Ambidextrous bag

Uilleann Pipes
1

This might sound like a strange question but has anyone ever come across an ambidextrous bag??

I’m trying to put together a practice set to use as a loaner. However, the problem is that if a learner is left handed, they have to put the bag under their right arm and either the air-intake is on the wrong side (pointing to the right) or the player has to turn the bag up-side-down, in which case, the air-intake is at the top of the bag, instead of being on the bottom - it’s harder to align it with the bellows and still have it high under the arm.

The idea I’ve had is that if a bag could be fitted with two intakes - one on the left (for the left handed player) and one on the right (for the right handed player), all that would be needed is to plug one of the intakes and attach the bellows to the other. Sounds good in theory - I only have to buy one bag! Has it been done before and if so, does it work? Perhaps someone has bought a right-handed practice set and converted it to play left-handed??

2

Just have your lefties learn right handed. It will be easier for them to find sets in the future, and there is no real problem with playing right handed (I do).

Jack Devereux

3

There’s been a lot of debate about this. I’m firmly of the view that if someone wants to play left handed, they should be able to do so.

4

If your player hasn’t touched a woodwind instrument before… he/she won’t know the difference.
Teach 'em right-handed

5

A brilliant idea! You should claim the copyright…from now on such a bag will be known to all as a “P.J. Bag”!

(Not to be confused with those things kids put their jammies in of course.)
http://www.giftlog.com/pp/koala_pyjama.htm

Good luck with that idea. Should work perfectly.

6

Hi PJ

If the bag is for a practice set only, make a bag shaped like this emoticon
:party: on its side. Put the air intake at about where the hat bottom is.

The bag is then symetrical about it’s major axis and can therefore be used by both left and right handed players by flipping it to suit. My very first practice set from Jim Daily was like this.

Uillium has made vinyl bags like this as well - he could give you better advice on construction methods etc.

David

7

That’s a great idea, but do I have to paint it the same colours?? Seriously, though, a great idea. I’d not considered that.