Anybody with knowledge of pipes here, can you look at this link and can you tell if this is good value or if these pipes would be good. (I know it's hard to tell from a picutre!:p)
I am interested in getting some pipes but no idea where to start to buy a set.
You'd really want to know who made the first one before you even think about it. Stay way clear of the second and any other Asian/Pakistani made pipes.
I looked at the product description for the first:
"Blackwood".
Okay, who says so"? What kind of black wood? Part of my desk is now "black" wood - I spilled some coffee.
"Silver"-plated anything gives me pause, as bad plating will come back to bite you.
Pardon my harshness, especially when I do not know either of these vendors, but "Let the buyer beware!" should be you guide.
Both of these appear to be simply sellers of a piece of woodturning and plumbing, with no investment in whether they are actually good, working, quality musical instruments.
In short, they can swindle you and not have a name and a reputation to defend.
I second the advice to check chiff and fipple. The UP forum there has a sticky thread on just this subject. As indeed does the flute forum on the flute equivalent...
Check npu www.pipers.ie for advice, maker list and sales.
Try to find somebody who is at leat an intermediate player to support you...
Maybe you can have the set for testing for a few days.
The first one might be okay but you should have an experienced piper test drive it for you before purchasing it. It may need reeds. Don't buy a set without working reeds unless you know you can reed it or have someone reed it for you. It's just a bag of sticks without reeds.
I see you're in Belfast. You shouldn't have trouble finding teachers there, as I know of Belfast pipers who are teaching and running workshops. Also, hundreds of pipers (not just uilleann) will descend on Armagh in November for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. It would be good to check that out, as it's a fantastic opportunity to chat with lots of different pipers, including makers, and hear lots of different sets.
There´s a Benson & Cornelius 4 keyed chanter with leather bag and bellows for sale only 1400 USD which is a very good buy. Tim Benson and Stephanie Cornelius are a couple of makers to watch out for together with Brian Bigley. If I was starting out I´d grab this set as it´s a bargain. Brian Bigley is making chanters based on a Dave Williams chanter as is Evertjan Hart in the Netherlands. Check them out or grab the Benson & Cornelius set while you can!!
That set looks so nice, if I had the cash I would probably get it.
I signed up for a class with Tom Clarke in Belfast and am able to hire a practice set for the course so that'll get me started. I don't want to spend a lot until I'm sure I will be able to play the instrument / keep my interest when I realise how hard it is.
Learn how to identify Pakistani pipes: go on Ebay, search "uilleann", and carefully look at all the photos. You'll soon see that the Pakistani pipes are very distinctive in appearance.
There's a seller on Ebay, some guy in Ireland who calls himself "irishpipemaker", who sells Pakistani pipes he claims to have made himself. They're obviously Pakistani, but he says over and over in the strongest terms that he is the maker. He even posted photos which he claims show him making the pipes. The photos in question show no such thing. They show only a few blocks of wood which are an entirely different species of wood than the pipes are made of. The way he words things makes it clear that he knows nothing about how pipes are made.
The best value in pipes are the David Daye chanters and drones. Yes they look horrid, but they play four times better than many fancy-looking wood pipes that cost four times more.
Pipes advice
Pipes advice
Anybody with knowledge of pipes here, can you look at this link and can you tell if this is good value or if these pipes would be good. (I know it's hard to tell from a picutre!:p)
I am interested in getting some pipes but no idea where to start to buy a set.
http://belfast.gumtree.com/belfast/99/28345699.html
Thanks
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by amongthelilies
Re: Pipes advice
Or would something like this be any good? (much cheaper)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GEOFFREY-NEW-MODEL-HIGHTED-UILLEANN-PRACTICE-SET-UR5_W0QQitemZ250288753521QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250288753521&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by amongthelilies
Re: Pipes advice
You'd really want to know who made the first one before you even think about it. Stay way clear of the second and any other Asian/Pakistani made pipes.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by kilfarboy
Re: Pipes advice
Have a look at Chiff and Fipple.com's uilleann pipe forum. They have loads of information about how to acquire a set.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=b162729d81f404248adf595e5ab3b101
In any case, Peter is right. Never buy a set with an unknown maker. A dodgy set of pipes will slow your progress down tenfold.
