What is up with that? Seems to be more than usual or is it just coincidence or greater advertising on C&F?
Better living through advertising.
djm
It is just the latest batch of folk who thought that playing these things would be an easy thing to learn or do and found to their dismay (after having sunk a small fortune into their top shelf full sets), that it is indeed not easy and thus are trying to recoup some of their hard earned losses. 
Another factor is that there are more sets being made these days. This leads to more sets being around - so pipes are bound to change hands more often.
Not that long ago there simply weren’t that many uilleann pipes to go around. Finding an available set was like finding a treasure! The more the merrier!!
Hmmmm. Nice incorrect generalisation Joseph. 
i agree that people finding out how hard it is may be one factor. another is that unlike the fiddle, guitar, etc, you can’t get a playable set for a modest price to start out, and then move up to what you really like.instead, you may start out with a fairly expensive practice set, then realize its not to you liking, and flip it when you get what you really like.
meir
This has concerned me to some extent to see more and more hardward out there especially since I just dropped a bunch of dough for my set. One of my rationals being that these things don’t lose their value and if need be I could sell it easily. Luckly I’m so pleased with my set I don’t think I’ll ever want to sell the thing.
There is no guarantee that you will get the same, or even a “good” price when reselling. Besides the obvious things like wear and tear and non-functioning reeds to bring your price down, there is also just the natural ebb and flow of the market.
If you want to sell when there are no buyers about, or if there just happens to be a lot of sets for sale at the same time as yours, there is a very real likelihood that you will not get the resale price you wanted. Then it will depend on how desparate you are to sell on whether you drop your asking price, or just wait for the market to cool down.
I am not aware of any predicatable times of the year when the UP market picks up or cools off.
djm
I know of two:
- Mid january when the Christmas credit card bills start to arrive;
- After glands wrecks a car.
Thank you very little. At which point did you miss the tongue in cheek?
I am afraid I am going to have to lock this thread 
ermm where is the key ?
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
… sorry boss.
I think the market will slowly become saturated and prices will go down for used sets. As more and more makers than ever before keep popping out new sets, there will be quite a few sets on the market. Uilleann pipes are becoming very common just like GHB. There should be a somewhat competitive used market. I don’t think pipes will really keep their purchase value unless you hold on to them a really long time.
Take a look at Pat’s page.
Both Gallagher sets have not moved for a while and the Childress 3/4 is now down to $3,900 because it won’t sell. One would expect prices to go down for used sets as nobody will buy them right away. There are quite a few sets out there now and I don’t think people will be as willing to pay full price for a set unless it is by a famous maker. People looking at used sets generally want some kind of a deal. I also imagine this will also keep the price of new sets from going up quickly.
I would certainly disagree.
Pipes are first and foremost a musical instrument, not an investment.
If we all (myself included) spent as much time practising with our pipes as we do bleating about them on this forum, oh what a happy (and musical) little world this would be.
Slowly they will!
I am sure whether most pipers like it or not, the numbers of players are increasing as more players and makers enter the scene. I don’t think the cool title of rare exotic instrument fits anymore. Looking at the number of pipers when I started six years ago to present I can see this happening. I think it already has.
Personally I enjoy having more pipers around. More people to share tunes with and compare styles etc. With more sets around there are some great opportunities to new pipers.
The more the merrier.
- Jason
While it is true that the number of pipers (and sets) has increased exponentially in the last couple of decades, it can’t compare to the hundreds of thousands of GHBs played globally, and even with its increased popularity, the complexity of the instrument will limit its appeal. Since GHBs are played often in en masse in pipe and drum bands, the numbers just don’t compare and likely never will.
Betcha!
Given that often times in nature, over population can lead to sickness and possible extinction, I sincerely hope they (UPs) never will.
I had a discussion the other day with a guy who makes Northumbrian Pipes. He asked me why UPs cost so much more than NSP: NSP, in his opinion are much more complex, use more material and take longer to make. So a full set of NSP (say 13 key) in box and silver made by a reputable maker might be half the cost of a set of UP.
No jokes about NSP please!
Cheers
Ged