Tech: Good repairers of uilleann pipes

Subject: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: GUEST,piper42
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 01:46 AM

I have an old uilleann pipe chanter, (i DONT KNOW WHO MADE IT) its in grand condition and very true but I need a new bag and possibly a new set of bellows as my old set have been repaired so many times they are PAST it. I think its time I retired them. Can anyone point me in the direction of a pipe maker who wont charge me a fortune! I also have a reasonably new three quarters set of Ginsburg pipes. They were given to me in a swap for a set of Northumbrian pipes but no body can get them to play, they look the part but the chanter is not in tune. Can the finger plate be plugged and redrilled? Seems a shame to scrap them, once again can anyone help or point me in the right direction.
   thanks pipes42

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:26 AM

Try to get in touch with Patrick Sky.

He knows lots. See his site, here.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Peace
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:27 AM

PS Pat is good at everything he does.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:35 AM

What country are you in, piper42? It makes a difference.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 08:08 AM

Pat is good, but the best pipe maker alive today, I would say, is Seth Galligher, he has a web site http://www.uilleann.com/ - and I don't agree that you need to be in the states to work with Seth, today with overnight delivery etc. one can get work done fast and safe anywhere in the world. Seth's work is so precise that you can play one of his reads in any of his chanters.
Cheers
lorcan Otway
PS Tell him you heard about him through me, I have a full set of his D pipes and a half set of his flat pipes.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Big Mick
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 08:19 AM

Every piper has his favorite, InOBU has always been a great Seth Gallagher fan, and for very good reason. I would agree he is one of the best. But there are a number just as good. I would consider Mark Hillman in a heartbeat. He builds wonderful pipes and they have soul. He also has a great deal of experience with older sets.

Another to take a look at would be Tim Britton. I would especially consider him for your Ginsburg set. One of the specialties Tim has developed is taking sets built cheaply in Pakistan and turning them into good and playable pipes. I am quite sure he could turn the Ginsburg set into a good playable set.

A final recommendation would be Seth Hamon in Texas. Fair prices and great work. I have played one of his bloodwood chanters and they are a wonderful sounding instrument.

Any of these can be found on the internet. My first recommendation would be Mark Hillman.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: GUEST,pipes42
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 11:51 PM

Hi Anglo, I have just moved to Co Derry in N Ireland, so I don't know many people yet and have yet to find any good sessions. I am hoping to go to the William Kennedy Piping week in Co Armagh next week. I might be able to find some information from some of the pipers there. I have enquired about a pipe maker in Monaghan, Eammon Curran, I will try and look him up. If anyone knows of any other pipe makers or suppliers please post as time is important and I need a set of bellows and a couple of uilleann pipe bags as quick as is possible. Thanks again for all your help.
pipes42

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: InOBU
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 09:50 AM

I love Tim Britton DEARLY... but, I have not heard good things about his skills as a pipe maker. Lovely guy... but not famous as a skilled craft'sman. PM me... lor

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 02:36 PM

Tim has done some very good repairs on chanters that have been built with faults. If you have a chanter, such as the one described, he is an option.

As I said, my first choice would be Mark Hillman if you are on the East coast. Seth is certainly a very skilled craftsman and is another excellent choice, but I believe that he sticks pretty much with his own stuff.

One of the reasons I suggest someone like Hillman is that he has experience with old sets. Seth brought his considerable instrument building background to the UP's, but his experience is primarily with his stuff. It reminds me a bit of Ray Sloan across the pond. Nice stuff, and well built. But these older chanters require a little different kind of skillset.

Different strokes ..........

Mick

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Nov 05 - 11:51 PM

There's a guy called Lorcan Dunne, possibly in Kerry, who makes the things, including the tools to make them. If you can find him and persuade him to work on them, you will be happy, he's a most impressive craftsmen.
I knew him when he lived in NZ.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: R. Padgett
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 08:44 AM

UK Sheffield based Brian Howard excellent engineer (Big D whistles



etc) also pipe making in a big way I believe now

I spoke to hime at the recent Sheffield Folk Festival (England)

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 12:03 PM

For your bag and bellows, go to Jackie Boyce in Comber, Co Down. He's a wonderful craftsman and the most decent guy you could shake a stick at. When I had some kit stolen from a car in Dublin, Jackie heard about it and immediately offered to replace my bag and bellows entirely free of charge if I had the slightest difficulty with the insurance claim!

He makes bags and bellows for some of the top pipers in the UK and Ireland (Northumbrian etc as well as uilleann) and also supplies Geoff Woof, who almost any top flight piper would tell you is as good a pipes maker as you'd ever find (no direspect to InOBU and Seth Gallagher, but Woof is in a different league).

Woof would have too much on to sort your chanter (he makes only flat sets I believe, and has a waiting list of about 15-18 years!) but if you call in to see him, he'd have a chat and give you a good opinion. (He lives at the pipers' Mecca, Milltown Malbay.)

Jackie Boyce sometimes keeps an eye on the Mudcat threads under another name. But if you want to get in touch with him quickly, let me know, and I'll PM you the details.

Subject: RE: GOOD repairers of uilleann pipes
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Nov 05 - 01:23 PM

With the same codicil towards Lorcan and Seth, Woof might very well be the finest maker in the world, IMO. If he endorses these bag and bellows, they must be something special.

BTW, if you ever get a chance to hear Lorcan (InOBU) play the pipes you are in for a treat. I am a middling piper who knows more about how they go together than how to play them. And I have been listening to the UP's my whole life. I expected Lor to be OK. I didn't expect him to be excellent, but he is all of that.

Mick