practice chanter recommendations?

[CamelCody]

So I've decided to buy a practice chanter and start learning. My question is does the quality of the chanter really matter since I'm just using it to transition to some thing bigger? I was looking at Gibson chanters...around $130, and was wondering if it was really worth paying that much vs. other chanters for around $50. Advice on this and any other advice for a beginner would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

[O'Searcaigh]

Yes, in my opinion and experience, quality does matter but price doesn't necessarily. I have bought several chanters over the years. Only one of them is actually in tune with itself (properly drilled etc) and it was not the most expensive one I purchased. My advice is to actually try several - play some scales on each -- before buying any so that you can be sure the one you finally do choose is in tune. Otherwise, all your practicing will be "off" and just plain down-right frustrating (and unless you are OCD about it, perhaps make you give up). If you don't already play (don't do/know scales) have a teacher or other experienced piper help. It can save you a lot of frustration as well as $$$$. Good luck and happy piping

[haukehaien]

I would agree that quality matters - and also that price doesn't necessarily equal quality. The reason quality matters is that you'll never stop using your PC. When you've gotten on the pipes, you'll still learn new tunes on the PC, practice scales and so forth on it. It's not "training wheels", but an integral part of being a piper. In order, here are the things you should do to learn pipes:

1) Find an instructor. Many pipe bands will give free instruction in exchange for piping with them later. Depending on where you are, you may have several choices. Learning pipes without a teacher is generally a VERY bad idea.

2) Find out if your instructor has a preference in PCs. (Some do, some don't.)

3) Get a poly (not blackwood) PC from Gibson, Dunbar, McCallum or another established manufacturer. The reason for poly is that you will, almost certainly, drop your PC at some point. Poly PCs bounce; blackwood cracks and breaks. (Poly also holds its value better, should you later decide that the pipes aren't for you.) Expect to pay around $50-75 for it.

I play a Dunbar poly regular length PC. A lot of people will tell you that the "Long" PCs make it easier to transition tunes and so forth to the pipes; I have not found this to be the case. I *have* found that for me, a long PC is impossible to rest on the table while practicing, which makes practice much more difficult. Your mileage may vary on this. Good luck! It's always great to see new people starting down the road of piping.

[B R Gordon]

I agree with the O'Searcaigh and haukehalen. The only thing that I'll add is FIND an INSTRUCTOR. I heard of persons learning without one, but they are very few and far between. To learn to play grace notes you need an instructor.

I believe that it's important to get a chanter that's close to being in tune. It becomes frustrating listening to one that's badly out of tune with itself.

[Piper]

Some very good points made so far. I would also caution you to stay far away from the cheap, light colored wood practice chanters seen on eBay, and at a lot of vendors at Highland Games. They're generally manufactured in the Mid-east, and listed as being "cocus" or "sheesham" wood. They're rarely well made, and not very durable. I have a plastic (delrin) pc from McCallum, a plastic small or child sized pc from Gibson (for my youngest grandson), and a blackwood with plastic top model from Dunbar. They're all well made, in tune with themselves and with the exception of the Dunbar cost under $50.
I started out with one of the "cocus" wood pc's years ago. It didn't sound bad, and even was in tune with my instructor's pc. I stayed with it for about a year, then after repeated urging from my instructor, bought the McCallum. One of the problems with the original was that the threaded wood at the top of the bulb where the mouthpiece attaches had started to dissolve, and the mouthpiece wouldn't stay properly attached.
As has been stated previously, buy quality. It really isn't that expensive, and it's a tool you'll use as long as you're a piper.

[Riverkilt]

Years back I was given the gift of a Pakistani chanter ordered out of a Scottish catalog for about $45. I couldn't play it despite my best efforts. So, one day I took it to the bagpipe shop in Flagstaff, Arizona with the intent of buying a REAL chanter and was willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for a good one.

When I explained to the owner that the gift chanter didn't work he took it from me and played it rapidly and beautifully running up and down scales, playing a tune or two, then handed it back to me and said it worked fine.

I still can't make it work. Found out I have some reduced lung capacity (79%) from working in the mines and smoking too many years....maybe that's it.

Message is that even the inexpensive ones work IF you know how to make them work...sadly, Flagstaff is 135 miles away so not close enough for lessions.

Maybe an electric one...

[Macman]

I still can't make it work.

Ron, try holding your left thumb over the hole in the back, and then give it a try.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks....still sounds like a gravely wounded walrus.

Thing is about 8 years old now...no clue what a "good" reed looks like.

[Jack Daw]

Frankly, IMHO, quality doesn't matter as the sound is never all that good on a PC - but, go with a poly for the reasons already given. But, by all means, get a chanter that is FULL SIZE. IOW, the finger-holes are spaced apart the same length as on a real chanter. It will help to avoid unecessary crossing noise on the real thing.

[davidlpope]

So I've decided to buy a practice chanter and start learning. My question is does the quality of the chanter really matter since I'm just using it to transition to some thing bigger? I was looking at Gibson chanters...around $130, and was wondering if it was really worth paying that much vs. other chanters for around $50. Advice on this and any other advice for a beginner would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

Dunbar long polypenco, unless your tutor requires something else.