UILLEANN PIPE PRACTICE SET by BRIAN HOWARD on Ebay.
Cheers
Ferg
Don’t forget the link:
…Why am I selling? I continue to be passionate about the sound of other people playing UP’s but I’m not too keen on my own playing! And while nowhere near as loud as the Great Highland Bagpipe, the volume of Uilleann Pipes is rather antisocial and doesn’t fit in with my circumstances too well, I find. Plus, truth be told, I’ve found my trad music soulmate at last – I’ve fallen head over heels in love with the fiddle and want to be single-minded in pursuit of perfection!
S’pose it can’t be helped if some poeple just want to fiddle around… 
Anyway, having said that, I’ve seen and played Brian’s work and it is very nice indeed, a good buy for the winning bidder IMHO.
Surely he’s kidding right?!
And is it just me, or does that blow pipe seem tied in awfuly high up on the bag? (Appears to be one of S. Gallagher’s L&M designs)
The blow pipe does seem a little higher than I like it.
As for the volume, some UPs can be loud… that, or this fellow has ears as sensitive as a new born baby. 
The seller goes on to say:
Apparently, there are three reeds with the set also - two of which made by Howard. I would think that at least one of the three could be made to play well in tune without much volume - certainly equal to or LESS than the fiddle, which would be normal for any up chanter anyway yes?
Yes. I am guessing this fellow is a novice piper, and does not possess the knowledge necessary for tuning and/or adjusting the volume of his reeds. It is a good thing he hasn’t messed with them (I am guessing here) and as such, the practice set will be that much nicer to get going for its new caretaker.
He does state that one of the reeds he (or she?) made themself. Also stated was the fact that it was about as good as the ones Howard made. I’ll guess then that either they have a pretty decent knowledge of reeds and adjustments to reach that ability, or Brian Howard is a clutz with no knowledge himself. I’d guess the latter is highly unlikely. 
The comments made in that description still seem odd to me, as does that darn placement of the blowpipe.
Odd indeed.
Having a reed there should not be a concern. EVERYONE wants to make their own reed or take it to their favorite reed maker. If an item is reedable, it is OK to take a ‘chance’.
To put this issue of odd comments to rest, I have it on good authority that the seller of this set is indeed inexperienced at both piping and reed making. They are also a former member of this forum… I will not divulge their identity.
Their comments should not in any way reflect the good quality of Brian Howard’s pipes or craftsmanship. Let us try and avoid commentary that could spawn another fiasco over set and maker.
Thanks,
JES
so if I can’t reed, doesn’t that mean I’m uilliterate?
Less than a fiddle?
I frequently play my fiddle (with a mute) during insomniac episodes, say at 3 or 4am, without disturbing or waking anyone else in the house.
Does anyone have a set of uilleann pipes with these same capabilities? I’d be willing to wager a large case of Jamieson’s on a contest!
I’ll take ye bet me boyo!
Certainly a fiddle can be played quietly as well - and with much more ease than the adjustment of a UP reed - simply lighten one’s touch with the bow and you’ll soften the volume a bit. Of course, on the other hand, I’ve also heard the very same fiddle roar when the tune caught the player.
I’m talking an average fiddle, played by a typical session or folk player. Most (granted not all, but certainly MOST) of the pipes I’ve played or heard played stood up very well against a solo fiddle - and weren’t so loud as to be overbearing or blast the hairs from listeners ears. The balance has always struck me as very pleasing.
You’re gonna lose! Send the whiskey now!
And I’m talking about playing at 3am. Or being able to have 30 mins practice at 7am before I go to work. And carrying on playing until everyone else has long gone to bed if need be - all without causing a breach of the peace or disrupting marital harmony.
I remember (but I’m too lazy to find) the discussion over carpet-lined cardboard tubes with hand holes to facilitate quiet playing of UP’s. Whereas all a fiddle needs is one of these:
http://www.wwbw.com/The-String-Centre-Ultra-Rubber-Practice-Mute-for-Violin-i96065.music , although I use a metal version but both of which are fitted and removed in seconds and don’t affect tone or tuning. There was also a thread from someone who suffered tinitus after playing because of volume - never met a fiddler with that problem!
A practice set played WITH THE REED TAKEN OUT would make more noise than a muted fiddle. UP’s are a loud instrument with no volume knob - live with it!
Yup, I used to sell them mutes when I worked in an orchestral music shop, they do work… I witnessed the joy on the mums 'n dads faces as they could finally get some peace and quiet 
Can I have a bottle o’ that whiskey now J.I.?
… me first! me first!
Mutes do change the tone of the fiddle by suppressing the bridges ability to vibrate, said vibrations travel through the face to the sound post, which in turn passes them along to the back. all of this causing the entire fiddle to vibrate. Suppress the bridge, the fiddle changes tone and volume… and I have a hunch (though I have nothing to back me up in this), changes the pitch ever so slighty… much in the same way a sliding bridle may work.
You’ll get no whiskey when you bend the rules like that! Fiddles aren’t that loud and neither are u. pipes. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone worth their salt to tell you otherwise, who’s played either instrument for years under NORMAL circumstances. If you want to mute your fiddle or play it inside a box, that’s one thing, but sitting down with a friend and having a few tunes together - all without raising the dead with the volume - is perfectly achievable. Your friend with tinitius likely had other factors playing into their hearing damage as well. I have a touch of it myself, but that comes from years installing car stereos, as well as working a ramp job about 30 feet from the back end of several Lear 35’s at the local airport. Nothing to do with the pipes at all. If any further damage was in fact caused by playing an instrument, it more than likely came from the whistle if anything!
At any rate, my initial question still stands - what’s up with this set of pipes (and reeds perhaps)? The seller’s description of their loudness and three reeds that seemingly were out of control in that regard still makes me wonder. And Joe, before you get too huffy my good man, these are honest and valid questions - particularly given the way this sale has been presented. 
If anyone deserves that whiskey, I’d think it’s more likely to be you for going over all this banter daily! 
… I accept!!! 
The owner of this set is not an experienced piper, and even less so at making reeds. I believe they have only had the set for a short while (1yr), and due to volume + time issues, has made the prudent decision to let them go to a (hopefully) good home.
I have had email and PM contacts with the seller, and judging from these, consider them honest and friendly. The pipes were just not for them. Though (and I know they are reading this), I ask them to reconsider. Volume and ease of playability issues can readily be ammended by adjusting the reeds, which I suspect are set up to play too firmly… hence their loudness.