I think id like to go with a D chanter, Are there any good practice chanters to consider? (do i need keys?) There are so many places, Im not sure what is good quality for the best price. Also consider a used set if the price is right. Any places I need to look for a GOOD price on new practice sets? This would be my first one as most of you figured by now, and I dont plan on recording any music with this lol. Something basic.
Feel free to PM me for any opinions
Thank You for your help
Hi missmary49
Ebay can be a good place to start, especially if you fall lucky and get in quick 
.
This Franken half set might be a good starting point (even though the seller has upped the starting bid from the $750 it was previously) but it looks like you would need to get them re-reeded.
David
In all fairness Davy, the set has Pakistani parts (what does he mean with ‘drone stalk’, the mainstock?), a CJ Dixon bag with other, the most important, parts of unnamed provenance. Would you really want to recommend that to anyone without a very thorough examination?
Hi Mr Gumby
It is a frankenset, yes, the bellows, chanter and drones are by Seth Hamon from Texas.
The seller does appear to be an uilleann piper (unless the photo in his ebay profile is a fake) and has given run down of what is needed. Perhaps he is known to the California pipers - he is in Placerville
A servicing by a competent reedmaker / piper would likely be required, and that would be the one thing that might cause difficulty.
David
Hi!
If you are new to the pipes and starting on your own, stay away from any set that is not in very good playing condition, especially any Frankeset. It is hard work to get the hang of Uilleann pipes, even worse if you are starting out with a set that has some issues, almost impossible if you are stuck with a set that most pipe makers will turn down to even do some work on. With that you will need not only to become a piper, but also your own reed and pipe maker. Quite a task to start with.
My first advice would be to go here:
http://www.irishpipersclub.org
Make some new friends that can help you assess what is good or not, and find you a good starter set. If you are lucky someone might even have a loaner set that you can use. If so, make an order for the best chanter you can afford and start practising while you wait 
/M
Another thin I’d be wondering about if you buy a set of dubious provenance, which good reedmaker will want to touch it?
Seek out an instrument from an established maker and maybe not get your advice on the internet. Seek out seasoned pipers and get an opinion there.
And my 2 cents as a non-piper … In addition to Mr. Gumby’s good advice … If you’re going to buy a pig in a poke, you’d better choose a pig with a good reputation.
As is the case with many instruments, there are established makers who cater specifically to the beginners market by offering a beginner-friendly product, and who have experience dealing with the questions and concerns of beginners, and with follow-up support.
One of these was mentioned above - [u]Patrick Sky[/u]. Another is [u]C.J. Dixon[/u]. You could do worse than to start by contacting them for information.
The Andy Faden practice set Davy spotted for the e-bay thread would be a sound option.
Hi Mr Gumby
The Andy Faden set would be a nice set, but the auction is not available to the US. The only decent uilleann pipe item that is available to the US ebayer is the Gallagher 3/4 set.
Given the starting price for the Faden set, the Kiernan set might be more suitable, if she can get access to Ebay UK - the seller does say international bidders are welcome.
Also given the starting price of the Faden set, talking to Kenny McNicholl or Mike Hulme (or maybe Pat Sky in the US) could get you a new practice set with the makers full backing, for less than the opening price.
David