Need help with pipes

[sharpdressedscot]

Get a chanter first. between 60-70 bucks. I'm not a piper, but I want to learn.

[JerseyLawyer]

Right. Pipers start learning on the practice chanter, which is much less expensive. There are plenty of threads here discussing what to look for.

As far as good-but-relatively-inexpensive pipes, I had a set of Gillanders & MacLeod that were top notch. J. Higgins sells them. I think they're about $1200 now.

[Macman]

Get a chanter first. between 60-70 bucks. I'm not a piper, but I want to learn.

I agree. I'm pretty new at the pipes, so you can take my advice FWIW, but you should start out with a practice chanter. Get the full set when your instructor says you're ready. I was on the practice chanter for a year before I got pipes. Good luck and have fun learning!

[highlander_Daz]

get a logans tutor book and a decent practice chanter, and knuckle down and start from the beginning, find a decent instructor, most bands will teach you for peanuts as long as you turn out with them now and again,
bands re a good place to buy a decent set os second hand pipes, in fact a lot of bands will loan you a decent set

[PiobBear]

"To the making of a piper goes seven years of his own learning, and seven generations before."

The great Highland bagpipe is rumored to be one of the most difficult instruments to learn to play, and well nigh impossible without instruction from a competent piper. Once you've located a tutor or a band to take you in, check with them to see what tutor book they use. What ever you do, do not under any circumstances get a $15 practice chanter off of EBay. Sometimes you can find a second-hand Naill, McCallum, or Dunbar chanter and some good tutor books, but at best buying anything off of EBay's a gamble.
One of the benefits of learning with a band is hearing the tone of different makes of pipes; when you're ready to buy, you'll be able to make a much more informed decision.

[haukehaien]

I note that the Black Bexar Pipe Band is in your area, and offers instruction "For a nominal membership fee"; there may aslo be other bands. You might check around and see what you can find ...

http://www.blackbexar.com/home.htm