what do people who play or have tried these chanters think of them?
are they good for volume/tone/being in tune?
I think you’ll find that most people have a very high opinion of David’s work, including myself. If you’re just starting out, there’s nothing better for the price and delivery time.
The tone, tuning, and volume are good. David is actually one of the best reedmakers available. I know a lot of people who have said you’ll be hard pressed to find a more stable reed.
My teacher plays a full Gallagher set, but he keeps a delrin Daye chanter in his case for emergencies. He uses it when he’s playing under adverse conditions (extreme humidity, etc) and his Gallagher chanter just won’t behave.
David’s Web site states that delivery time is between 6-8 weeks. He generally keeps to that deadline, but if life, the universe, and everything gets in the way, then it can take a bit longer.
My set ran over deadline by about two months and he provided a rebate on the cost of the set. Another fellow in my class was caught in the same traffic jam and he got a free NPU tape for his trouble.
Even if it’s late, 4-5 months for a decent practice set is a hard thing to complain about considering the standard waiting list for other makers.
That’s my opinion. I’m sure you’ll hear others.
John Harvey
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[ This Message was edited by: rhodeirish on 2002-09-24 13:31 ]
I love mine. If you get one and have second octave E instability, refer to my post from a couple of weeks ago “2nd octave E”. Alan Burton gave the solution for the problem and my chanter has been more stable (no auto-cran) and easier to tune ever since. I also got a nice G# when I play A with the chanter off the knee. Very useful.
Marc
I really like my Daye chanter, and Dave’s a great guy…exceptionally ethical and extremely knowledgable. Plus he will do everything he can to help you get started…
I hate to be the one to bring balance to the force here…he he he, but my experience has been different:
First off, David is a SUPER nice man, but slow to respond to emails at times. I must have sent him 10 -15 that have somehow “missed him” as he puts it.
As for the quality of his chanters, they LOOK very nice, especially for the money, but mine is STILL quite badly out of tune with itself, and others.
His reeds play loudly, so if you’re looking for a quiet set, either plan to re-reed it, or look into another maker. I’ve now gone through three of his reeds (two of which cracked within weeks of receiving them) and finaly decided to have another player reed the chanter instead.
VAST improvement, both in tone and volume. Tuning is still a bit hairy here and there, but it’s better than it was to begin with.
I have asked David about his reeds, and in his defense, he’s always just sent a new reed out no questions asked. He uses a very hard cane, that is supposed to be more resistant to humidity changes and all, but the flip side is the loud volume, and poor tuning it seems.
All in all, I would say play one first, if at ALL possible, and if not, ask David as many quastions as you feel need answered before you order.
His lead when I ordered was stated at 6 weeks. I received my set in 10. Still pretty fast compared to most makers, but for an anxious new piper, I would have liked a little more communication on his part, either on his site, or in an email.
So, he’s a good guy, but just make sure what he makes is what you want, and expect. Make sense? Hope some of this helps.
Bri~
is anyone in the UK using d daye’s chanters?
Brian-just curious, is it frustrating trying to keep reeds going out there in the dry dry air of Utah? Or have you developed a reliable way to keep them working?
I have never seen one in the UK.