I’m starting to plan another foray into uilleann piping, and noticed some rather nice Youtube videos featuring a set of pipes by Makoto Nakatsui… anybody have experience with these? The sound seems pretty solid.
Also, anybody have any experience with Bayley or Kennedy sets? I’m fascinated with the idea of Bayley’s barrel drones… I have a set of Walsh Scottish smallpipes with them and love them. Feel free to PM me if you fear you might start a flame war, I just want to get some good guidance on sets, not anger anyone.
I have a Quinn practice set from the 80s at this point, but I need to stop living in a vacuum and get some advice/lessons from my betters…
Also (since I’m playing million questions here) who’s making pipes on the U.S. West Coast? Anyone?
Makoto was making me a B 3/4 set until I had to cancel it due to illness. So sad to have to do that.
He has made some reeds from me in the past. Great guy to deal with and becoming one of the best makers out there.
I have played one of his D chanters and his workmanship is top notch.
When I ordered a set last year his waiting list was starting to fill up.
He used to post here under the username innerhand.
I got my full set of Nakatsui concert-pitch pipes in late 2013, and I really couldn’t be happier. They’re a pleasure to look at as well as to play, and Makoto went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. He was an absolute delight to work with. I only wish I could do this set justice, but maybe one day … I’m getting a lot of practice time in because I enjoy playing it so much!
Mines a concert D.
This is the only chanter apart from the Rowsome that I had that has that
resonance of the whole piece of wood when fitted with a good reed. Other
instrumentalists describe it as “feeling alive in the hands” and its a definite thing
with this chanter.
Makoto’s pipes are great. He owns a set by Michael Hubbert of Boonville, CA, who he thinks is a master maker he has gotten a lot from. Michael’s pipes are top knotch and he lives near you. He has the beginning of a website up, but not much on it yet. Call me in Tomales for more info. (707) 878-9978.
Working on Cathy’s chanter right now to get it reeded up, and I gotta tell ya . . . nicest chanter that has crossed my desk yet (apart from my own Ray Sloan chanter). She’s a beau!
