Gonna learn the pipes...doin' the happy dance!

[GlassMan]

Everywhere I've ever seen sells the smaller chanter and I've never seen one with countersunk holes. Do you know where I can find one?

[cavscout]

I bought my full size chanter from these guys.

http://britishshop.com/index.php?cPath=5_8_38

I don't recall the model but it was $70 (about 8 years ago). Definitely get the full size so the hole spacing will be the same when you step up to the bagpipes.

[Bob C]

Best of luck with the "misery stick." Mine has sat, unused, for years.

I get the urge to try again every once in a while. Fortunately, it passes. :-D

[Piper]

I have two practice chanters. The first one I bought is a cheap piece of pakistani junk. But, oddly enough, it has an excellent tone and tunes right in with my instructor's chanter. This falls under the heading of "Don't try this at home". My instructor tells me that this is the first decent practice chanter of middle eastern origin that he's seen in 50 years.
The second chanter is a Dunbar, african blackwood with a poly top, and countersunk holes. I purchased this one from Pipers Hut, in Ohio. I've found them the best to deal with, both in terms of price and service, as witnessed by the fact that I've also purchased my Dunbar GHB and one of my sets of smallpipes from the same dealer. You can locate Piper's Hut through a Google search, or look up Bob Dunsire's Bagpipe Web Directory and/or Bob Dunisre's Bagpipe Forums. Both the Directory and the Forums are excellent sources of piping info.

[Avonlea22]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and the pointers.

I'm leaning towards a Dunbar chanter, but now I'm questioning the whole long and extra long. Luckily my instructor will have several at the first class (that's probably where I will buy it from...he runs www.carolinacelt.com) to choose from, so I'll be able to ask questions and choose from the variety given.

[Avonlea22]

checked out the Pipers Hut.

They have the Dunbar Millennium, but it says "No Ferrule No Sole." What does that mean, and is it important to have either? Anywhere else I've looked at the Dunbar's, it never mentioned that.

[highlander_Daz]

"No Ferrule No Sole." the ferrule is normally a metal or ivory ring that goes around the bottom of the top half of the chanter, the sole is an ivory disc that goes on the bottom of the bottom of the chanter (bear in mind the chanter is in 2 pieces) my chanter has neither and it sounds great.

[Avonlea22]

so it sounds like it's for decorative purposes only.

Thanks!

[Piper]

On a poly chanter top the ferrule is definitely decorative. On a wooden top is may help guard against splitting. The top of the chanter is the part most subject to dampness. My Dunbar chanter is a combo. The chanter body is african blackwood, while the top is poly (no ferrule). I did order it with a sole, simply because I like the look. The sole does, however, have the slight advantage of elevating the end of the chanter off the table top. When I'm not at a table, and resting the chanter on my leg it serves to keep the sound hole up and clear.

[auld argonian]

I'm currently eyeing that set of kitchen pipes at hotpipes.com...they're based on the Dunbar chanter and seem like a decent way to go for one who doesn't aspire to playing in a pipe band.

Best

AA