Hi all. I’m looking at upgrading to a half set, and will probably have to wait a while to get any Drones off Brian Howard, as he’s pretty busy with amazing new regs etc. Though I’ll contact him when he’s back from Oz.
However in the mean time I’ll probably buy a second hand half set and sell it when the drones appear. I’ve seem a Chris Bayley set and a James Daly set for sale. Anyone play these guys pipes? How are they?
You are close enough to borrow a set to try if you want - no obligation.
If you are coming by narrow boat nearest you can get to me is Guildford as the local canal never got itself built. Rail would probably be slightly quicker but the way they have been running recently I would not bet on it.
Is there a difference between a barge and a narrow boat? That’s what we always called them as kids - if I’m thinking of the right thing that is. Always had a fantasy of making pipes and living on the Shannon in one.
Patrick.
Technically speaking, barges are towed while narrow boats self-powered.
Now Patrick, what have I said about mentioning your fantasies in public? 
I play a half set in D by Chris Bayley, you can see a photo of them on the “Pictures of Your Pipes” topic. I also have a new Laburnum Chanter in C from Chris, and am currently waiting for the drones for this set-up. Hopefully by the summer I will be taking possession of a copy of a historic full set after the Taylors, with quad-bored regulators and great bass regulator.
Chris is extremely knowledgeable on the subject of pipes and pipe-making - he actually helped Dave Williams when he was starting out, and restores pipes for museums.
Tonally the D Chanter is excellent, in tune throughout the full two octaves, and it holds up well in both sessions and solo-playing. The flat Taylor-style keys are fitted true, do not wobble and return smoothly. The reed played well from the outset, and, after being trashed by me, was replaced free of charge, with an extra two thrown in for security.
The workmanship is first class, all joints work smoothly, nothing has vibrated loose in nearly a year of constant playing, and the quality of the turning and metalwork cannot be faulted. A nice touch is that the bag is welt-stitched with the smooth side inwards, and is very airtight. The bellows are quite compact, compared to some other makers’ work, but they are very efficient. The valves on the bag inlet and bellows outlet are not the old-fashioned hanging flaps of leather but substantial “plugs” of leather caged in a nylon shell. There is nothing to foul inside bag or bellows. A full set of replacement leather pads for Chanter keys and valves was included.
The drones are equally well-made, play in tune, are easy to tune and have a good volume.
I cannot fault the pipes or the afterservice.
If you cannot get over to Chris’s workshop then PM me if you want to phone and listen to the pipes.
Mike
Correction for above
Did not actually teach Dave Williams - he turned up on my doorstep when he was first starting out. All I did was introduce him to the “D” bit for boring long straight holes (he was given one as an example) plus some sets of measurements of pipes.
Dave was kind enough to pass on details of some of the historical sets he came across
Quite often get requests for information on making pipes hence the addition of the Rowsome Drones to my website. Will be adding the chanter shortly once I regain access to it as the company hosting it has been taken over and my password no longer works.
Chris, do you have a website featuring your work?
Hey Jofus,
Click on the WWW at the bottom of his email or go here:
http://www.bagpipeworld.co.uk/
Patrick.
I knew that…really…honest…thanks. Someday, when I really get it all together, I’ll actually open my eyes and look at stuff. Until then, I guess I will still have to buy vast quantities of bandages and betadine solution for the deep crevices I continuously leave in my forehead from walking into the obvious. 
Thanks again Patrick.