Hello, I am thinking to get one, to have it as my only Concert D chanter, besides Flat set I will order. Any 1st hand experience about how good Penny chanters realy are (tone, tuning ect.) comparing to great Concert chanters??? Are they only for practising or they can be used also for real concerts, recordings… Thanks, Cheers
Daye’s chanters are very nice, especially for the price, and are not only for practice. Look on Youtube, I believe their are videos of his instruments being played. Seth
Assuming you have it properly reeded, they are as “in tune” as almost any chanter I’ve heard. For the tone, it all depends on how they are reeded. I’ve had 3 or 4 penny chanters and in general they have been at the louder end of the spectrum. I’m sure you could use a penny chanter for a concert or a recording.
The Daye Penny chanter is what got me back at the pipes (not that I had a lot of time in, but what I did have in was nothing but frustrating!). You can hear me at <6months on the Daye chanter on youtube (imnotirish1 channel)… I agree about the reed, and the loudness. Sometimes I find it ‘harsh’ sounding to my ears… but, that’s just my opinion of my own chanter and playing.
Cheers, Arbo
My wide-bore Penny chanter is definitely not loud. As for the tuning and overall tone, I love it to bits. However, in my experience, there seem to be some high harmonics missing from the sound. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on what kind of sound you like. Sometimes when I listen to chanters with those extra harmonics I think “that chanter sounds rich”. Other times, I think “that sounds too buzzy and penetrating”.
Thanks for this… yes, I think you nailed it here.
Arbo
Yes, I would second the thought that the PC may lack some upper partials. . .but the same could be said of some of the Taylor chanters I have heard. There is a tradeoff of volume for complexity. The tuning matched against drones is impeccable.
My Thompson chanter is a bit more complex in sound. . .and more complex to reed.
I have two excellent reeds from David, one quite loud and easy to play, and another chamber-quiet and easy to play.
Bob
For 30 years beginners have come by for their first uilleann lesson, and over the years I’ve heard just about everything.
My eyes light up when they come with a Daye chanter, because they always work! Every one of them, dozens of them, has played well, giving a nicely in-tune scale.
The record of high-end expensive wood chanters is much more spotty (I suspect the reed, not the chanter, is to blame in most cases).
I think Daye has spent the necessary time coming up with a chanter design and reed design which are compatible, which is more than can be said for many pipemakers.
Now, does a Daye penny chanter sound like Liam Og’s Rowsome? Of course not! But neither does anything else.