The received wisdom is that local makers are indeed the way to go. However…you get the taste in your bloodstream for these things, then someone tells you to sit back for upwards of two years–and like the people marooned in Rick’s Cafe Americain in Casablanca who hunger for the Lisbon plane, you wait…and wait…and wait.
Ask the man who finally owns 'em...it's painful, the whistle isn't a real substitute, and you will go to almost any lengths to get them. I ended up purchasing from Charles Roberts in Sligo. Here is the free plug:
No, he’s not local unless you consider County Monmouth in New Jersey an extension of Ireland. And even there, I had a few bitter lessons in my Americanistic “I want it yesterday” attitudes when it came to delivery times. I became a bit annoyed, shall we say, with a few delivery date slippages when I should have held my tongue. As it turned out, the practice set took from early February until mid-May to get here. That, as I’ve been told, is roughly from breakfast to lunch on the Irish calendar:-).
Now, does this mean that Charles has preassembled pieces laying about? Maybe. I don't know enough about uilleann pipe making to have a clue about his work methods. I am guessing when I suppose that a bag and bellows are pretty much the same, and that the work involved centers around the chanter and getting the reed made to order. Well, Roberts made the reed the way I needed it--for someone in a damp climate with some rotator cuff injuries and bursitis. I don't have to kill myself to get sounds out of the thing.
If/when I achieve sufficient facility with the practice set, and the money's there, I will gladly order drones from Charles.
Oh...new people like myself...your best friend if you're not near a teacher is an instructional tape such as the one that NPU issues. Since I was 9, I have played clarinets and saxophones, and more recently the Irish flute and tinwhistle...and nothing compares in difficulty to the uilleann pipes. For all that, it's a hell of a lot of fun.
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[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-06-02 23:44 ]
On 2002-05-24 23:07, Paul wrote:
Hi! reagrding a first pipe, you may want to try a polyacetyl (precision machined) practice set from Andreas Rogge of Germany. It is quite easy to play (in other words it sounds really seriously good most of the time) and is quite affordable. I love mine. The only downside is that it is not upgradeable later as it is only intended as a practice set. The price, however, makes up for that. If you ask around I promise that you will find that This is really a fine instrument and well worth the money. (PLUS NO WAIT!) Anyway- good luck and good piping!
Paul Light
Does anyone else have experience with Andreas Rogge’s polyacetyl practice set?
I’ve been reading through most of the old postings and have just about decided on getting one of the above. They look well made in the photos. I’m not too worried about not being able to upgrade it later, but I do want something that sounds nice.
Are there any other good prctice sets for around the same price? Most that I came across were between $900-$1400 and the Rogge set is only about $650.
I got to see a penny chanter for the first time about three months ago, and I was really pleasantly surprised by it. It played well in tune, and it had a nice tone, and a good reed. So, if you don’t want the long wait, check out David Daye’s Penny Chanter practice set. They are also reasonably priced. Here’s his web site: http://daye1.com/pennychanter.html
Does anyone else have experience with Andreas Rogge’s polyacetyl practice set?
-Brett
I’m right now borrowing my teacher’s chanter, which is made by Rogge. I really like it. It is very perfessional looking and sounds great. The fingure holes are very easy to feel (I noticed on some chanters you can barely feel the holes which makes it hard, atleast for me, to know whether you are completely covering them). I wouldn’t be discouraged about a Rogge set just because they don’t cost an arm and a leg to buy. When I finally buy a practice or half set, I am definatly looking into Rogge. Hope this helped.
I just recieved a low D from Colin Goldie, who spoke very kindly of Andreas Rogge’s pipes. I suppose they might have even met up since they both live in Germany…
Considering all the replies I’ve seen, I’ll probably be ordering a Rogge Delrin set quite soon.
On the himidity issue: Here in Colorado, the winter can get as low as 5% humidity, and it rarely gets as high as 30 - 40% in the Summer. I keep my half set next to a humidifier in the winter. Shrinking wood can be a problem here. I have done well by wiping the end of the drone stock with linseed oil, so that it soaks into the wood. I have to keep an eye out for cracks.
I find that a reed that plays well in Colorado won’t play well in higher humidity - and vise versa. If you get a good reed for your climate, then it will always play best at that humidity level.
There is a Rogge full set in Colorado, and it plays very nicely - and it’s beautiful. I think someone here has a delrin Rogge practice set also, and it also does very well. The delrin will be easier to care for.
If Finland is anything like Colorado, you should learn to make reeds as soon as you can.
I found this thread very interesting, as I am planning to venture into the piping world in the future (when I have saved enough money) The Rogge delrin practice set sounds very affordable..at 625 Euros. But it’s a pity that it’s not able to be upgraded.
On 2002-07-02 19:32, dirk wrote:
If Finland is anything like Colorado, you should learn to make reeds as soon as you can.
I’d say we come pretty close in terms of climate. We have huge differences in summer and winter temperatures, not to mention varying humidity levels. The temperature is now at it’s peak, about +26 degrees Celsius (about 78 deg. Fahrenheit), and very high humidity levels because of constant but irregular rain. But say six months from now, it’ll be -26 degrees Celsius (abt. -14 deg. F.) and VERY dry.
I’ve already heard from two guys that have cracked their wooden flutes over a very short period of time, and a piper friend of mine has problems with his reed…
Is reed-making very difficult? Or is it learned through ‘trial and error’?
The Rogge delrin practice set sounds very affordable..at 625 Euros. But it’s a pity that it’s not able to be upgraded.