Pipes on E-bay

Uilleann Pipes
1

Does anyone have any idea what these are? Are they worth buying?
I am looking for a practice set, and saw these. I am not sure if they are the stuff to stay away from.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=624&item=7331690349&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


Anyone help me out?


Thanks,
Steve

2

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=29914

see this thread

3

I didn’t realize that was the same set.
I am not going to bite.

Thanks,
Steve

4

There’s been some discussion on this half set already. Seems to have been identified as a McCarthy half set (or possibly O’Brian), although not definitively. Have a look at this thread:

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=29914

Certainly looks like it’s worth $500. The going rate for a half set made by a reputable maker is upwards of US$2,000. Pakistani half sets (which most people will tell you to avoid) sell for between $500 and $750 (that is, if they sell at all).

If it’s an O’Brian half set, it’s certain from a reputable maker. If it is an O’Brian set, expect it to sell for much more than $500. His waiting list is currently quite long. I’ve no knowledge of McCarthy’s pipes. Perhaps someone can help there.

The missing part he refers to in the description is very easy to replace. $10 at the hardware and about 20 minutes should sort it out. I’d not be too concerned about blemished brass. Most pipers seem to prefer their brass nicely tarnished. The crack on the bellows pipe? Before bidding ask him to send you a high res photo so you can see what it’s like. As it’s not been played in a while, the drones will be hard to play at first.

If I had $500 handy, I’d probably roll the dice on this one.

5

Well PJ I agree that it would be a pretty good deal if it were a reputable set.
But as it is we don’t really know if it is any good. And at this time I can’t toss $500 at it and not be worth it.

I wish I could afford to take the gamble at this time, because it looks like it may be a pretty good set.

6

So it was a deal. You certainly can never tell.

The chanter’s a little chunky, the drone reeds needed a little flicking and adjusting, the intake valve on the bellows to bag needed replacing, some of the joints needed re-wrapping, the chanter reed was okay but I made a couple more that I liked better. It’s a slightly smaller reed than your typical big-reed, but once everything was redone it made a nicely balanced, simple-looking set. I’m definately not a fan of the chunky, blocky chanter look, but it sounds well balanced overall.

I needed to turn a new bellows to hose connector (the original was missing) and will likely turn a new bag input connector (original was cracked slightly, now glued). I’ll probably also switch the drones over to elder and see what an elder chanter reed sounds like.

So overall it offered a little repair work, and adjusting but presents as a nice set.

Dionys

7

Sounds like you’ve done very well. Any definitive proof of the maker? Nothing etched on the stock that looks like Rowsome, Coyne or Taylor?

Well done.

8

I still have the (exactly the same looking) chanter and it is stamped “McCarthy”. Way back then I didn´t manage to make a reed for it. It is not very decorative but it would make a lovely shilealagh or perhaps a policeman´s truncheon without. Could you write the reed´s measurements, Dionys? I have a friend that would give it another try.
Best,
Hans