Is it typical for flat sets to play a little firmer?
I don’t know; my experience is the opposite, mainly because Geoff likes his pipes on the easier-to-squeeze side. He made mine what he considers stiff which in NO way shape or form seems stiff to me. 
The concert/wide D sets I’ve played have all been set up to need quite a wallop. Maybe the guy whose C# set you played had it reeded that way because he likes a stiffer reed, or because he wants to try to get the (relatively quiet) narrow-bore set a little louder . . . . ?
Stuart
no i don’t think that’s right. All Csharps of his i played were quite manageable, too easy even for a lot of pipers. In general geoff does not like or make hard reeds. My own C set is dead easy to play, I just hold it and it plays itself.
I find my B set is very easy to play, but needs more pressure for tuning some notes than others, and especially wants more pressure for things like tight stacatto triplets. Still, the overall pressure is less than for my D set.
djm
Hi,
Yeppy, I’m getting a SIMACK full set. The full set I’ve purchased was, made and owned by Ian (he happend to be the purchaser of the half set). The pipes are in very good condition. Ian’s going to post it when the other half set arrives, that should be in the next few weeks. The pipes are made from red lancewood and look verry simmilar to Tony’s set pictured above. When they arrive I might post a picture or two.
If you know of any tutor books and videos that you’d recommend let me know.
L42B
Congrats on the Mackenzie set
Take a fast pass over the FAQ’s
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=14466&sid=6e13c80695cffb5711423cb1d1e8ba31
Peter, you are a cracker
Great news and a full set too. Now don’t totally ignore your other pipes or they will be jealous.
Enjoy
Written By Douglas
Great news and a full set too. Now don’t totally ignore your other pipes or they will be jealous.
Enjoy
Douglas, I think I’ll have the pipe major to answer to if I don’t practice my GHB’s 
. Four people in the band have already expressed interest in me teaching them the UP’s (once I’m good enough 
).
Regarding the full set, Ian recommended (Um..I mean..Insisted) that it be set up as a half set. However he will send the regulators with the pipes. That way I can adjust the 1/2 set to a 4/4 set when ready. He also said to contact him by phone if I have any questions regarding the pipes (learning, maintenance, tuning etc).
L42B
I think it is a good idea to start off with a half set in stead of a full set…but also waiting to turn the drones on once you have got the chanter under control. Though there are many who will argue this point with me, sarting out with a half set laying across your lap allows you to get used to the feel of the pipes right away, rather than waiting for some point in time down the line…it is a akward thing to get used to at first. But the ‘biggie’ is to learn the chanter before ‘using’ the drones along with it.
Congratulations on the new set L42B!