V pipes looking for feedback

Uilleann Pipes
1

I’m close to buying a set of Vpipes. Does anyone have any views on how easy they are to play, what the sound quality is? Would they work on stage? etc. Much obliged as it is a big outlay

2

Everybody’s overenthusiastic :party:

3

If you’re looking for feedback, buy an electric guitar, not V pipes.

Ha ha

Seriously, I had a piper whose opinion I trust saying he was less than impressed, just this very afternoon.

4

Just stumbled on an ep on Apple Music by Kavan Donahue all recorded on v pipes.
You can buy it on iTunes as well.
In listening you can tell right right away it’s not real pipes but the sound and playing are good. I can see the advantages for a pub band musician. No reed issues / change key at the flip of a switch.

5

Just search “Vpipes youtube” and you will find some interesting clips by very good pipers, including Cillian Vallely

Up to now I have used mine for quiet practice into headphones when the family doesn’t want to be disturbed. I spent an hour or so trying it into my sound gear that I use on gigs. I ran the output through a DI into the soundboard, and then out to a monitor. I thought the chanter and drones sounded pretty good, so much so that at out next rehearsal I am going to ask the band what they think. I can see a real advantage for the average pub gig where feedback is a problem because of the loud stage volume, and for that matter, when stages are cramped, because of the tuning, and the ability to play in any key, which is useful for vocalists with limited ranges.

I wouldn’t get it as a substitute for pipes, or to learn on, but for quiet practice, especially when one is doing really boring stuff to try and get the finger movements down, it is great. I can see it being the answer to pub gigs. For festival gigs, I’ll stick with my full set.

Hugh

6

If you have an iPad, for $2.99 you could try out these:

http://www.tradlessons.com/Uilleann.html

or


http://www.tradlessons.com/Uilleann2.html

7

As a beginner (transitioning from flute) I like my Vpipes for a bit of late night private practice of fingering and tune learning, to spare the family and neighbours (but definitely not the same as balancing bellows/drones/pressure). Also they are great for a noisy pub gig with a band and a muddy PA system (I did my first ever piping gig spot on Vpipes recently and at least one person who didn’t have a clear view didn’t spot the difference). Instant key changes, great. But I’m a bit of a trad head and couldn’t imagine them as a substitute for the ‘real thing’, handy, lots of fun, but a different animal. Horses for courses.

I had a bit of trouble with the output level and noise/distortion through amp/desk but didn’t have time to really sound check or a DI box. I had to drop the volume down to 4 to avoid problems (worse on C# or with more pads open). Any tips for next time?

8

Hello friends,

for output to amp you have to chose option “left mono” and a correct plug. Left mono is without effects.

I use them also only for praticing at homeand during holidays - i.e. in hotels. But I’m quiet happy because of the perfect tuning.

9

Mark,

I had a lot of noise until I ran it through a DI with TRS cables. Christian, thanks for the tip about left mono.

I was pleasantly surprised to find how much better the VPipes sounded through a (very good) monitor relative to headphones (I do the sound for the band, so the headphones are the same ones I use to monitor the soundboard, so I attribute the difference to not knowing about the left mono, and not having a DI when using headphones.

Hugh