I meant to post this about a month ago when the title would be more relevant, but the Holidays with three little one and both sets of In-laws in town along with computer woes have delayed me somewhat.
A recently locked thread jogged my memory..
I took possession in December of a set of flat pitch C# pipes in Lignum Vitae made by Nick Whitmer.
I placed the order in the spring of 09 and he delivered in December pretty much nailing his stated lead time on the head.
I can’t say enough good words about Nick.
He sent regular updates of his progress with pics of the pipes in various stages of completion.
He even went to the extra effort of building a test set before he started on mine to make sure he had the C# design right.
The weather last week was perfect here in Northern Kentucky (cold and rainy) and this little half set I have now was singing.
This thread is a good reminder (with other threads around about maker’s wait times and prices) that Nick makes fabulous pipes, makes his deadlines, and is great to work with.
You’re preaching to the converted. I’ve been saying this for years. He made my pipes, starting with the drones in 2005, regulators in 2006 and 2007 and chanter in 2008.
I once had a class with Jerry O’Sullivan. When he saw my Whitmer pipes he told me how much he liked Nick’s work. He has a set of Nick’s pipes in C and Nick made an E regulator for Jerry’s main D set.
Nick is first class in every way.
I play his D and C chanters with my own drones
and never wish for other pipes any longer.
in tune with beautifull reedy tone, no second E issues, easy to reed and ready when he said they would be. , Tansy
Nick’s chanters usually have keyblocks for 4 keys (Cnat, Fnat, G# and Bb). I don’t think that the chanter in the photo is Nick’s work (although the chanter top certainly is).
I want to echo everyone’s comments about Nick and his work.
Back in March, 2009 I ordered a set of regulators from Nick. He told me that they would be done in 10 months and he nailed it. About once a month during this period I received progress pictures; I just picked them up this past weekend and they are the easiest, most responsive regs that I have ever played. I am escatatic!
I must chime in here. About a year ago, I ordered two regulators and a mainstock from Mr Whitmer and they did not arrive on time - actually they arrived TWO WEEKS EARLY. What’s more, the regs are sweet toned and arrived with only the slightest tweak needed to one reed (opening it just a hair) to bring them into great tune and tone - and that was going across multiple climate zones. Outstanding value and customer service! Happy customer here. So I now have a wonderfully frankenset of KQ chanter, Whitmer regs, my own make rest of the kit and an additional wonderful Mickey Dunne chanter. Now my own puzzlement is what to call a 3/4 set with an extra chanter? A 97% set maybe?
Anyway, excellent work, product and service, Mr Whitmer!
Thanks. I’m surprised at how much I liked the overall sound of the recording. I had the pipes out for about 5 minutes and made the
recording with just one mic. I apologize for the shakey playing though. (I get nervous playing when I know someone might have a listen).
, Tansy