I’m not saying that it’s a bad idea to get some Froment and Wooff sets out of attics and into the hands of good young pipers. I just doubt that it would be feasible for makers to take on the role that is being proposed - buying back and selling on. I also doubt that there would be sufficient interest to justify the additional cost. The last few sales of Froment and Wooff sets that I’m aware, it was a question of “offers in excess of US$12,000”.
I’m sure some sellers and buyers send them to the original maker either before or after the sale to have the pipes rereeded, overhauled, etc. but I doubt very much that makers are getting 10% of the purchase price for their work. Probably more like 3% to 4%. The buyers are not getting a warrantee from the maker. OK, maybe on the new reeds, but if after a month the buyer has a leaky bag or bellows or a broken key-spring, he’s got no come-back against the maker.
Steve had a good point about evolution of design. Were the pipes made 20 years ago as good as those made today by the same makers? Would the makers themselves be happy to resell instruments they made 20 ago? At least one pipemaker has been known to modify his older chanters to conform with more recent designs.
Hello Josh,
I play a half-set by Mark Donohoe but I am hoping to get the regs in the summer. They are fantastic sounding pipes ,I think a few others on the board also play Donohoe pipes as I seen some on the pictures of your pipes thread .
Cool, I’ve heard good things about his pipes. I just wondered, as Froment plays so heavily on your imagination, whether you were by way of having a decent set–it sounds like you are. Good luck with the regs.
Why don’t you put up an advert for a swap or part exchange for a Froment set against the set you have.
You could hit lucky. Let’s face it, you’ve already hit lucky once this Christmas, in finding somebody to swap or part-ex your old computer keyboard for one that doesn’t contain any question marks or exclamation marks.