First Practice Chanter I bought was Pakistani. Much to my instructor's suprise, it tuned right in with his old blackwood chanter. I still have and use it, although I have since bought a nice Dunbar blackwood practice chanter that I take to lessons. The practice chanters seem to be more forgiving of, or maybe not subject to the erratic work standards that plague the pipes made in the mid-east, although I know of plenty of people who've had problems with cheap practice chanters. The problem may well be with the reed. If it's sounding flat, try removing a bit of the hemp from the bottom of the reed so it sits lower in the seat. That may sharpen it up a bit.