Why is it that we all know who this unnamed maker is (Aust) and yet we don’t mention the name? Other threads have had opinions both negative and positive about makers with thier names attached. I was lucky and was steered in the right direction towards Ian Mckenzie, but I feel sorry for the beginner who forks out a large sum of money for somthing unplayable. I see Cowan was lucky also in this regard, in going to Aidan and avoiding the heartbreak. Should we not as pipers protect prospecive pipers from falling in the trap?
The ‘un-named’ maker has come forward, admitted his mistakes and has expressed a genuine interest to dispel rumors and to fix any of his sub standard products, in an attempt to clear his name.
What more needs to be added?
Sadly there’s more than one maker of less good instruments out there…
…I wondered whether NPU might consider some sort of “Guild of Pipemakers”, but they weren’t keen on that idea.
I have to agree with Kevin here. All he has done is say that he has lots of satisfied customers and that everything said about his pipes are a lie. He admitted to a few, minor mistakes which he has said he has fixed, but I haven’t heard from the people who were unhappy with his pipes that they’re suddenly happy. He has perpetuated in using fronts for selling his pipes and for people who are supposedly happy with his pipes. This isn’t the sign of someone who’s working hard to change his image.
Again, his name has been discussed in detail on the UPIL. There’s no reason to repeat it here yet again. Any small amount of research into pipemakers in that area will reveal who is well respected and who is not.
Frankly, he will have to do a lot more work restoring his name than he has to regain any kind of trustworthy status as a pipemaker. No one wants to deal with someone who acts like a criminal.
Peter’s advice is sound. Do your research, then more importantly go to a few gatherings where you can actually hear the pipes. If you can’t do that, then do very careful research.
Dionys
[ This Message was edited by: Dionys on 2002-11-13 12:28 ]
Yes I do agree with Boyd’s thoughts about the “Guild of Pipemakers” thingy. But I’m sure new or potential pipers can always get what they want to know from this forum. And, I’m sure fellow pipers here would feel the undoubted responsibility to turn them away from these ‘unnamed makers’. Yes do we?
Not everyone can travel, be social and make it to Tionols. However, internet research is relatively cheap.
Kevin,
No flame taken. Only time will tell if he turns it around.
Dionys,
We all noticed the ‘new’ name at an old address so it was easy to spot the maker behind the company. The strategy/ploy may have been ‘pulled off’ poorly, but it’s not a dishonest thing for a person/company to do.
The way I see it is, he stumbled and we’re all watching and waiting to see if he gets up on his own. None of us has the slightest interest in buying from him nor helping him out in anyway, not that any of us could. It may sound harsh, just an honest assessment. I doubt the number of people who have a gripe w/ him isn’t more than a few. Have you heard any recent complaints about this maker?
Sh** happens. I’ve seen tradesman go thru divorce, bankruptcy, loose their homes, tools, truck and still manage to turn things around… however it doesn’t happen overnight.
I’m sure fellow pipers here would feel the undoubted responsibility to turn them away from these ‘unnamed makers’. Yes do we? >
Cowan
Hi Cowan,
In an ideal world, that would be the case, but everyone has differing opinions on “good” pipes. If I were to opine negatively on a pipemaker that others felt were ok for whatever reason, I’m sure I’d receive a dressing down, and no-one likes to be “negged”, (particularly pipers, grumpy as they/we are ). My route has always been, who are the good players playing? And until you play a good set with a good reed, just how much will you know? And let me assure you, you don’t want irate pipemakers brandishing reamers at your door!!!
Cheers
Alan
One of the big problems is that when you start out, especially if you live in a low-Uilleann zone (Winters isn’t especially known for it’s wealth of pipers), it’s almost a waste of time to go to a tionol and try playing sets since you don’t know what you want in the first place. That’s where off-chatlist honesty plays its part…I agree that “flaming” can be overdone, but if someone asks me an opinion and I’ve played the brand of pipes they’re asking about, I’ll try to help.
The practice set I play has a chanter I call ‘the Wooden Tube’ (pronounced ‘Toob’) and it’s never going to be better than it is now; the back D is either wildly sharp or not there at all. It’s frustrating, upsetting and sometimes just plain humiliating.
BUT.
I’m playing, I have a decent bag and bellows and I’ve been able to do more with the $500 the set cost than I would be able to do with the $1800 I don’t have for a good practice set.
I love music, and I love the UPs and without the Toob I’d still be listening to CDs and relying on my what I think I like. At the very least I know what I don’t like and have a slightly better idea of where to go to get what I do, thanks in large part to this forum and the openminded opinions of the people I’ve talked with.
Without the Toob I’d still be playing a whistle and feeling fundamentally dissatisfied. Noone likes to hear me practice/play around these here wintery parts but hell, I’m not ready for anyone to listen yet.
By the time I’m ready to play in front of others I’ll have the money to buy a good set. And that’s been the plan since a)I realized that with practice I’ll be able to play well enough to make such a chunk o’ cash worth it and b) since talking to folks here and getting a good idea of where to go. And feeling like enough of a piper to be able to ask questions based on my experience as a player.
$500 is both cheap and expensive, but overall I’s say it’s been more than worth it.
There, twelve cent’s worth, sorry for the length of the post,
Can you imagine being only slightly musical, or skilled at other instruments, and getting snookered into buying an inferior set of pipes and thinking, “so this is what it’s like?” Next!
I agree, get an “in person” guide…a few days well spent with a good piper will be worth a year of interneting. Even a musical genious, left alone, will find no shortcuts on the UP.
