Me again!
Was wondering if it’s possible to mix and match pieces on a practise set. I have a feeling my chanter is under the mark and would like to upgrade to a better one - but will this work with the fairly simple but certainly in-working-order bag and bellows I already have?
Thanks!
yeah you can put any chanter you want on your practice set,you can change pretty much of anything around.the bellows and chanter are more or less universal.sometimes you just have to take hemp off or put in on.so if u get a new chanter its no problem putting it on your pipes.
Liz,
What do you mean by ‘under the mark’ ??
Much of a chanters tuning and performance is within the quality and adjustments of the reed. All things considered, a well reeded average chanter could easily out perform a poorly reeded quality chanter. When I say quality, I’m talking about design of the bore, wood used and inner workings, not how fancy the mounts and metal work is.
If possible, find someone nearby who has played UP for a while and can tell if it’s the chanter or if it just needs a new reed or reed adjustment. A poorly made reed can make a good chanter sound like junk.
If you find out it’s junk, you may try sending it to a maker for re-boring. That might be a cheaper fix. Can you tell us who made the chanter you’re playing?
Dionys
Hi everyone!
The chanter and the reed are synthetic - I bought the set itself from Lark in the Morning, BEFORE I had found this site…I’ve read from other posts that they have a bit of a reputation.
The sound is terribly out of tune and there is a lot of squeaking and squawking (but I think this is because of the air distribution, which I haven’t got down yet). When I play the chanter on its own, it doesn’t squawk, but it’s still very out of tune.
Perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a molehill…I honestly don’t know if the sound I’ve got going now is due to inexperience or a badly-made product.
Is this a bellows blown instrument?
I’ve heard sound samples of the mouth blown plastic reed, plastic chanter and they were a struggle even to an experienced piper.
Recently, someone has released some low priced practice sets using a vinyl bellows, rubber or vinyl bag and plastic chanter with plastic reed. The reports were not favorable.
I’m wondering if these plastic chanters can be successfully fitted with a cane reed to improve the tuning and sound. Any takers?
I’m so sorry to hear that your pipes came from “Vultures in the Evening.” There is probably a reason why they squeak and squawk, but who knows, maybe they can be fixed, even just a little. You definitely need to find another piper in your area to help. 
If it’s the mouthblown, there’s not really much in the way of a solution. You could fit it to a bellows and bag and have someone fit it with a real reed. It will sound better and will be easier to hit the second octave, but the quality of sound will still be borderline.
If it’s a bellows-blown, see if you can find someone local to fit it with a cane or elder reed for you.
You may just find that it’s too much of a struggle. Look on Ebay for chanters for sale by reputable or known makers. You can check on this forum to see if it’s a good chanter. Sometimes you can find a good deal on a chanter on Ebay. Then you just have to buy or make a bag & bellows and you’re set for a relatively inexpensive practice set.
A David Daye set is also a rather inexpensive option, and a good sounding pipe.
All the best,
Dionys
[ This Message was edited by: Dionys on 2002-11-24 10:39 ]
Liz I have posted a message for you on your private messages thingy at the top o the page
Liam
HI all-
Tony - yes, this is a bellows-blown instrument. I too wonder if a better reed would make a world of difference… but now I get the impression the bellows and bag may have something to do with it…
Lorenzo, I’m almost embarassed now to show anyone these pipes!! But I am prepared to invest in making this a good set…even if it means starting all over again!
And Dionys, I am considering Daye’s chanter - either the DIY kit or his finished one. I’ve read such good things about it in here. I’ll also look into eBay, but will check in here before buying anything!!!
I suppose the first step is showing it to someone who knows.
Thx all!
p.s. lol@Lorenzo’s ‘vultures in the evening’
…
ok ok so they’re crap!
why oh why didn’t anyone warn me??
We did!
On a lighter note… check out Davy’s student chanters:
http://www.bagpipeworks.com/
These are high quality wooden chanters with real cane reeds. They run about $250US
If you already have a working bellows and a bag, you might consider this.
lol…yeah, Tony, but why didn’t you warn me a month ago?? 
The student chanter looks wonderful - have you heard/played it or know anyone who’s heard/played it? That looks to me like an ideal solution…
LiztheLounger wrote:
lol…yeah, Tony, but why didn’t you warn me a month ago?? >
- Liz
You would have found it mentioned in the archives (just use the search function to look through previous posts) it comes up every few months.
It’s not a problem asking again though. Too often, people are afraid to ask a question for being told ‘it’s been discussed before’.
According to Davy, the bore and tone holes are the same as his standard chanter. The cost reduction is using self mounts and a smooth broomstick design. There’s one piper on this form who has a standard chanter and he loves it’s playability.
Liz…why not go for one of the sets that’s on the auction site right now, maybe Tim’s practice set. You can always get your money back with either set. Signing up on eBay only takes a few minutes
I only discovered this site a few days ago, Tony…my heart sank when I came across all the posts about LATM! But now that I know, I can do something about it!!!
Lorenzo, now that I seem to have burnt myself once already… how do I know the sets on eBay are reliable?
\
Well, we all have to be a little careful at endorsements, but you’ll find overwhelming support for Tim’s practice set. As far as Nick 1/2 set, he’s the seller and will answer all questions you may have, he’s listed on the Na Piobairi Uilleann web site of makers (though that doesn’t mean everything).
Whitmer, Nick - Rt.1 Box 58, Port Republic, Virginia 24471, USA. Tel.
540-249-5410.
The difference between what you have and the two sets recommended on eBay is extreme, a whole different category. Others may offer more specific advice on Nick’s set, I’ve never played them, but his pipes look good, and his discription is good.
Getting your money back out of quality sets is not like the cheap practice set money losers that you’ll see right now on eBay…no one is bidding on the Pakistani stuff for good reason.
Liz,
I haven’t played Davy Stephenson’s student chanters, but I CAN say this. I’m waiting on a custom practice set from him, and he’s a great guy. I did alot of research about him before I ordered from Bagpipeworks, and everyone I talked to had VERY good things to say. Anima, I know, plays one of Davy’s sets, so if he sees this, he might be able to put in a word about Davy’s chanters…
Sorry, Anima!
Joey