Hi all. I’m a new member of this forum, and I need help deciding the best way to get into piping. Mostly I need to know how I should go about acquiring a good starter set of uilleann pipes. I had previously been looking at a starter set of so-called Pakistani pipes, but I’ve seen alot of negative comments about them, so I get the feeling that those pipes might not be the best way to go. I’ve got a budget of $500 for a starter set, up to $1000 for a half-set. I don’t have any problem buying preowned pipes. Anyway, if anyone either has ideas or has actual pipes, please let me know. Thanks!
Have a good read of the FAQ’s , everything you need to know about starting off is in there.
Hers’s a link to some pipes on e-bay (posted on this site)
You need to rethink your budget. If you see a half set for $1000, run away fast.
If you can spend $1000 on a poor quality half set then you can spend $1000 on a decent practice set (aka ‘starter set’). It would be money much better spent. Oh and please read the FAQ and other sticky posts!
This question comes up all the time, but you are unlikely to get good information by asking “what should I buy?”… especially if you are new to the instrument and this Forum, and can’t judge the answers you get according to the expertise of the respondant. Best bet is to go, in person, to a well-attended piping event (again, money well spent!) and ask around quietly, letting your ears educate you.
As was once very concisely put here, “good, cheap, quick… choose two” - in this business you may find it hard to even get two out of three. $1000 is at the cheap end of the scale for a starter set.
Look at it this way - if there was a quick cheap solution to your needs, everyone would have queued up for one already. Used is the best way to get a good set fast, but the best quality used sets are expensive too, and when buying a used set, having it checked out carefully by an independent, knowledgeable player is a must, unless you know you can trust the seller’s reputation and knowledge.
Best regards,
Bill
Come down to the Twin Cities for one of our monthly meetings and for sure our yearly tionól (gathering) which is third weekend in May. The website is http://www.gnipc.org. You can sign up for the mailing list there, You’ll be able to see and try a bunch of different sets and there are a few people selling sets right now that are kind of in your price range. Most importantly, if you come down for a meeting, you’ll be able to get some basic instruction and see if the pipes are for you.
The next club meeting is Sunday Feb. 27th.
You don’t need to read anything more than billh has said.
MHO
Is there somewhere on the board that we can find a similar meeting in our respective areas? I am in SE Pa.
Thanks!
I don’t know if there is a list of pipe clubs throughout the world. It might be nice for someone to come up with a list.