Hi there! What is the general view out there about having a spare chanter in your pipe case just in case something goes awry with your preferred chanter or it’s reed during a session or gig? Is this something that is regarded as sensible or rather as unecessary and a waste of money? Look forward to any views on the subject.
I wouldn’t see much sense in spending a large sum of money on what would effectively be a spare tire. Having an extra reed or two is a cheaper way.
I’d see sense in having an extra chanter in a different pitch or maybe a narrow-bore D.
Thanks PJ. I guess it’s different from some other instruments in live settings where a backup, albeit a cheap one, is advisable or essential.
I guess it also depends on your needs. A touring musician needs to be prepared for anything in a way a local session musician does not.
If you have a spare that’s reasonably balanced/works with your set, and there’s room in your case, I don’t see why it would hurt. When I have a gig I might throw my other chanter in the case for backup, but it’s a much lighter reed so it takes some thought. So far I’ve had one occasion to resort to it, and I couldn’t play it with the drones because of the air difference.
The longer you play pipes, the more likely you are to end up with an extra chanter you haven’t/can’t let go of for some reason. But I certainly wouldn’t like, go out and buy one for that purpose – unless, of course, my piping was vital enough to some enterprise to cover the cost and hassle.
But since it’s not, I think I’d do the same thing I did back then … carry my tinwhistle and save my pennies for a flat chanter. 
Over 35 years playing the same Quinn D chanter, never had the need for an extra one.
I suppose it could happen, the chanter snap in two!
I do carry an extra reed that works well. And I have a C chanter in the case.
An extra playable chanter in a piper´s case??? Did you ever find a bone in a dog´s hut?
I played my Bourke chanter for 25 years. It was the only one I had but I have 2 other ones now so I find myself switching between them all which probably isn’t good for my playing.
I have a nice lignum vitae chanter nearly finished for myself so I think I’ll stick with that for a while.
Tommy
As for me, I’ve got to know all the eccentricities of that Quinn chanter with that reed (been playing the same reed since 1982) and I would feel like a fish out of water with a different D in my hands.
I have an extra keyed Williams chanter I bought from a saxophone player a few years ago, so I usually toss it into the case. It’s set up to play quieter than my main chanter, so it’s useful in a smaller session, or duo setting, or when playing at home. Saves messing with reeds. Have no problem adjusting between the two, just plug and play.
I’d say carry an extra chanter only if it’s in a different key and you’ll need to/want to play in that key. Otherwise carry extra reeds, not chanters.