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Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Hello everybody, I'm quite a new member here though I've been playing the tin-whistle and the Bodhran for two years.
This is going to be my second time in Ireland this August and I intend to buy a new bodhran that would fit my needs (my current one is a double-skinned, walton's pro untunable) and interested buying a Uillean pipes practice set.
First problem - Brendan White and Eckerman both have websites but as we all know, you can't hear your drum on the web (yet..) , I heard that McNeill's is not going to be open any time soon so I'm out of ideas on where to test those brands or alternatively buy one of them.
Second problem - Uillean pipes as I've heard are very problematic when it comes to finding a good maker (buying a bad bodhran isn't such a fatal mistake, but bad pipes leading the session.. ech..)
I'm quite lost here - I do realize that the pipes won't be ready till august but I do need to "try before you buy" and I don't know any makers personally...
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Ofer, I have played a practice set and a tunable bodhràn both made by Brian Howard in England.
I can vouch that he makes lovely instruments.
You can find him on the net. I'll see if i can dig up the exact address for you if you want it.
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
you could try Martin Preshaw in Derry, he has a web site ( url escapes me at the moment). I'm sure there are other uilleann pipe makers that you can visit, but the one I would really like to buy from, his wait list is probably beyond my lifespan-15 years or so at the moment,
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
If you want a nice bodhran i would suggest a Seamus O'kane. Loads of people have them and it is a bit of a cliché to bodhran players in Ireland but they really are good drums. I have one myself and you can get a great range of high and low tone on them!
For the pipes i would suggest you look at the Na Píobairí Uilleann website as it has a list of pipe makers and i would bet you could contact someone through the site who will be able to tell you who/what to get hold of! There are also usually second hand sets for sale on the site...
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Under NO circumstances should you buy a set of uilleann pipes from a music retailer. ALWAYS go directly to the maker and deal with the maker personally.
WHY?
1) Retailers usually acquire their pipes from Pakistan. Pakistani uilleann pipes are GARBAGE, with the exception of instruments that have been reworked into playing order by a known, reputable pipemaker, e.g. Tim Britton's reworked Pakistani instruments.
2) If the pipes the retailer has for sale are from a well-known reputable pipemaker, there will be a 50-100% markup over the maker's price list for the same item. Save money by dealing with the maker directly.
3) Most retailers know Jack divided by Sh*t about pipes or piping. They just sell the bloody things and that's about the end of it.
4) Some retailers claim they're just filling a need. WRONG! They're misleading beginners into thinking that Uilleann pipes can be bought off the rack like a guitar and it will work reliably without a lot of initial end user support and it just isn't the case. A truly well-meaning retailer will direct all uilleann pipe-related inquiries to a list of pipemakers like the one on NPU's website or to Pat D'Arcy's Uilleann Obsession site. The pipemaker should be able to provide the beginner with enough advice about reeds and other pipe maintenance issues so that the beginner can get down to some trouble-free practice.
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Thanks for the answers!!
First of all, I know the problem with retailers and apparently this is the first thing Uillean pipers always warn me about
Second, my point was - I can access many websites but I still have no way of knowing what the drum sounds like beyond the .wav file I can download, that's why I'm looking for shops in Ireland that sell these (hopefully I'll find drums that aren't made at Walton's or Roundstone...)
Unfortunately, I can't buy anything from England since the pounds are very expensive in my currency, and till England joins Euro (which will happen.. umm..) I'd have to settle for Dollars or Euro :(
I have heard of O'kane - They say his drums are very expensive and look a bit less modern than others, btw - Is he the one who lives in Limerick?
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
O'Kane is in Derry, NI . Last I heard his wait time was 12 weeks. I hear he's the best. I would have bought one of his, but he didn't get back to me for weeks and I had already ordered a Mance Grady drum, he's in Rhode Island, USA.
I love my Grady drum, it's excellent. It's made with great care, the skin is great quality and it's capable of a wide variety of tones.
Yes, O'Kane and Grady drums are expensive, but I think if you want the quality as regards a great instrument, it's worth every penny. We get off easy compared to fiddlers and pipers and box players!
Also, I wouldn't put too much importance on how modern a drum looks. Some of the best playing I ever heard was on ancient looking drums by some hundred year old guys playing without a tipper.
