Hi Chris! I am learning this instrument as well. I would recommend that you get in touch with a piping club. Check out The San Francisco Pipers Club homepage. Read it through thoroughly. Also check out THIS PAGE. You will find learning tips there.

I probably wouldn't bother with a full set right off. There are plenty of pracice sets available. The difference is that a practice set is a bag, bellows and chanter. A half set is the same thing with the addition of the drones. A full set is a half set with the regulators added to them. If you are determined to have a full set built for you, be prepared for the wait you describe. Benedict Kohler and David Quinn, two of the best builders in the world, have a two to three year list. You could put your name on their, or someone's list and begin the practice of learning.

May I make a suggestion as to the course of study? I would pick up Geraldine Cotters book on playing tin whistle and stay with it until you have finished the tuition and are comfortable with your talent. Then take up pipes. AND I would NOT buy a full set before I learned to play a practice set very well. Remember that this is one of the most difficult instruments in the world to play.

Mick