Can anyone offer my their opinions on David Daye’s uilleann pipes (particularly his half set?)
I’m interested in purchasing one and would like opinions – and no, cosmetics are NOT an issue! 
I had a chanter in the workshop a while ago and was impressed by it. Great pipes to start out on.
Hey Mikey! I’ve had a Daye chanter for about a year now, and it’s a marvelous little number! It plays perfectly throughout the two octaves, with a perfect on-pitch high G and high B.
I havn’t had the pleasure of hearing David Daye’s drones in person, but there are a couple of videos on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwKp66I4qmY&feature=channel_page The drones are not made by Daye, but the chanter is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-h359GBrQ Starts off with some smallpipes, but about 1 minute into the video he’s playing a Daye half set.
Chris.
I used to have a Daye set, and it was fantastic. His chanters have a great tone and the tuning is great. The drones also sound really nice. You can’t really go wrong with his stuff. Just be aware that you cannot get regulators - but by the time you’re ready for those, it will be time to upgrade to a nicer set.
i 2nd Sam on that. i have a very old one… i won’t get rid of it either.
Great to hear these things about his pipes
My current set is a Pakistani half set. I figured I will sell it along with another set of pipes as well as my electric violin and an amp to come up with the spare $1,350 + S&H. I’d like to do a few funeral services. I don’t think I’ll ever upgrade to regulators - at least not for now. With these hard economic times and other things to pay for, the pipes will just have to wait until I’m able to get a good amount of money saved away to buy a good full set with.
Oh, also, another question. I need some opinions.
Seeing how maybe I would want to upgrade to regs one day, what would you say the most suitable path for me to go would be? BC Childress pipes seem to be nice - but they’re more expensive, yet upgradeable.
Can anyone comment on these pipes? I’d have to get a starter set and upgrade through the years, though… I don’t know.
Could anyone give me some advice as to what to do?
If you are totally new to pipes, just get the beginner set of chanter, bag and bellows. The Daye sets are are popular. You can always resell it later. See how you get on with just the chanter for the first year or two before worrying about getting more.
djm
Hi!
After hearing Christoffer and Liraman play their chanters at last years workshop in Stockholm I’m fully convinced that it would be hard to find a better chanter to get started on considering what they cost. The only choice if you are on a limited budget. It will not be the greatest chanter, or the best sounding chanter around but it will serve you well for a number of years.
As for the half- or full-set options, stick with djm’s advice and learn to play the pipes first.
Your preferences will change as you learn and progress, and in the end you might even decide to go for a flat set and keep your Daye chanter for sessions. Why make a decision today, when you experience and knowledge is limited, about what you might want to play in the future?
A full set of uilleann pipes is a heavy investment and I’m sure glad I don’t need to stick with the first car I bough just after I got my driving license.
Considering your family name a set by Seth ought to be an option in the future 
/MarcusR
Oh, I know how to play - pretty well enough for my purposes at least.
I’m just saving up to buy a nice set of pipes that will keep me happy for a long time - and since I’ve heard some good things about Bruce’s pipemaking, I’d like to know more about it.
Also, I hate to keep asking questions, but does anyone know or have an estimate on how many people play the uilleann pipes worldwide?
Thanks! 
EDIT: A fast note on the Pakistani pipes - I was able to get them playing in tune after a LOT of work on them, so yes, I do consider myself learned on an okay instrument.