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
I would like to add that the Brendan White bodhrans are great. My girlfriends plays one of them and so do our local session members. It's amazing how easy and lovely sound my girlfiends double skinned bodhran can produce. Brendan's a great guy as well!
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
cthuilleannpiper hit it on the head correctly. Deal with a known maker,and if you can play a set, even better. A plug for Seth Gallagher here in the states, makes a great set and his wait list is around a year. Got to play a C set of his yesterday and I want one badly,
So anyone want to start a fund for me, I'd be much obliged
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Dear Mr " sheep "
I was talking to the original owner ( Stev. Chalmers /Chambers )
He told me that he had sold the business to " someone you know ", but I do not know who
& he expected that they would be in touch for new stock from me in apr a month or so
I think that they will be continuing to trade as McNeills ( of capel St. )& presumably the same phone No. I understood he had a web site but I never found it
Best regards
J.B.
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Perhaps it might be a good idea to remember that cthullianpiper seem to be vindictive
about foreigh made pipes it is hard to belive he hasn't a relative a pipe maker.
A gfew years ago many accordions were German,
many accordions were Italian,
Many "xxxx" keyboards & guitars were Japanese
Now they are Chinese.
Many of the products one buys are "Made in XXXX " but are NOT, only some often very MINOR mods done & " made in xxxx " stuck on.
I have 30 yers experience & only know a little but I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING about
There is only one way to know, look at it well for construction, appearence, performance & sound.
Our friend's attitude is VERY contributory to the crazy prices one hears quoted for various items
B.r.
J.B
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Dunno, there, J.B. Never known cthuillean to be particularly "vindictive", although certainly s/he's extremely opinionated -- nothing wrong with that. And the instruments (including the wood flute my husband got as a lark) out of Pakistani that are made specifically for the buy-an-instrument-for-a-song market certainly are famous for being not worth the wood they're made of. Have you ever heard of a *good* set of pipes coming out of the Pakistan makers? If so, who plays them?
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Well there's no reason for me to buy a pakistani instrument.
However, I would sure like to know if someone here knows shops in Ireland who sell tunable Bodhrans (any brand). Thanks!
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
I still have to side with cthullianpiper. Tim Britton "remakes" the pakistani pipes so that they are playable, but then its service after the fact (a full set of Pakistani pipes cost $2.6K or there abouts-no mean investment plus Tim's added efforts). I tried playing a set at a "well known store" and they were indeed trash, leaks everywhere and the owners were clueless on how to fix it other than here is a list of people that might help. The well known makers, gallagher, rogge, woof, all make wonderful instruments and worth the wait. Its the second tier makers ( a bad characterization, since anyone that tries to make a set of pipes that works is no mean feat) that have no reputation (as yet) that drives everyone crazy, i.e, does he deliver on time, can he make the reeds work... The instrument is hard enough, but to have it aggravated by a maker who is slow on help is really frustrating.
Ok-enough of my rant, Madam Zina, the delegation from California relinquishes the podium and allows the representative from the grand state of Mississippi to address this august body...
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Michael Vignoles of Ireland is a maker of both (primarily Uillean pipes, but he does a a nice bodhran as well) I believe his website is www.claddaghbodhrans.com
or do a google search with his name. Good guy to work with.
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
J.B., cthulleannpiper isn't being vindictive at all. It is well known FACT that the u.pipes of pakistani make are complete and utter crap - plastic reeds, no tuning, unplayable. I have seen them and tried to play them and can attest to this FACT. There is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to buy pakistani upipes when a nice set can be had from an American or European or even australian maker for a similar amount of money. this can be an expensive instrument and even the Crapistani sets are expensive.
To date, uilleann pipes of "quality" continue to be completely hand made in the traditional fashion. There is no easy or cheap way to get started. Cthull speaks the truth man.
Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Hello everybody, I'm quite a new member here though I've been playing the tin-whistle and the Bodhran for two years.
, I heard that McNeill's is not going to be open any time soon so I'm out of ideas on where to test those brands or alternatively buy one of them.
This is going to be my second time in Ireland this August and I intend to buy a new bodhran that would fit my needs (my current one is a double-skinned, walton's pro untunable) and interested buying a Uillean pipes practice set.
First problem - Brendan White and Eckerman both have websites but as we all know, you can't hear your drum on the web (yet..)
