Does anyone know who made Paddy Keenans pipes back in the days of the Bothy Band?
Thanks
Bob
Paddy Keenan was playing a Tadhg Crowley set back then.
No E
…with a Leo Rowsome chanter 
Teamwork! Sheagh!
PD.
Thanks. Is Crowley still making pipes?
Bob
Only for the heavenly choir (Tadhg died in the early 1950s). Michael Hubbert’s concert-pitch design is based on a Crowley set.
Thanks to Mr. D’Arcy for the assist
No E
Wasn’t this set supposed to be heading towards the auction block? I know Dave Williams did a major restoration on them before his untimely passing.
Anyone know?
PD.
I actually bought that set. Now I go to every Paddy Keenan gig, sit in the front row and play along. It really helps Paddy, as he’s basically over the hill now, so when he’s not sure what comes next he just looks up and copies me. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. I’ll get around to putting reeds in the set soon. Look for the new CD, Doublin’ with Bensdad.
I don’t know wheather to laugh until I cry or call out “blasphamy!”
Very good bensdad
For me, the sound of that particular set of pipes is the quintessential Uillean pipe sound. Thanks for the info I have a starting point with the Rowsome chanter. Did Rowsome alter his designs much, or were they pretty much fixed.
Thanks
Bob
I’ve heard that no two Rowsome chanters are the same.
In addition, Paddy modified his - I believe by scalloping the toneholes.
Here’s a link to a website with photos of Paddy’s new pipes but with the old Rowsome chanter. You can see in the 2nd photo that the chanter has been scalloped.
You can do both: “laughsphamy!”
t
When Paddy got the current set from Dave he took the reeds out of the Crowley and put them straight into the Williams and did a gig that same night.
If the sound of Paddy’s pipes is distinctive, half the reason is the same reeds are playing in both sets.
As far as I know Dave did such a cracking good job on the Crowley, Paddy decided to keep the set. You will have to ask him next time you see him.
Ken
Also Paddy has a guitar bass string (not bass guitar string) shoved up the chanter, so that it performs like a chanter having a slightly narrower bore. I’m told that this is because the style of reed Paddy makes was designed for a narrower bore chanter than his Rowsome.
Mikko (uilleannfinlander) should be able to give us an update as he was piping with Paddy last week.
So Mikko, how did it go?
/M
So, Paddy plays now with K&Q boxw. chanter+ rest from Williams.
Yep ,he has a string inside chanter.He said that perhaps he’s gonna turn back to one Williams made ebony chanter…but not sure yet
btw Paddy give us opportunity to try his set…he also explained why he had made such alternations with it,..2layerplastic bag, becouse the streching nature of of the bag he uses bellows creating certain pressure, not arm at all, also the mainstock was put much lower, so drones and regs
lyin on thy without any belts etc.
Now I understand why Willliams sets are so good.
(Workshop was great, we learn one jig by his own “Stuck in a Loom at Timbuktu” )
Here is a pic I took in Virginia
They sounded awesome, he tuned the drones before every tune.
Tim