What are the prevailing opinions regarding mixed sets? For example, I may have the opportunity to purchase a half set that has Lambe drones and a Whitmer blackwood chanter. Is it generally desirable that the entire set be made by the same maker? I’ve only been playing a practice set so I don’t know how the drones factor in to the complete sound. Any thoughts?
Yes. There should be a balance. Both tonal and volume balance to the chanter.
Leonard Barrys fullset:
"Kevin Rowsome gave him the name of Eamonn Curran, who is making pipes in Monaghan and in January of this year the new chanter was ready. Leonard’s pipes are now something of a hybrid with the drones and regulators having been made by Brendan Ring in Cork. Leonard is obviously delighted with the new chanter “It’s in boxwood which gives a really sweet sound, and it’s fully keyed which is useful when you are playing with singers, it helps you get somewhere in the vicinity of the tune.”
Boxwood +abw …sounds great!(listen “Mind the pipes”)
hi,i have lambe drones,whitmer, chanter,and regs,pipes sound good.nick whitmer chanters are not as loud as mabey the lambe chanter,but fitted with right reed,balance should be fine.i also have a lambe chanter,and galloway chanter,all play well.the nick whitmer’s stick seems to be easyer to play for me ,because it is slim compared to the others.i come from the ghpiping world,and the chanters are much thinner than the up. it was mr lambe that said,without good reeds,they are just a bunch of sticks.
I have a chanter from Mickey Dunne and drones from Eugene Lambe. Works fine.