Second problem - Uillean pipes as I've heard are very problematic when it comes to finding a good maker (buying a bad bodhran isn't such a fatal mistake, but bad pipes leading the session.. ech..)
I'm quite lost here - I do realize that the pipes won't be ready till august but I do need to "try before you buy" and I don't know any makers personally...
Help?
P.s. Has anybody ever heard of Bill Writh?
# Posted on July 11th 2004 by thesheep
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Ofer, I have played a practice set and a tunable bodhràn both made by Brian Howard in England.
I can vouch that he makes lovely instruments.
You can find him on the net. I'll see if i can dig up the exact address for you if you want it.
Joe
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Try shop@howardmusic.co.uk
Joe
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by Joe Quinn
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
you could try Martin Preshaw in Derry, he has a web site ( url escapes me at the moment). I'm sure there are other uilleann pipe makers that you can visit, but the one I would really like to buy from, his wait list is probably beyond my lifespan-15 years or so at the moment,
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
If you want a nice bodhran i would suggest a Seamus O'kane. Loads of people have them and it is a bit of a cliché to bodhran players in Ireland but they really are good drums. I have one myself and you can get a great range of high and low tone on them!
For the pipes i would suggest you look at the Na Píobairí Uilleann website as it has a list of pipe makers and i would bet you could contact someone through the site who will be able to tell you who/what to get hold of! There are also usually second hand sets for sale on the site...
Hope this is of any help...
Mike
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by ceolty
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Under NO circumstances should you buy a set of uilleann pipes from a music retailer. ALWAYS go directly to the maker and deal with the maker personally.
WHY?
1) Retailers usually acquire their pipes from Pakistan. Pakistani uilleann pipes are GARBAGE, with the exception of instruments that have been reworked into playing order by a known, reputable pipemaker, e.g. Tim Britton's reworked Pakistani instruments.
2) If the pipes the retailer has for sale are from a well-known reputable pipemaker, there will be a 50-100% markup over the maker's price list for the same item. Save money by dealing with the maker directly.
3) Most retailers know Jack divided by Sh*t about pipes or piping. They just sell the bloody things and that's about the end of it.
4) Some retailers claim they're just filling a need. WRONG! They're misleading beginners into thinking that Uilleann pipes can be bought off the rack like a guitar and it will work reliably without a lot of initial end user support and it just isn't the case. A truly well-meaning retailer will direct all uilleann pipe-related inquiries to a list of pipemakers like the one on NPU's website or to Pat D'Arcy's Uilleann Obsession site. The pipemaker should be able to provide the beginner with enough advice about reeds and other pipe maintenance issues so that the beginner can get down to some trouble-free practice.
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by Hanley
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Thanks for the answers!!
First of all, I know the problem with retailers and apparently this is the first thing Uillean pipers always warn me about
Second, my point was - I can access many websites but I still have no way of knowing what the drum sounds like beyond the .wav file I can download, that's why I'm looking for shops in Ireland that sell these (hopefully I'll find drums that aren't made at Walton's or Roundstone...)
Unfortunately, I can't buy anything from England since the pounds are very expensive in my currency, and till England joins Euro (which will happen.. umm..) I'd have to settle for Dollars or Euro :(
I have heard of O'kane - They say his drums are very expensive and look a bit less modern than others, btw - Is he the one who lives in Limerick?
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by thesheep
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
O'Kane is in Derry, NI . Last I heard his wait time was 12 weeks. I hear he's the best. I would have bought one of his, but he didn't get back to me for weeks and I had already ordered a Mance Grady drum, he's in Rhode Island, USA.
I love my Grady drum, it's excellent. It's made with great care, the skin is great quality and it's capable of a wide variety of tones.
Yes, O'Kane and Grady drums are expensive, but I think if you want the quality as regards a great instrument, it's worth every penny. We get off easy compared to fiddlers and pipers and box players!
Also, I wouldn't put too much importance on how modern a drum looks. Some of the best playing I ever heard was on ancient looking drums by some hundred year old guys playing without a tipper.
Good luck!
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by gladys
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
oops, I should have given you weblinks...
Mance Grady: http://www.acebodhrans.com
Seamus O'Kane: http://www.tradcentre.com (I think that's it)
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by gladys
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
I would like to add that the Brendan White bodhrans are great. My girlfriends plays one of them and so do our local session members. It's amazing how easy and lovely sound my girlfiends double skinned bodhran can produce. Brendan's a great guy as well!
