There’s nothing wrong with a used set. And if you are lucky, the reed will already be ‘played in’ and in fine working order. You can always add on to a used set, but if you get ‘bitten’ in a much bigger way…you can order a full flat set (like a B, say..), and while you are waiting the decade or so for it to be built and sent to you, you can polish up your ‘chops’ on the practice set. 
Hey Gary,
Is the set in question from Virginia? Charlottesville to be exact? From the Maddens to be exact? Sounds like their story… son kept on with percussion instead of taking up the pipes… if so, I have played that set…
if not, forgive my intrusion.
That’s the very one. -gary
that being said, i thought it was a nice practise set. the back d can be brought into submission easy enough without even sending it back to nick… though that may be a nice thing to do anyway.
i always wanted to get one of nick’s chanters since he mentored me… never got around to it, and now i am on instrument restriction by she who must be obeyed.
Hi Irishduffy
I would obtain a good used set, Looks like you can obtain one easily here, once you obtain the cash. I enjoyed college but hated being broke all the time. Teaches good habits though.
Everyone who takes up the pipes kicks themselves for not taking it up sooner. If you really want a new set you can do that later when you have a better idea of what you really want.
Douglas-some more sound advice there,
Everyone who takes up the pipes kicks themselves for not taking it up sooner.
I not to afraid about being a little broke, Plus the gifts I got from my family for christmas included the college standard(just give the boy some money) so if I buy a used set my christmas money can cover it. But waiting for another 2 months for a new set that would make almost a year I have been waiting, you bring a valid point about taking it up as soon as you can.
I thank you for the response,
Irishduffy 
I bought a ‘used’ practice set at the end of last year, Irish, albeit a Roberts rather than a Whitmer set and it’s been a great blessing to me. I saved a pile of money over a new set and it’d been tweaked by a skilful and more knowledgeable piper on its way to me, one who was able to assure me of its value and playability, so I had great peace of mind.
It’s been extremely easy to get used to playing and a great introduction to piping.
What more can you ask? 
j.i.
…that it was free. 
Joseph E. Smith-
…that it was free. 
Perhaps you could locate me one of them there free ones Joseph, I’ll thrown in a grand of monopoly money 
You’re on…uh, ‘crack’ that is.
craic
Oh, yeah…heh.
No crack dealers here please, or we’ll have to change it from ‘pipe’ forum to ‘bong’ forum!
Now then, about my almost free set. It was half free, because I’d just sold an old 8-key flute I no longer played and so I invested the dosh in UP’s.
Plus… now here’s a funny thing - here is a funny thing:
Way back when in the year 2000 I sent for some info leaflets on up’s from the ‘South Western Association of Uilleann Pipers’ and received with them a price list from a pipe maker. Or it might have been the other way round, I can’t remember, but I think it was almost certainly from an advert in Folkroots magazine. I read the leaflets, although they didn’t make a lot of sense to a non-player and was frightened off by the prices on the list. However I never throw anything like that away so they got squirrelled away and forgotten.
Nearly 5 years later, through the kind assistance of a fellow forum member, I take possession of this fine Roberts practice set. This Christmas, doing some clearing out I find the aforementioned leaflets, having totally forgotten about them. The price list turns out to be from non other than Mr Charles Roberts! It’s just as well I believe in answered prayer otherwise I’d have to start thinking it was just a coincidence! And the new price is shown to be 50% more than I paid 5 years later!
So then: 1/3rd off for buying a ‘previously cherished item’, and half the purchase price paid for by selling a flute I didn’t use - what a deal! That’s almost better than free!
Am I blessed or what?
Now I just need me some drones…
j.i.
John, you are correct on the back D issue. I tried one of the backup reeds last night and it fixed the back D, but caused the bottom D to autocran..
So with some reed adjustment, etc…it should be playing happily again. Im going to start on it tonight but will probably take a couple of days to sort out and I’ll let you guys know.
Regards,
Gary
John, you are correct on the back D issue. I tried one of the backup reeds last night and it fixed the back D, but caused the bottom D to autocran..
So with some reed adjustment, etc…it should be playing happily again. Im going to start on it tonight but will probably take a couple of days to sort out and I’ll let you guys know.
Regards,
Gary
all you have to do is strenthen the reed to rid yourself of autocran.
just squeeze the sides of the reed to open it up more… thats all… worst case scenario squeeze or move the bridle to do the same thing.
good luck
Ok, the secret to making a reed is the following formula…
2 parts Guinness, one part Brian McNamara CDs, stir slowly until done.
I finally got a reed (of my own making) working in this chanter last night. So the reedmaking fairies must be attracted by the sound of Brian’s piping as well as the smell of Guinness..a couple of those with Fort of the Jewels playing and I was in the right zen frame of mind to make a reed!
My problem was using too small a sanding block (among other things) which caused too large an arc on the reed lips, which caused them to have too much stress…etc…
The new reed plays well, but I’ve got to redo the bridle today as it is too sensitive to adjustment…one gnat whisker too far and it wont play, one gnat whisker the other way and it’s too open and takes a hurricane force wind to make it go.
Depending on the adjustment of the bridle, the back D was either ok or too sharp which I found interesting. If the reed was open too far the back D was sharp, too closed down and the back D was either right on or even maybe a bit flat.
So, once I’ve gotten it sorted out I’ll try and post a clip.
-gary
…I just KNEW IT!!! Congratulations. I look forward to your clip posting.
Ok, finally got some clips to post. The first ones are using one of Nick’s reeds..plays easily and in tune except the Back D. I have about half the back D hole covered with tape for this clip.
Please forgive the playing and the quality of the recording. It was done with the crappiest microphone on the planet..the one which came with my analog tape recorder.
This is the second reed that I made. The first one was tremendously flat on Back D…so I trimmed the lips back..the had to thin them some more to get the second octave..which made Back D flat again…until I had a nub rather than a reed. 
This second one, I put a longer taper on the staple and this helps a lot on the second octave being in tune. The back D is still a bit flat..I’m afraid I may have over-sanded it trying to make it play easily.
I must say that this has been quite a learning experience and I’m getting so I can produce a reed pretty quickly, as well as my failure rate is much lower..maybe every other slip is broken or damaged before I get a reed out of one…rather than before where I was more like one out of 5 or 6.
Overall, I’m still less than thrilled with the results. I’m glad I’m able to create workable reeds, and perhaps over time I’ll get so I can create really good reeds…but for now will have to settle for ‘good enough.’
As we say at work, perfection is the enemy of good enough.
Regards,
Gary
Gary, it sounds like you are on the right track. I’m thinking that a little more experimenting with taper and scraping might bring it all home. Way to go.
Nice playing sir. And I like the new avatar…one of my all time favorite flicks.