Chanter review?

**siva011** · 30th March 09, 12:59 PM

RT Shepherd chanters

Is this brand a worthy buy for a first time chanter? Anything out there in similar price that would be a better bet? After seeing what lies on ebay I'm not very trusting of what I read.

And any advice from someone that is a bit confusing... what is the difference between the standard and long sizes? Aside from the obvious I mean....

**EagleJCS** · 30th March 09, 01:57 PM

Shepherd makes a fine bagpipe chanter. The Louisville Pipe Band was using Shepherds until last year. We switched because they were starting to sound flat by comparison to some of our competitors.

The chanter that plugs into the bag is pretty much the same length, regardless of the maker. Practice chanters come in standard and long - also depending on the maker. Some makers have just one length of practice chanter, close to the bagpipe chanter, and some makers offer 'standard' and 'long'.

Standards (some makers call them short) are slightly shorter than the bagpipe chanter, and the finger holes are thus a little bit closer together. Longs are about as long as a bagpipe chanter, and thus have the finger holes spaced about the same.

You can look at the Dunsire forum and elsewhere for more discussion about the pros and cons of different makers. It all boils down to a couple of things: what sounds good to your ear and what your instructor recommends (some instructors get very particular about what they'll work with).

Best of luck with your decision!

**george7** · 30th March 09, 02:31 PM

Shepherd makes a great pipe chanter. Make sure whatever chanter you buy has indented holes that simulate the feel of a real chanter (which the shepherd chanter probably has). I have a Gibson. I'm a big fan of Gibson practice chanters.

**wvpiper** · 31st March 09, 06:47 AM

Honestly, I don't know if the maker of a practice chanter really makes a difference (so long as it's from a well known maker). I would get poly, simply b/c it's more durable than blackwood. Ask your instructor for recomendations.

Pipe chanters will make a difference. The McCallum pipe chanter has huge holes compared to other pipe chanters. Too big for me, so I switched to a D Nail poly-then bought a blackwood from Doug MacPherson.

**george7** · 31st March 09, 06:54 AM

Polypenco is definitely the way to go for a practice chanter... I can't count the times I've seen them roll off a table, fall while being twirled/juggled, etc. Mine has been dropped numerous times and has a few scars, but no cracks like I would've had with a wooden chanter.

**siva011** · 31st March 09, 07:22 AM

Sorry I should have been more specific.... I'm looking for a practice chanter to start with. Thanks for all your advice, as I may have been looking toward the blackwood, and will focus on the poly now.

So if the standard is shorter than the chanter on actual pipes.... what would be the reason for getting that as opposed to the full size? Wouldn't that just make the switch to pipes that much harder?

**cajuncelt** · 31st March 09, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by siva011

Sorry I should have been more specific.... I'm looking for a practice chanter to start with. Thanks for all your advice, as I may have been looking toward the blackwood, and will focus on the poly now.

So if the standard is shorter than the chanter on actual pipes.... what would be the reason for getting that as opposed to the full size? Wouldn't that just make the switch to pipes that much harder?

Yes, poly definitely.
I never understood why buy a short chanter. Everyone eventually switches to long that I know of.
I will second the Gibson. The comment that the practice chanter doesn't matter is not really true. If you decide to join (or are in) a band, you want your chanter as robust as possible. Sound quality makes a difference as well. You don't want the "kazoo" sound. Buy a Gibson long.

**wvpiper** · 31st March 09, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by cajuncelt

Yes, poly definitely.
I never understood why buy a short chanter. Everyone eventually switches to long that I know of.
I will second the Gibson. The comment that the practice chanter doesn't matter is not really true. If you decide to join (or are in) a band, you want your chanter as robust as possible. Sound quality makes a difference as well. You don't want the "kazoo" sound. Buy a Gibson long.

If he joins a band, he'll be given a band chanter that matches everyone else.
If he's in a band, they'll have recommendations for preferred practice chanters
I'll stand by my comment that as long as he get's a chanter from a quality maker, in polypenco, and uses a decent reed, it doesn't matter (with caveat

to the beginning piper.

**SteveB** · 31st March 09, 08:01 PM

First - Speak with your tutor/instructor!
While starting on the piping journey, it is quite beneficial to be working with the same practice chanter as your tutor.
My tutor and I are both using Dunbar Deluxe Long in African Blackwood. I am using an Abbott reed, and he is using a Walsh reed. This works as the Abbott reed produces a very robust sound, and the Blackwood chanter produces a very sweet note. I have a McCallum Long Practice Chanter, which is really a medium length in their series, in Polypenco. The sound of the notes is a little harsher than the Dunbar. The indents on the McCallum and Dunbar practice chanters simulate the feel of the bagpipe chanter. There are many traps to avoid. Please read the sticky by BeloitPiper. It is the consensus of many of the pipers here on X marks the Scot.
I am now beginning the process of learning rhythm and tunes. During part of the session both of us are playing the exercise together on our practice chanters. Where we are both using the same instrument, and have tuned our reeds in to each other, it makes the learning process much easier. I can hear clearly where I am not doing the right fingerings.

I can not emphasize enough - CONSULT WITH YOUR TUTOR - before buying a practice chanter.

There are excellent long practice chanters made by Dunbar, Gibson, and Walsh.

Now get into enjoying the journey to the Great Highland Bagpipes.
I am a beginner on the practice chanter, the pipes are far in the future.
Cheers

**Colonel MacNeal** · 1st April 09, 07:29 AM

Help!?

Need some advice on Chanters. Mein Frau bought me a practice chanter a few years ago, but my fingertips lack sufficient sensation to find and cover the holes. I've even thought about putting corn pads around the holes.

Used to play the Sax and Clarinet when I was a kid, but operating those keys is a lot easier than working the holes in a chanter. Help! I either need a chanter with easy holes or is there a chanter with keys?

I would love to learn the pipes, but my damn fingertips are so damn numb. (yes I know what is wrong with them so please don't offer medical advice)

Thanks in advance, ColMac