Chanter questions

[SteveB]

I have two long chanters, one blackwood and one polypenco (plastic)
The blackwood is from Kilberry Bagpipes of Edinburgh, the tube is rough in places on the inside, the finger holes are straight drilled and I find that the spacing gives my D and E fingers an opportunity to clash, the blowtube is clean through, and seats well with a medium amount of hemp (remember this is wood!). The reed seat is well milled and little hemp is needed to firmly seat the reed.
The plastic chanter is from McCallum Bagpipes of Kilmarnock, and has a nice smooth bore, the finger holes are tapered and appear (feel) the same as on a bagpipe chanter, it also has a well finished blowtube, and seats with only a little bit of hemp. The reed seat is well milled, and reeds seat easily with very little hemp.
I have found that my playing experience on both to be the same as far as the noise emitted. With a lot of wind from me, I can get sound to come out, that is not in tone with any known musical instrument. I have experienced very brief encounters with low G and low A. Many times the reed simply shuts tight as I try to move up the scale, or a really horrid screech comes out the end that sends my neighbours running. I now have a rodent and cat free area around my house.
For the record, I am not a piper, and do wish to learn, but the best suggestion is to find a tutor. I need to find one before I proceed any further as I do not want to learn bad playing methods. If anyone knows of a tutor in Boston, or nearby, I need to contact them. I do not have a set of pipes and will hold off purchasing them until I find a tutor that gets me through the chanter stage, and can recommend pipes that are suited to my playing. If the tutor recommends other than the chanters I currently own, the additional chanter will be invested in. The important thing to me is to learn how to play the pipes properly, and so that I can do so with enjoyment.
To play the pipes poorly will not only hurt me, but the reputation of the bagpipes to others, that would not be right.
Off soap box, end rant, breath deep.
Slainte