I’m excited. I got my new C chanter from Greenwoodpipes yesterday. I had him deliver it to my workplace. So I spent a goodly chunk of break-time holding it and staring at it and adoring at it. I think I answered the question “Do you have a kilt?” 3 or 4 times… at least one of those times, it was asked “Do you have a skirt?” Near to ten people listened blankly as I explained the difference between GHB and UP… I don’t think my explanations did any good. I’m sure they walked away and told the next person that that guy with all the hair is a bagpiper… and he’ll probably wear a kilt in to work someday…
I’m happy.
I haven’t as yet played it. I haven’t got the whole setup running quite yet (bag and bellows), but this weekend, I’m going to spend some quality time with myself. And then shall the neighbors quake!
As it is, I don’t have pictures yet, so I can’t post on the appropriate thread… Maybe some day I’ll figure up a way to take some pictures of it, that everyone may bask with me.
It feels so nice in the hands and looks beautiful. That’ll have to suffice for now.
Anyways, I have to stop messing around online and get back to making die components. Teachers are waiting… and probably disapproving.
Well done. Is this your first chanter? If so, welcome and well ware. Making your own bag and bellows? Excellent. In the meantime, resist the temptation to mouth-blow the chanter - you risk warping the reed.
I got the chance to take one of David’s 3/4 C sets for a spin a ways back. What a blast! The chanter had a lot of presence for a flat chanter…but not squacky by any means. Regs where very lively. And the man knows his drones!
PJ, yes this is basically the first chanter. I had a penny chanter many years ago… back in the day, even. But a wierd flood in my old apartment destroyed the reed and bellows and bag … that was a weird day. plus i ended up ignoring the pc for a long chunk of time. i don’t think i was temperamentally suited to selling my soul to a reed with a tube hanging off of it back then.
Years later, I decided I didn’t really need a soul after all. So why not?
Plus, this beautiful piece of blackwood with it’s antler and brass mounts and ferrules will be a much prettier master than the pvc and and brass tubing ever was.
Mark
ps, yes, I made my own bag and bellows… a task I loathe. but finances permit no alternative. someday, i’ll just buy a nice bag and bellows combo. but for now, i’ll hope my work isn’t too shoddy… at least decent enough not to explode while i’m playing.
Congrats on the C chanter. I also have a C chanter from David Boisvert (Greenwood Pipes) and it is sounding quite nice.
I am having a little difficulty getting my hands adjusted from playing D to C (it is a recent acquisition). Between the spacing and the size of the holes it is tricky. But I seem to play my D better after practicing with the C.
a chanter to go too long not being played, well, it ain’t good for it. so if you want me to hold it for you and play it daily while you make your bag and bellows, be happy to be of service:)
That’s funny. the bellows and bags are actually made and mostly leak proofed. i did that while i was still waiting on the chanter. but i haven’t yet made some of the fittings. the bag stocks are actually all i have left to do after yesterday. i did manage to jury rig the setup yesterday before i left the house. i held the openning on the neck of the bag to my bellows outlet, filled up the bag and clamped a fist around the neck until i got my chanter sort of tied into the bag and squeezed and squaked and made some uilleann noise. it kind of leaked like a sieve, setup as it was. i’m fairly sure however that actually connecting things together will make the notes sound more like a scale.
That’s funny. the bellows and bags are actually made and mostly leak proofed. i did that while i was still waiting on the chanter. but i haven’t yet made some of the fittings. the bag stocks are actually all i have left to do after yesterday. i did manage to jury rig the setup yesterday before i left the house. i held the openning on the neck of the bag to my bellows outlet, filled up the bag and clamped a fist around the neck until i got my chanter sort of tied into the bag and squeezed and squaked and made some uilleann noise. it kind of leaked like a sieve, setup as it was. i’m fairly sure however that actually connecting things together will make the notes sound more like a scale.