly be getting a wonderful sounding instrument.
All the best!
Joe has been a friend of mine since I was a lad of 18. The man has seen his share of hard times, So when he asked me to make a set for him I was overjoyed at the chance to make something special for him.
This is a sweet set and one in which I took great joy in making. The cocobolo and boxwood I used were from a special selection of finely figured and well aged and cared for wood. The mainstock is cocobolo and is carefully hand carved to be 3/4 hollow. The drone reeds share a compartment while the regulators are of course seperate. The bellows sides are matching cocobolo and the air inlet is boxwood to match. The majority of the ferrules are hand-tapered. I hope you can see this gentle tapering in the photos I upload.
I sincerely wish I could afford to buy back the set myself, if only to hold them for Joe. As anyone who really knows him can tell you, he is an incredibly talented musician who truly deserves better than he has been given in this life. It personally causes me much sorrow to see him have to part with such an intrinsic part of himself.
But that being said, he has had to make a very difficult decision, and since I can’t help him as I would like. I will help him as I can.
If this were a set that I had made just these last few months, I would sell it for between $4500 and $4000.
Here are a few additional pictures from my archives…
p.s. My comments etc. were entirely unsolicited and in no way will I profit or gain from this scenario. In fact, it cause me nearly as much distress so see them change owners as it does Joe. I haven’t even SEEN the set since he took delivery, but I am CERTAIN that is has been kept in good repair.
Until that eventuality, let me assure you that this is one sweet-sounding set o’ pipes indeed. The first time I heard Joseph switch on that fourth A drone, the sound was so lush, I nearly wet my pants.
