I’ve been playing whistle for a bit, but every time I hear the pipes I get overwhelmed with a desire to play them. I only live about 10 miles from David Daye (takes over an hour to get there because he’s on an island), so I’m very seriously contemplating contacting him about a set of pipes. I’ve thought about Pat Sky’s budget set, but it makes a lot of sense to buy from Daye since he’s just a ferry ride away. Is there any way to get this bee out of my bonnet other than gettting a set of pipes? My wife is just now starting to enjoy my whistling, and she may not have the patience for the long steep learning curve that comes with the pipes. I’m falling, and I won’t have any desire to get up.
Welcome to the arm-pumping, bellows-belching, reed-crowing, drone-humming, chanter-honking world of Uilleann.
I have never seen any Daye chanters, but I have heard differing reviews of their quality. As with anything else, you get what you pay for.
You are lucky to have a pipermaker close at hand. You can try before you buy.
Mukade
Hi TheKingPrawn
Go for it!!. Welcome to the insane asylum that is UP playing.
From what I have seen in learning UPs, coming from whistle or GHB is the best intro, so your learning curve will not be so great as you think, as all your whistle tunes will translate directly to the pipes.
Try and get as much help and tuition from your local pipers, and if there is a pipers club or Comhaltas brach near you, join it.
Enjoy your playing and welcome to the madhouse.
David
weak those are, turning to the dark side..can be saved…no more…
Will you be the next one to topple into the eternal abyss that is the DARK SIDE? 
I just took my Daye chanter out the other day. I use it only when I’m doing non-music related travel (it’s replaceable ..my other chanters aren’t). Reed works perfectly and and so does the chanter, both are quite old. Dave makes a very good reed. I’ve gone 8 mo’s and sometimes an entire year without playing it, and it works everytime.
Thanks for all the encouragement. I’m feeling alot better about this decision. I’m kind of glad there’s a wait list for pipes…it gives me time to convince the other half that it’s necessary, and it gives me some much needed practice on being patient.
Yes, patience is the word. When choosing a set, go with a well known maker of quality pipes… new or second hand. Beware the eBay adds for pipes of no known maker, or of the scammers out there who recycle old adds.
Also, now would be a good time to read up on reed making, and assembling the tools and supplies you’ll need for that. You’ll be so happy that you did.