I’m looking for advise and opinions on pipemakers.I’m in the market for a full set D .I’m thinking about kevin thompson,martin preshaw,brendan ring, andreas rogge, charles roberts, dave williams, des seery .I’m in the 6000 euro bracket any one in europe really
Check these out first.
FAQ, FAQ FAQ
NPU’s article, Buying a Set of Uilleann Pipes
UP information list’s Pipe Makers, Instruction, Advice
I’m looking for advise and opinions on the quality of the workmanship of the pipemakers and the types of sound eg. loudness, tone etc
Unfortunately, that is like asking “what’s your favorite color?” Then trying to describe that colour/color to someone who is visually impaired (don’t want to use the ‘b’ word!)
Everyone has a different opinion of what sounds “best.”
My recommendation is to take the list of makers that you have compiled and do a search on this forum for information and opinions on them. Then attend the next Tionol you can get to and find a sound you like, and/or visit several makers.
Welcome to the journey! -gary
If you go over to the Doran festival in February you will certainly hear plenty of Dave Williams sets. Probably also Martin Preshaw and possibly Brendan Ring - at least if he turns up himself.
Williams is generally regarded as the best concert pitch maker around. As for sound, tone etc, try Paddy Keenan’s new CD and/or recording of John Rooney et al on Pat D’Arcy’s website. Tone and loudness is what you want it to be and how you set up your reeds. Years ago I had a go on Rooney’s set when it was up at Dave’s for some maintenance, it look real effort to keep it going. My own Williams chanter & regs play very sweetly with not much pressure, but Rooney nearly drowned me out when we had a few tunes together.
Dave copied my bass drone dimensions last year so now offers a more mellow narrow bore drone set up as well as the full -on Crowley style drones.
Look at waiting lists and weigh up how long you’re prepared to wait for the quality you’re aiming for.
Sorry to the champions of other makers for the overt plug
Ken
Says who? Where do such broad pronouncemnts of quality come from?
Jeff
Ken is probably saying (if I may speak for him), that over here (UK) he (Williams) is highly regarded as one of the best, and a lot of the top/best players have his work. For sure, I always recommend him in the top 3-5 makers I’m familiar with. I haven’t ever come across work from the US makers amongst the Irish and British players I’ve met, only American players, and that’s not many either, so we have little to compare to. Even the recorded US players I’ve heard play Irish/Brit made instruments. Not that I doubt the quality of some makers set. “You say Quinn I say O’Briain” shrug
Alan
But WE (the US) are the CENTER of the UNIVERSE!
I think Jerry O’Sullivan has recorded with Seth Gallagher pipes. Actually, anyone know of recordings made with US-made UPs?
Aside from Taylor sets, that is. 
Stuart
I understand Paddy Keennan is playing a Koehler/Quinn boxwood chanter now.
[Says who? Where do such broad pronouncemnts of quality come from?
Jeff[/quote]
In this case we don’t have to wonder. Please check with the author of the statement - he made the statement.
That is a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the question. NO ONE is definitive on Irish piping - playing, teaching, writing, making. Most people’s comments are naturally based on their experience which tends to be more local than international and definitely episodic.
Pipemakers (and players) don’t agree on tuning, setting up reeds (volume, etc), or playing. Many pipemakers have ‘followers’. Given the substantial commitment needed to acquire pipes (time, money, etc), it is not surprising that many people support the one who made their pipes.
Quite well-said, Jim.
That’s one of the things about these nonstandardized very custom instruments. Not only do you have to find a maker whose work you like, you have to figure out what it is you really want.
Over in my other life as a flute player, you see folks flitting from maker to maker more quickly, probably partially because of the relative INexpensiveness of the instrument (compared to uilleann half-+ sets). And then there end up being very adamant camps for each maker.
Another consideration (an important one, I think) is that this buyer’s in the EU, so he’s largely considering EU makers. It’s a lot harder to order stuff from over here, and much harder to send things back and forth should something need adjustment.
Stuart
Thanks Jim and Alan -
Says who? - says me.
Stuart’s right, Askmearse lives in Dublin, he’s looking for a Europe based maker for a set in D. My comments are based on my experience of about a dozen sets of Dave’s pipes, tried over the years, and reactions to the tuning, balance and tone of my own set. I suggested the Doran festival because a lot of the people who turn up there play Williams sets. Yes, Keenan doesn’t play the Williams chanter but the rest of the set is Dave’s.
If anybody asks me in a session about my pipes I say they’re Williams and would recommend him any day to anybody. Can’t see any difference in doing it here. Jim makes a good point, anybody happy with a good set will recommend their maker. Ask Keenan or anybody associated with the Dorans/ Rooney and they’d say the same. Wiliams sets don’t all look the same or sound the same, in my book that ability to adapt to a player’s preferences makes him a good pipemaker.
Ken
Nice Avatar Alan! 
Wish I’da thought of that.
That’s one of ABs reeds too. (I know) 
Psssst…hey pipers, who do you like better: your pipe maker or reed maker?
I just can’t understand why elbogo doesn’t send me his extra Dave Williams boxwood chanter (sigh). 
Isn’t Kieran O’Hare playing a Kirk Lynch set?
Lorenzo, leave me alone! I like my Williams blaster, with the ABurton reed! But be that as it may, I’ll soon be getting my Kirk Lynch half set… and then maybe I’ll “loan” it to you for a spell. I need a better reed for the Hubbert chanter, which is a lovely chanter.
Sturob:
Yes, kieran O’Hare plays Kirk Lynch pipes on his debut CD, as well as O’Sullivan, on The Gift, for all the D chanter work. Also, as it says on Kirk’s site, do Issac Anderson and Elliot Grasso.
Lorenzo,
I only put the smiley on it cos’ I couldn’t quite capture a reed in flames properly, god knows how many I got through trying
Alan
Hi Alan!!
hiya jeff.
Alan, You might have to settle for drawing flames (like decals) on your reeds. I think that would be appropriate, after all…they’re pretty hot.
elbogo, okay. I’ll loan you a couple of fine Koehler reeds I have (for your other chanters) in exchange. Or, whatever you want… money, wine, whatever you’d like…you name it.