Hello… I’ve stumbled across some spare money, and have decided to go for broke… and buy an Andreas Rogge C# full set.
So, I know I want the full c# set with a fully keyed chanter and stop key – but that’s about all I know that I want. You see, I’m a tad indecisive about wood/mount choice. Please give your opinion on what would look the nicest/provide the best tone for a C# set.
Woods:
-Blackwood
-Ebony
-Plumwood
Mounts
-Boxwood
-Bone
-Real Ivory ( 
)
Many thanks.
Mikey
Hi Mikey
My first choice would go for plumwood with boxwood and brass
My new Andreas Rogge D wide bore full set
If I had a 2nd choice I would go for Ebony with boxwood and brass
This is a C# full set my Andreas Rogge
Cheers
Ferg
Hi Mikey
The plumwood B set that last year’s All Ireland winner played looked and sounded amazing, so I float my boat along with Fergumaun.
David
I would go with ebony and boxwood. Stay away from real ivory if you ever intend to carry your set from one country to another - too much hassle.
djm
Decision:
Although you guys advised me to get the boxwood mounts… I’ve decided on real ivory. I don’t plan on going anywhere, and hey, if I wanted to sell them (GOD FORBID,) I think it’d be a good thing that sets the pipes apart.
So, here it is:
Full set of plumwood, ivory, and brass uilleann pipes in C#.
Swan’s neck chanter air intake
Fully keyed chanter
Stop key
What’s the damage?
I’m calculating…
8332 Euros
or
$10,760.05 USD
So, I take it you’re located in Germany, then? 
I would stay away from plumwood for C#, IMO you want more kick for C#. Ebony would be the obvious choice.
P.S. - ivory probably will adversely affect resale value
I second Bill’s call that–tonally speaking–ebony is the best choice of the three, and you should probably think about choosing something different for mounts. Boxwood looks great and is far less hassle.
Hm, really?
In my sale experience, well, at least for GHB… ivory affects sales positively. I suppose since uilleann pipes have more of a variety of mount choice, the less hassle the better? I don’t plan to sell these pipes, anyhow 
Personally, I have several ivory decorations lying around the house from long ago - I love taking care of it and how it looks. Not the boxwood looks bad - but I love the look of ivory; the boxwood mounts I’ve seen look nice, but I haven’t seen tons, so maybe I should go see more before I decide.
As for the wood’s tonal qualities, I’d prefer the C# to be more mellow. The pipes pitched in C and B are wonderfully mellow, but simply sound a tad bit too flat… opinions?
I live in the US, and I understand customs are a hassle. I don’t intend to go anywhere other than in the US with the pipes, so I know I’ll have to deal with customs with the ivory, but Andreas provides paperwork, apparently.
Keep the ideas coming. I’d like to get as many opinions as I can before blowing about $10,500!
I don’t believe it is possible to import ivory into the US legally, even if the ivory is “pre-CITES”.
Thank you for your input - it’s been quite valuable!
If push comes to shove, I’ll go with boxwood.
I’ll double check with Andreas to make sure if/if not the ivory is able to be imported.
Thanks again!
I have to echo Bill’s concerns. I have had extensive dealings with the customs people, and the situation is getting much more unpredictable. I have been told point blank by several customs officials…from rank noobies to some upper level types, that the best rule of thumb is to steer clear of animal products. Even bone and antler are coming under increasing scrutiny…I have extensive experience dealing with them in this particular issue.
Secondly, if in several years a wood mount cracks or gets dinged, you can have another one turned. Ivory mounts get marred or cracked in several years…all bets are off. If the current trend indicates anything, it is that ivory products will be increasingly verboten as the years pass. Just something else to consider.
–Blake
Hm, well, the general consensus here is that I need to stay clear of ivory.
So it shall be, then! It seems like I’ll not only save myself hassle, but about ~1026 Euros.
Now, here is the question!
Imitation ivory
OR
Boxwood
Boxwood.
Plastic…Er, I mean “imitation ivory” tends to look a bit tacky, in my opinion. Then again, I’ve got it on my Highland pipes…I think it actually looks a bit less tacky now that it’s gone that kind of burnt orange color, but others seem to really dig the pearly-white plasticky look. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
Something natural anyway (preferably boxwood). Consider that a musical instrument is played (and made) out of aesthetical reasons. The aesthetics of plastic however are questionable. In the next future possibly more than today, when all the reasons for the climatic catastropy are enumbered (plastic production is one of them)
Stay away from ivory. If you want something that looks like ivory, the artificial ivory Andreas uses would fit the bill. It looks quite nice.
If I were you, I would only choose something white (i.e. ivory or the artificial stuff) together with silver and a light wood, i.e. boxwood, or a reddish wood like snakewood or cocobolo. I really don’t like the look of (art) ivory against brass at all. Ivory and silver is fine, but with a black wood (ebony, blackwood) it looks a bit sterile/cold IMHO. That combination looks better on flutes.
My favourite combinations are:
Make sure you get some extra stuff like an E regulator or a few more drones! They’re much better investments than some obscure mounting material. IMHO.
While boxwood and imitation ivory are common choices for mounts, don’t exclude other woods. Gordon Galloway has used a purple coloured wood (purple heart??) which works really well. His site shows a holly chanter with ebony mounts. Any reason why that cannot be reversed so you have a blackwood/ebony chanter with holly mounts? Quite a few options open to you.
I would go for ebony, boxwood, and silver. Ebony is a good choice for a flat set, plumb wood would probably be a good choice for concert pitch, to mellow it out. It looks great too.
Boxwood mounts are a great choice for ebony. It is a nice contrast, It is not so stark as the black and white effect you would get with art ivory. My concert pitch set is cocobolo and art ivory, made by Mark Donohoe, and looks great, but the ebony needs something that is not at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
Then silver just ties it all together and gives it a classy look. Hey, that is just how my C# is made. I was just playing it yesterday at the park while my kids were playing soccer. It is another lovely set, made by Bill Haneman.