Address:
Martin Preshaw
Teach an Phíobaire
Formil Road
Mullanmean Under
Drumskinney
Kesh
Co. Fermanagh,
Ireland
BT93 1DR

Testimonials

Below are some customer comments on Martin's pipes and service received:

Piping with Preshaw

"You are likely to know the joke about the Devil and the Faustian pact he visited on one of the world's more vulnerable victims, namely a poor wretch who wanted to learn to play the Uilleann pipes.

The Devil alighted on his prey while the poor man was attempting to get a particularly recalcitrant baritone regulator into tune. Just as it finally slid into a perfect D, the bass drone seized up. Satan knew it was time to strike.

"Lookit," he said. "I can grant you the power to play your pipes with the sweetness of Seamus Ennis, to have regulator control like Willie Clancy, play with the metronomic timing of Liam O'Flynn, and dispense melodies with the aching brilliance of Paddy Keenan."

Excitedly, and with a certain amount of disbelief, the piper said, "You can!?!" "Yes," replied the Devil, "I can do all that. However, in return there's a payment - I will require the souls of your wife, your three sons, and any further children you might have. Also, I will need to visit my claim on the next two generations, so that even your grandchildren and great grandchildren's souls will spend all eternity with me beyond the Third Circle of Perdition."

"Hold on a second," said the piper. "You want the souls of my wife, my three sons, and any further children I might have. And even my grandchildren and great grand children's souls will spend all eternity with you down below?"
"That's correct," replied the Devil solemnly.
"But in return," continued the piper, "I'll be able to play the pipes sweetly and with perfect pitch?" "That is the deal," affirmed the Devil
The putative piper thought for a minute, and then asked: "So what's the catch?"

Over the last thirty years or so I have often thought about that joke. I tend to think of it as more a parable. Most times I've blamed musical shortcomings for my inability to sound like Tommy Reck or Patsy Tuohey; other times I've taken it out on my pipes, and laid the blame squarely at their feet.

But that was until a chance meeting with Martin Preshaw led me to becoming the owner of an (almost) full set of his pipes, made from the finest of plum-wood, with pear-wood regulators.

The first, and most notable property of Preshaw pipes is that they play in tune. Gone is the (other) old joke: What is the definition of a minor third? ANSWER: two Uilleann pipers playing in unison. Secondly Preshaw pipes are ergonomically so satisfying. The contours on the plum-wood chanter just makes your fingers ache to play it.
Thirdly they look beautiful. Not important to some people, granted, but it's still nice to have something stunning to look at even if you can't play them while you're having your dinner.

A magnificent set of pipes has meant that, while I don't exactly sound like Liam O'Flynn, I can now play in tune with drones, regulator and chanter all sounding in wonderful harmony. And I didn't even need to strike a deal with the Devil. I only had to go up the road to Fermanagh."

Heather Emmett

Dear Martin

"Some time ago I contacted a number of people for advice on taking up the Uilleann pipes. Since my initial email to you I have never looked back. The pipes you made for me have changed my life. I fell in love with them from the day they arrived. My chanter is bright, full and feels gorgeous. I have since had the opportunity to hear and try many chanters and I wouldn't want to swap mine for any of them. Your support throughout the early stages continued long after you cashed my cheque. Knowing that I wasn't local to a piping community or teacher, you would call and email offering advice and support.

I am truly delighted with my half set and look forward to the day when I collect my regulators. In short, your work is beautiful. The only problem I foresee is that your pipes have completely taken over my life!

Sincere thanks
Heather Emmett"

Philip G Mylod

"Martin,

Thank You for the New 3 keyed D Chanter. All the notes are well balanced in tune with regulators upper octaves real sweet and easy to achieve Back d is bright and solid and the bottom D smack dab on. The hard D is to die for - Oh My God!!! The sound produced is tone that comes from the Heavens. Overall, I feel that I am truly blessed. As we progress in our piping we developed an ear for the sound and ancestral tones. We hear recordings and yearn to replicate a feeling. Occasionally we hit a sweet spot and get a brief glimpse of what it must be like to have it all come together. Today it did as I played this chanter. Then, I nearly cried in joy when I played this chanter up against the regulators and drones.

Thank You ,Thank You ,Thank You Martin!

Philip G Mylod
P.0. Box 484
Lavallette, NJ
08735 732-830-6464"

Matt Loranger

"My new chanter from Martin Preshaw arrived last week and I just want to take a moment to say - wow! I've been playing pipes for almost twenty years and have owned sticks from several top makers and this one is definitely the best chanter I have ever owned. Heck - it's about the best chanter I've ever played, period! I've been wearing it out for almost a week now and I still can't get enough of it. If you are looking for a rock solid chanter that just about plays itself, has a great bottom, is perfectly in tune, and sounds like a million bucks then you should call Martin now before his waiting list gets to be into the years and decades range.
Kudos Martin - keep up the great work!

Matt Loranger
Chicago"

Joseph Dillon

"Martins D chanters are indeed tops. I have had two wonderful chanters ...still have one that I use all the time. The chanter has been the envy of many a fine piper. Cant go wrong with Martin's work.
Philip Mylod
New Jersey

I purchased a chanter from Martin Preshaw earlier this year and it has provided and continues to provide excellent service. The tone, intonation, tuning et cetera of the chanter was exactly what I was looking for. His customer care is also second to none.

Joseph Dillon
West Yorkshire"

Mr. John Bathgate

"Dear Martin

Thank- you for the wonderful chanter. I really love the bottom 'D', it has a lovely tone as does the rest of the notes. I can't wait to get the rest of the set in my hands!'

Mr. John Bathgate,
Artist, Isle of Skye"