Anyone know if “hackwellwire” stills knocks around this list?
I sure do knock around this list - with whom do I have the pleasure?
Sorry, we don’t know each other… this is getting spooky I know 
I noticed a thread where you were considering purchase of a Bayley set, did you plump for it eventually or choose another maker. That was my question as I am ‘having a look at’ the UK makers. 
If you would prefer to make comments offline, I will understand.
Hi. Yes I did purchase the Bayley set in the end after quite a bit of research into others.
I can say that this set is very good quality and is well worth the money considering CB’s sets are fraction of the price of ‘most’ other makers.
I went for a concert set D, taylor style chanter (block mounts) which plays very well. I did have some tuning problems on the high E but I think this is a common tune problem with most. Much practice brings it in tune by manipulating fingers and positions.
The only thing with CB pipes, is delivery. This can be very long but I guess thats the same with all pipe makers as they are all hand made. If you want them for christmas, you had better order now!
CB is also very helpful in after sales and you can trust him to deliver, albeit a little late.
Good Luck!!
A real mix of pluses and minuses. 
Hey hackwellwire, do you play these in any pub sessions so I could get a chance to hear them?
I am North West UK based.
You never know - I may even stump up for a pint or two
TML,
Regarding tuning in E, many chanters, particularly those based on a Rowsome model, play E a little flat in the second octave and a little sharp in the lower octave. It’s par for the course. I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a problem.
And it’s easily fixed with a bit of bees wax in the 2nd hole and some undercutting as well.
Cheers,
DavidG
TML,
PM me to arrange a hearing/eyeballing. I am based in Liverpool. Leave it till after St Chartier - about 10 days or so.
Mike
After St Chartier, oh I see… are you taking along his wares!
[ http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=371430&highlight=#371430 ]
His pipes are really good quality and very well made.
If you already play then they can take a bit of adjusting too as they work at a lower pressure than a lot of makes. Very similar to Brian Howard’s in this respect. This is best as as it means the drones and the regulators need less air and you will not have to pump the bellows too much
Peter Laban’s general quote from a month or so back is particularly apt and applies to most makers instruments
“You will have to both learn to adjust them and adjust to them”
Chris gets a lot of callers and has trouble turning people away - his house is too easy to reach as well as being only a few miles from Hobgoblin ! He has said that he intends to move somewhere more inaccessible once his kids have left school
Will be chasing him for a full set of regulators later this year - maybe all four as the main stock has the socket in place for a double bass
Thanks again for a great set of pipes
Signing off now for a week’s holiday in Spain hunting the ‘Arundo Donax’ in it’s native habitat
Elmek
I am delighted to see that CB pipes have quite a wide custom
In reply to do I play in sessions, unfortunately not on the pipes (YET!!!). I only got them beginning this year, and being a musician for over 30 years, they are most definitely one of the most difficult instruments to play, but one of the most pleasing when you do. I reckon in 2 years i’ll be ready (optimistic) to play add-hoc like I can on the whistle.
I had my 40th party in april, turned into a charity event for kirsty appeal. For that of which I set myself a challenge - to play a gig set of riverdance, starting off with Caoineadh ChChulainn, yes on the pipes. I practiced every night for 2 hours and just about hit it off, in fact most said it was marvellous (from pro musicians) so this has encouraged me to try even harder. Without wanting to bore everyone, I also had some very pretty Irsh Dancers from the original Riverdance Cast. Needless to say, we also had mucho pints of the black stuff, GUINNESS!!! Maybe thats why all thought my turn was great (???) 
Sounds like a great night. But be careful. You’ve heard of the expression Beer Goggles. Guinness has also been known to give musicians Beer Head-Phones - the music you hear yourself playing sounds much better than it really is. Happens to me all the time!!! 
I will contact off-board to see if we can meet up to see the pipes - I would prefer to see the dancers but what hey …!
Well. I’ve seen the pipes and I’ve heard the music. This man’s rendition of Davy Spillane’s Riverdance favourite is superb. He should be encouraged by all on the UP forum to post it here for all to hear.
This from a man with less than six months experience on the pipes is stunning, its enough to make you think - you just might pack it in and take up the bodhran! But… ahhh nooo. 
Smashing, well done hackwellwire! 
Dear TML,
When you visited my house to hear the Bayley pipes, I just wondered if you actually placed an order for the half set.
Its just that I have not been able to contact Chris (I mentioned that I was having a few problems with an outstanding delivery). I just can’t contact him for my bits and pieces owed and just wondered if you went for it and/or if you have made contact?
No. I did not order a Half Set. I was soooo keen on them - I placed an order for a FULL set.
I cannot wait to get some hours on them and to get some tunes out of them too.
Yes, I went down to Surrey to see him. I have made reference to this in another post. I even mentioned your issues to Chris and he remembered. Chris will have to answer your questions for himself but I genuinely believe ‘no malice is afoot’. I think, as was mentioned in other posts, he had a problem with callers dropping on him and playing on his helpful ‘open door’ manner. His workshop opens right onto the road and is soooo easy to get to. My previous pipemaker (Charles Roberts) had a workshop that needed sherpers and St. Bernard dogs to find!
This easy access and helpful manner, by his own admission, delayed his planned work and now he is back at the helm pushing hard to get the schedule back on track.
Thats my humble ‘take’ on what’s happened from a couple of phone calls and a visit to his workshop. I hope this is the case because, as you rightly demonstrated to me, Chris Bayley pipes are a beautiful sight to behold (& hear) and easy to play. He has a talent that is certain. Nevertheless, I hope you get the issues sorted and maybe soon we will hear 2 sets of Chris Bayley pipes in synch.
Hi,
Chris has since been in touch and explained his problems. As you say he is a wonderful pipemaker and I would certainly not misjudge his efforts.
All will be sorted soon as Chris says and I hope his problems subside for his healths sake.