Hi,
i am looking to buy a good 1/2 set of uilleann pipes and am wondering who the best makers would be to look at. I am a GHB Player and know nothing other than that there are a few makers and prices vary widely. I assume that someone who can offer a set in four weeks would be no good and that the foreign imports would be the same.
Look forward to listening to some experienced Uilleann piper advice
Where do you live? It is desirable to buy from a maker near you, if possible.
I would be suspicious of anyone making a half-set from scratch in only four weeks, but there are existing sets that can be had right away.
There are some very good makers made in “foreign” countries such as Japan, Germany, France, etc., but if by foreign imports you mean those made in Pakistan and sold on ebay, then yes; avoid those by all means.
Yes i meant Pakistan 
I am in Stirlingshire. I have heard of Andreas Rogge and Patrick O’Hare. Hubert Kwisthaut quoted 4 weeks but as i am new to this it seems to be a minefield trying to buy something affordable at a decent timescale.
There is a GHB maker now making uilleann pipes but they are GHB makers primarily so am not sure about quality and sound.
I was going to try and teach myself with a tutor book if one exists and use youtube demonstrations from a respectable source before i develop bad habits.
Thanks for your reply
Should have said Stirlingshire, Scotland
I didn’t know there were any others! (my wife is from South Lanarkshire).
You are fortunate; their are quite a few pipemakers in the U.K. Two excellent ones that I know of are Chris Coe in Cheshire: https://www.facebook.com/www.coeuilleannpipes.co.uk and Martin Preshaw in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland: http://www.martinpreshaw.com/cms/
Both learned from David Quinn.
You will have to check with both to see what their waiting list is like.
will have a look. thanks very much
The nearest makers to you would be.
Ian Kinnear
Gordon Galloway - this is an older site
Kenny McNicholl’s KM bagpipes site has already been mentioned.
David
Thanks for that. Have emailed Kenny yesterday so am waiting on a reply. Will Check out Ian Kinnear today
Hi there, just so happens I have a really nice half set coming up for sale very soon.
Drones are by Steven Vickers, Chanter and Bellows are by Chris Coe from Chester.
The set balances very well and I can certainly send videos of theset being played .
It’s a top quality set and will set the would be piper on the road for many years to come.
Although the Chanter is unkeyed, chris Coe can fit keys in the future as there are blocks for keys.
The set isn’t cheap(I’m looking to get around £2500) but as I mentioned it’s a top quality half set.
If interested you can message me here or email me ben(at)benwalker(dot) org
All the best
I have a delightful Plum and box B chanter from kenny. A big thumbs up there.
If you are looking for instant gratification
Kwisthout half set in case
on eBay.
David
PS another 
for Kenny, he made the stock, drones and chanter for my D set, and I have a C chanter of his as well. (he is making nice low D whistles as well).
Sam Lawrence in Leeds.