I am in the market for a Concert D Uilleann chanter. Seth Gallagher is a bit out of my price range. I have heard good and bad about others. Can anyone give me some input as to who you have had the best success with? I am aware of the low quality of our East Indian friends and would not buy one of those. Please only respond with info about chanters that are still available. ie…Taylor brothers would not be helpful unless you have one to sell. Thank you,
Randy. PS..The Spalding Vinyl bag is still holding air.
Without a doubt try and get hold of a Dave Williams, Waltham, Grimsby, England. I believe his order book has closed regarding sets, but a chanter may not be impossible, or look for a second-hand one. Cillian O’Briain D chanters are popular also, but they are usually quite loud and not for the faint hearted as there’s nowhere to hide. Heard good things about Michael Dooley, Tralee, Davey Stephenson & Kevin Thompson, but haven’t seen or heard their chanters live, except for Leo Rikard’s Thompson
Dave Williams’ books are not exactly closed, he just doesn’t want a ten year+ waiting list outstanding when he gets to 60 (in several years time). Anyway what he does is take orders which he will get round to but with no deposit so if he reaches the point where he wants to stop he is not burdened with an un-fulfillable list. What you get is a pleasant phone call to say something will be coming your way shortly - if you still want it. Ask Piperben about the C chanter he sold me.
Dave’s work is absolutely top of the range and is priced accordingly, but his chanters -especially concert pitch are highly desireable and would be a sound investment.
Try dropping him a line and ask for a quote on price and possible lead time.
Ken
if your only starting,you dont really need a top of the range chanter.dave and cillian are also pretty dear,but are spot on in tune and sound great.you would probably have to wait a couple of years as well.were do you live randy!
randywiz , i’ve sent you a private message
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yes i agree with you kevin! but randy said he couldnt afford an exspensive one.and probably wants one farley soon.but i suppose you have to pay a few quid, no matter were you get one. also the first chanter i had wasnt perfectly in tune.and when i got one of dave williams i thought it was out of tune.but it wasnt, it was my ears used to the other one? later rabbit ears?
is a cheaper instrument necessarily inferior anyway?
there’s a huge difference in the cost of an o’briain and say a hunter but perhaps not in quality (?)
Hey all;
Randywiz, I’d suggest that you get in contact with Joe Kennedy, he’s a Canadian pipemaker that I just met at the Chris Langan weekend in Toronto. I’m pretty much a beginner too but I played some of his pipes and they’re well in tune with themselves and his reeds are excellent (I have on in my chanter now, and it’s settling in nicely.).
The Canadian dollar is worth less than the American one, so you will probably save more money that way.
Joe is sincere and serious about customer support, and willing to listen to your wants when it comes to your pipes. The only problem may be that there might be a wait, but you should talk to him about that. His website is
http://www.kennedysuilleannpipes.com/
so take a look. I just ordered a set from him and I have every confidence in him and his workmanship.
Yours, longwindedly,
Mark
There are a few new makers out there, making good stuff at reasonable price and not a heavy waiting list. But, a quality chanter will not devalue, will re sell easily and cut out most of the first few years “fannying” around. Wish I had started on the chanter I have now…
Alan
On 2003-01-31 12:09, AlanB wrote:
There are a few new makers out there, making good stuff at reasonable price and not a heavy waiting list. But, a quality chanter will not devalue, will re sell easily and cut out most of the first few years “fannying” around. Wish I had started on the chanter I have now…Alan
I’ve got to second Alan here. Save your money and get a good stick.
Perhaps Kevin Popejoy 'll make you one???
I second the support on Joe Kennedy. The D Chanter (and reed) that he gave me 4 months ago is still blowing nicely and is pretty stable for the temperature swings we have had in Toronto over the past month (+5 to -30 degrees). He also excels at customer support.
Cheers,
Virgil
dave stephenson in richmond england (he has a nice website which easily comes up when you enter his name and “uilleann” in your browser window) has a machine made D chanter on his web site as a new item. i have heard smart people say good things about him.
i met mr. kennedy at the east coast tionol. in fact i sat with him for a while, watched him reed 2 chanters not his own, and discuss his philosophy of pipemaking. he is very impressive.
meir
To specify, only the outer shape is machine crafted. The bore and fingerholes/tuning are all done by hand as with most chanters.
Dionys
P.s. Consider a David Daye penny chanter, too. It’s inexpensive, sounds good and great for starting off on.