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by Hoed
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
cthuilleannpiper hit it on the head correctly. Deal with a known maker,and if you can play a set, even better. A plug for Seth Gallagher here in the states, makes a great set and his wait list is around a year. Got to play a C set of his yesterday and I want one badly,
So anyone want to start a fund for me, I'd be much obliged
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Dear Mr " sheep "
I was talking to the original owner ( Stev. Chalmers /Chambers )
He told me that he had sold the business to " someone you know ", but I do not know who
& he expected that they would be in touch for new stock from me in apr a month or so
I think that they will be continuing to trade as McNeills ( of capel St. )& presumably the same phone No. I understood he had a web site but I never found it
Best regards
J.B.
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by boorinwood
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Perhaps it might be a good idea to remember that cthullianpiper seem to be vindictive
about foreigh made pipes it is hard to belive he hasn't a relative a pipe maker.
A gfew years ago many accordions were German,
many accordions were Italian,
Many "xxxx" keyboards & guitars were Japanese
Now they are Chinese.
Many of the products one buys are "Made in XXXX " but are NOT, only some often very MINOR mods done & " made in xxxx " stuck on.
I have 30 yers experience & only know a little but I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING about
There is only one way to know, look at it well for construction, appearence, performance & sound.
Our friend's attitude is VERY contributory to the crazy prices one hears quoted for various items
B.r.
J.B
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by boorinwood
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Dunno, there, J.B. Never known cthuillean to be particularly "vindictive", although certainly s/he's extremely opinionated -- nothing wrong with that. And the instruments (including the wood flute my husband got as a lark) out of Pakistani that are made specifically for the buy-an-instrument-for-a-song market certainly are famous for being not worth the wood they're made of. Have you ever heard of a *good* set of pipes coming out of the Pakistan makers? If so, who plays them?
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Well there's no reason for me to buy a pakistani instrument.
However, I would sure like to know if someone here knows shops in Ireland who sell tunable Bodhrans (any brand). Thanks!
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by thesheep
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
I still have to side with cthullianpiper. Tim Britton "remakes" the pakistani pipes so that they are playable, but then its service after the fact (a full set of Pakistani pipes cost $2.6K or there abouts-no mean investment plus Tim's added efforts). I tried playing a set at a "well known store" and they were indeed trash, leaks everywhere and the owners were clueless on how to fix it other than here is a list of people that might help. The well known makers, gallagher, rogge, woof, all make wonderful instruments and worth the wait. Its the second tier makers ( a bad characterization, since anyone that tries to make a set of pipes that works is no mean feat) that have no reputation (as yet) that drives everyone crazy, i.e, does he deliver on time, can he make the reeds work... The instrument is hard enough, but to have it aggravated by a maker who is slow on help is really frustrating.
Ok-enough of my rant, Madam Zina, the delegation from California relinquishes the podium and allows the representative from the grand state of Mississippi to address this august body...
Oh sorry....
# Posted on July 12th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
Michael Vignoles of Ireland is a maker of both (primarily Uillean pipes, but he does a a nice bodhran as well) I believe his website is www.claddaghbodhrans.com
or do a google search with his name. Good guy to work with.
# Posted on July 13th 2004 by goatwhacker
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
go on http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/uilleann.html and you will actually be able to listen to different sets being played! and the site is only really to learn tunes off! Well useful!
# Posted on July 13th 2004 by ceolty
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
of pipes that was....lol....
# Posted on July 13th 2004 by ceolty
Re: Bodhran and Uilleann pipes, Buy through the Internet or Irish shops?
J.B., cthulleannpiper isn't being vindictive at all. It is well known FACT that the u.pipes of pakistani make are complete and utter crap - plastic reeds, no tuning, unplayable. I have seen them and tried to play them and can attest to this FACT. There is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to buy pakistani upipes when a nice set can be had from an American or European or even australian maker for a similar amount of money. this can be an expensive instrument and even the Crapistani sets are expensive.
To date, uilleann pipes of "quality" continue to be completely hand made in the traditional fashion. There is no easy or cheap way to get started. Cthull speaks the truth man.
# Posted on July 13th 2004 by anima