Starting bid $500.
Chanter by Dave Williams 1991.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2372325621&category=624
“new sets sell for $1500 and have long waiting lists” (paraphrase)
Yeah.. but this set isn’t new, or even recently made.
Dionys
That’s what’s kinda neat about uilleann pipes, some people fall in love with them, pay big bucks for them, and then after a few years realize that it takes a whole lot more work, commitment, and investment than what they have, and they sell their pipes at give-away prices to people like us. 
Maybe I’m dreaming again.
I’ve been browsing the forum for tips since I’m just starting out and looking for my first practice set. Dave Williams seems to have a pretty good reputation here but I’ve also seen tips that recommend buying a practice set from a maker who is in reasonable traveling distance for when you have trouble with the reed. I’m in Wisconsin and Dave is in the UK and as much as I’d like to take frequent hops across the pond, that likely isn’t in the cards. So - if this practice set is as good as it appears to be, should I just ignore the advice about being close to the maker? Does anyone know what a new practice set from Dave Williams goes for t these days and what the wait time is?
Also, if anyone knows of any other practice sets that might be available in my area, let me know.
Thanks,
Craig
Hmmmm…I’ve been hoping a Williams stick would turn up one of these days. A couple of questions for those of you who might know-
How much has Dave’s chanter design (at least bore-wise) changed since '91?
Does he employ different internal dimensions to chanters of this type (this seems to be a beginner-type stick)?
Thanks!
Rob
Rob,
Hard to say how much the bore style has changed over the years. Maybe all pipemakers make fine adjustments over the years but basically I’d say the bore style has remained fairly constant over the years. My own D chanter made about 1980 plays easily, is well in tune and sits comfortably in the hand. He’s making more chanters these days with the scalloped holes but that’s the main change I think. You can’t tell from the photo on e-bay whether these finger holes are plain or scalloped.
John Rooney’s chanter pre-dates this one. Mick McGoldrick’s is probably the nearest I can think of in date that you might hear on record.
He does not have a different pattern on beginner chanters, just fewer keys, less fancy mounts and obviously no on/off key.
Ken
Like Ken I picked up my Williams chanter (+ drones and a tenor reg.) in August 1980 and it’s been a great chanter, nice tone, in tune and easy to play. Also an important fact is it’s very easy to reed. Essential if one doesn’t live near the maker.
From what I understand O’Briain, Froment and even Quinn & Kohler D chanters are not the easist chanters to reed for some reason? So if a Williams D chanter comes up for sale I’d say go for it.
The situation is that all pipemaker’s work is under ‘continuous improvement’. Williams work from 1980 is not identical to 1990 or to 2000+.
I know someone who brought a ca. 1980 set back to Dave Williams and he urged him to replace the set as he had changed the design so much. He preferred to not re-reed the set for the owner.
Many pipes go out to buyer’s ‘in tune’ but the elusive characteristic is tone.
I have never heard the Cillian’s, Froment’s, or Quinn’s chanters are difficult to reed. I do know that David Quinn has, on occasion, replaced an older (20+ yr) chanter with a new one. I also know that people have re-reeded Froment chanters successfully.
"The situation is that all pipemaker’s work is under ‘continuous improvement’. Williams work from 1980 is not identical to 1990 or to 2000+. "
Fair point Jim, but I would say Williams has evolved rather than undergone radical re-design on his chanters. Whatever you think about his early work, this should not detract from the desireability of the chanter currently up for sale.
I know at least three posters to this forum who would vouch that Williams chanters have that elusive tone. Can’t comment on the reedability of other makers, but Williams chanters tend to have a good reputation for being easy to reed.
Ken
Dave’s stuff is good kit. I’ve heard many of his chanters over the years and they’ve never been unpleasant, and the reedability is good.
And regarding O’Briains chanters being hard to reed up, it’s quite the opposite, they are as dependable as they get and a cinch to reed.
Alan
"And regarding O’Briains chanters being hard to reed up, it’s quite the opposite, they are as dependable as they get and a cinch to reed. " Alan B.
That’s good to hear from a reed maker. I was wrong then in thinking O’Briain’s chanters were difficult to reed. How about Alain Froment’s chanters do you think they are often difficult to reed? I’ve heard owners of Froment chanters say that Alain prefers that the let him have the chanter back for reeding and reed adjustment?
The Williams chanter’s been sold for 1275.00! If it’s good one, it’s a very good price I think. Not too many bidders either.
Congratulations Craigh - I’d say you have a good chanter there - let us know how you get on
Hi all,
Yep, I was the lucky bidder. I should receive the set on Thursday or Friday. The seller lives just down the road from Benedict Koehler and Benedict agreed to give the chanter and reed a final checkup before it gets shipped to me (Benedict made the reed 5 yrs ago). I’ve already alerted our local session piper (plays an Alain Froment full set) and he’s agreed to sit down with me and get me started. I’ve made contact with a semi-local instructor and I’m also looking into getting the Heather Clarke tutor and the NPU videos (just the first one to start or should I go for Vol 2 and Vol 3 as well?). The wife of our local piper has already contacted me about having my wife join the local piping widows club!
Cheers,
Craig
craigh, you’re off to a good start! Congrats on the Williams!