Also, try to attend a festival or tionol in your area.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Pipes advice
Thanks for the advice. Chiff and Fipple site seems to be down at the minute but I will check it later.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by amongthelilies
Re: Pipes advice
I looked at the product description for the first:
"Blackwood".
Okay, who says so"? What kind of black wood? Part of my desk is now "black" wood - I spilled some coffee.
"Silver"-plated anything gives me pause, as bad plating will come back to bite you.
Pardon my harshness, especially when I do not know either of these vendors, but "Let the buyer beware!" should be you guide.
Both of these appear to be simply sellers of a piece of woodturning and plumbing, with no investment in whether they are actually good, working, quality musical instruments.
In short, they can swindle you and not have a name and a reputation to defend.
Do you trust them with your money?
Good luck.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by Rook
Re: Pipes advice
Also look on http://www.uilleannobsession.com/ for used sets
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Pipes advice
I second the advice to check chiff and fipple. The UP forum there has a sticky thread on just this subject. As indeed does the flute forum on the flute equivalent...
Consensus is - don't do it...
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by Crackpot
Re: Pipes advice
Check npu www.pipers.ie for advice, maker list and sales.
Try to find somebody who is at leat an intermediate player to support you...
Maybe you can have the set for testing for a few days.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by swisspiper
Re: Pipes advice
The first one might be okay but you should have an experienced piper test drive it for you before purchasing it. It may need reeds. Don't buy a set without working reeds unless you know you can reed it or have someone reed it for you. It's just a bag of sticks without reeds.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Pipes advice
I see you're in Belfast. You shouldn't have trouble finding teachers there, as I know of Belfast pipers who are teaching and running workshops. Also, hundreds of pipers (not just uilleann) will descend on Armagh in November for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. It would be good to check that out, as it's a fantastic opportunity to chat with lots of different pipers, including makers, and hear lots of different sets.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by TheSilverSpear
Re: Pipes advice
After looking at a few pictures I think the first set is yet another 'Geoffrey' model. Steer clear.
# Posted on September 8th 2008 by kilfarboy
Re: Pipes advice
There´s a Benson & Cornelius 4 keyed chanter with leather bag and bellows for sale only 1400 USD which is a very good buy. Tim Benson and Stephanie Cornelius are a couple of makers to watch out for together with Brian Bigley. If I was starting out I´d grab this set as it´s a bargain. Brian Bigley is making chanters based on a Dave Williams chanter as is Evertjan Hart in the Netherlands. Check them out or grab the Benson & Cornelius set while you can!!
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=61486
Tim Benson
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=26752026
Brian Bigley
http://cdbaby.com/cd/brianbigley
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=44556243
Evertjan Hart
http://www.hartdd.com/reedmaking/
http://www.hartdd.com/reed/
http://www.myspace.com/flingspace
# Posted on September 9th 2008 by Steamwilkes
Re: Pipes advice
That set looks so nice, if I had the cash I would probably get it.
I signed up for a class with Tom Clarke in Belfast and am able to hire a practice set for the course so that'll get me started. I don't want to spend a lot until I'm sure I will be able to play the instrument / keep my interest when I realise how hard it is.
Thanks again for the suggestions.
# Posted on September 9th 2008 by amongthelilies
Re: Pipes advice
Those top two links are both Pakistani pipes.
Learn how to identify Pakistani pipes: go on Ebay, search "uilleann", and carefully look at all the photos. You'll soon see that the Pakistani pipes are very distinctive in appearance.
There's a seller on Ebay, some guy in Ireland who calls himself "irishpipemaker", who sells Pakistani pipes he claims to have made himself. They're obviously Pakistani, but he says over and over in the strongest terms that he is the maker. He even posted photos which he claims show him making the pipes. The photos in question show no such thing. They show only a few blocks of wood which are an entirely different species of wood than the pipes are made of. The way he words things makes it clear that he knows nothing about how pipes are made.
The best value in pipes are the David Daye chanters and drones. Yes they look horrid, but they play four times better than many fancy-looking wood pipes that cost four times more.
# Posted on September 12th 2008 by Richard D Cook
Re: Pipes advice
Thanks for the warning and tips Richard
# Posted on September 29th 2008 by amongthelilies