Well, I am having a lovely time playing and getting to know the “beehive” Cn 3/4 set constructed of Castella lemonwood by Koehler and Quinn that I had purchased recently. They are indeed a most lovely set of pipes.
A most unfortunate thing has happened, however, as a result of my purchase and satisfaction with the new set-o-pipes. My spectacular Koehler and Quinn Cn chanter in Ebony, which I purchased new 3 years ago, gets literally no play time. It is a great instrument and, as I firmly believe the chanter should be played and enjoyed to its fullest extent, I have considered making it available for sale. I’d be happy to keep it as a back-up but it was not crafted to lay around on my table. Also, I feel as if I’d be denying the players and listeners of Uilleann Pipes an opportunity to experience an instrument by these great present day makers.
Let it be known that this chanter, with a spare reed, could be wrestled from me for $1575 plus shipping expenses. I could have it at the SoCal tionol if an interested purchaser would prefer to do business at that venue. Expensive…sure…worth it…absolutely.
The chanter is of Ebony with artificial ivory. Brass chanter top. It has three keys: G#, Fn, and Cn. It is of classic expert K&Q workmanship. I would not be able to post a photo until later this week.
How long is the K&Q waiting lists these days, anyway?
Also, anyone have a good set of drones in C or a 3/4 set minus the chanter in C they want to sell? I need the rest of the set to go with this glorious chanter!
The Q&K chanter arrived this morning! I like these 18 hour waiting lists! (OK, I’ll stop gloating now…)
I don’t use the baritone drone on my Lynch concert set, just because I like the sound of just the tenor and bass together. Normally, I keep it plugged up with a golf tee. So I adjusted the bridle down on the baritone drone reed, now it plays in C! So, I can just stop up the bass and tenor with some blue-tack when I want to play in C, and stick the golf tee in the baritone when I want to play in D. Problem solved!
Here’s a quick recording I made tonight just to hear how it sounds… The C# (well, I guess its actually a B on the C chanter) is a bit low no matter how I finger or blow it, but I’m not worried, I think its because its so very dry down here today, won’t mess with the chanter reed until I see Koehler at the tionol, the reed might have to adapt a bit to the climate.
Very nice Michael! You’re getting pretty good on the pipes. But, knowing how well you play the whistle, I’m not surprised. I like the tunes played nice and slowly, like the way Brian McNamara keeps the tempo down on his new album. Very enjoyable with the hollow room effect also.
Michael, that playing is quite wonderful! The chanter sounds great as well, bright and airy. It does sound like you’ve been playing that one for some time…
Please please lose the reverb! It makes your drones sound thin and buzzy, and is so deep it gives a really cheesy impression. The playing sounds fine underneath, however.
Naturally a matter of personal taste, but Eskin’s second recording has about as much reverb as I think it would ever be healthy to take. Ever tried recording dry? Listen to recordings by Ronan Browne or Robbie Hannan, or Liam O’Flynn, or Jimmy O’Brien-Moran, or or or etc. Although they may dabble in the reverb from time to time, there is usually someone on hand in a commercial recording to make sure they don’t get carried away.
Lorenzo, no, I have nothing against that album as a whole, but you should hear his first album recorded for tourists. That is a real three-cheese sauce, and its too bad, because the playing underneath is so nice.
Excessive reverb is a well-recognized sign of the newbie recordist. Better to have it politely pointed out here, than to get flamed in front of someone whose opinion really matters to you.
Reminds me…we use to have an old Italian duffer who owned a music store in town, and he was known for his accordian and clarinet playing. Well, he use to write letters to Rolling Stone magazine and harp on everybody for going electronic, like keyboards, micrphones, guitar amps–basically anything artificial. But he loved the symphony, and a good concert hall that was built to work without a PA system. How pure can you get?
Where’s Waldo?
I love reverb. Especially old Ventures albums. Dick Dale! He shreds guitar picks as he plays.
I prefer the old boys, yes. In the good old days, when times were bad, to quote the title of a Dolly Parton song. I remember looking at an Italian made zampogna, it didn’t have any thread wrapping, no hemp beds - just bare wood on wood - I said “Geez, guys! Let’s move into the 17th century!”
Where’s Kevin?