Any thoughts on the vignoles set on ebay now??
Thanks!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16226&item=3719625580&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
I can’t say anything about that set on eBay, but another piper close to me had (and maybe still has) a practice set from MV. It was one with nice carvings on the bellows. 
But that doesn’t say anything about the sound … does it?
The sound of the set I know was really nice and also the sound volume went well during the local sessions. There were some problems with the reed - but that might have been due to the dry climate here.
From the telling of the piper I got the point that MV is really cooperative and gives good support.
Stay tuned, Thies
Michael V is very nice, very supportive and in general a good person. The outward appearance of his sets is great. That being said, I’ve had mixed reviews from people playing them and from sets I’ve played regarding sound. Considering how many of those problems may have been inexperienced players or reed situations, I will suggest what I always suggest for anyone’s set: Play the set you’re going to buy before you purchase it.
Dionys
I have to agree with the others on the thread having had a Vignoles set in the past. Play the set before you buy it!
Use the search function to find some previous discussion about Vignoles… Michael’s comments carry significant weight.
Here is one such posting:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?topic=632&forum=6
“Play the set before you buy it” –
That’s the sort of advice which can best be applied to virtually anything - a new car, a used car, a trumpet, a pair of shoes, a hat… of course someone should attempt to play a set beforehand, but how is that always possible?
Mr. Eskin, I understand you had a bad experience from purchasing a set by Michael Vignoles via E-bay, and that is surely regrettable.
I happened to have purchased a set directly from Michael Vignoles, back in 1996, and since that time I have experienced nothing more than the usual problems that come with playing in a dry climate - that is, the “problems” such as they were, were all reed-related due to drying out here in Colorado. Once I found suitable “dry climate” reeds (several piper friends here in Colorado helped me in this regard), the set worked fine, and still does.
There is one thing for which I will always credit Michael - he takes the time to help a piper who has purchased his pipes. I have visited his home on 2 occasions in the past, and he has, on both occasions taken MORE time than he initially promised to provide to me - and NEVER has he asked for compensation for his time.
By all means, a prospective buyer should make an attempt to play them before buying them - I think that goes without saying, although it’s not always possible.
There’s my $0.02 on the matter.