While considering all of the possible ways to spread out the cost of buying a set I started thinking about buying all of the pieces seperately as the money became available. The biggest question is, if I get a bag and bellows from seller A will a chanter made by B work with the other items? Are chanters by different makers interchangeable or not?
They normally don´t but unless you have two left hands and only thumbs it isn´t a big problem that you made them fit. The problem moreover are airtightness, volume and personal size. Therefore, you better contact a pipemaker.
As a fellow newbie, I suggest that you save up and purchase a starter set that will arrive ready to play whether it is new or used. I bought components to make up a half set. I have spent alot of time fiddling with the pieces and trying to make them work. I also suggest that you buy a set that can be built on, that is keys on the chanter etc.
Good Luck
It’s very common for pipers to have components from various makers mixed in their sets. Bellows from one maker, bag from another, chanter from a third maker, drones from a fourth maker, regs from a fifth.
The set I played for decades had six makers represented in it. Joe McKenna used to play a set that had two of the regs by one maker, the third reg by another. I had the same.
I would recommend getting the best bag you can, the best bellows you can. Have an efficient air-delivery system will help your progress.
The chanter doesn’t care who made the bag and bellows, or who made the drones and regs for that matter.
Getting everything from the same maker is fine if the bag is good and the bellows are good and the chanter is good. If not, use different makers.