Bag Size

Uilleann Pipes
1

i know its all preference, but is there an appropriate size bag for us bigger dudes? the one that came with my drones is 10" by 13", the neck is 13". it seems small. the chanter is put in the normal spot the neck is not straight. it does not cut off air though. what do ya think.

2

Hi pmriley, I`d like to see a pic of your pipes being played.

3

hey, i am an x large dude, over 6’ and over 200#, and used to swear by a very large L and M bag from Tim Britton… but recently got switched to a much, much smaller bag close to what you are playing but with a longer neck as i play a few flat chanters… anyway, i was expecting a huge disadvantage, but its actually the opposite. i think it has do to for me with the efficiency of the bellows and the reeds/bores… so if you are not flapping away like an albatross taking flight, you are probably okay.

as far as your kinked neck, extend the chanter out further, you are probably pulling it in too close. i used to do this as well.

4

i have moved it out some but then the bag is not under my arm. i am also new with the drones so it is also getting used them across my chest, opposed to up over my arm. in the videos i have seen it looks lke most of the bag is behind the player. doesn’t look to efficient. thats what im going by. im actually thinking its a neck length issue.
don

5

As a temporary measure try extending the air tube in the chanter top with some flexible plastic tube to see if this helps. If it does then a longer neck would be needed. And sit up straight when you play. A lot of “problems” can be cured by just getting into a more efficient playing position. The amount of bag extending backwards does not matter; the quantity of air passing through the chanter is the same, no matter what the bag size. It is a question of efficient use of the air that you have; a smaller bag fills more quickly with less pumping of the bellows, and increases the amount of control you have over air flow.

6

I am 6 foot 1 inch, 260 lbs and had a large bag and did not like it. After trying other fella’s pipes I went with a small.. I never looked back. Works great.

Johnnie

7

ill give the extention a go. i am thinking that readjusting and getting used to the smaller bag may be it. Marcelo Muttis i dont have any pix right now. i will try to post.

8

I asked for the pic 'cause is better to see the beast played.For me its a kind of taylor thing ,you know… measurements and how the thing fits and go, and how the design allows you to play comfortable, and to reach relatively easy everything you need to play.

9

i know. i figured that would be why :wink:

10

Pm,
Marcelo is right. Lets see a picture. The pipes should fit without extensions. Extensions on the neck may just be a band aid that can cause trouble later. If you plan to play Regs some day, you’ll need to play with the chanter resting very close to the drone stock on your leg. If you do extend it, make sure you’re not out too far out on your thigh with the chanter. Better yet, try experimenting with lots of chanter/drone stock/bag positions. Everyone is built differently. You may have just yet to find the sweet spot where everything falls in place. I spent a couple years doing that with my first set. When I finally found it, I realized the problem was me, :open_mouth: not the pipes. Also you say drones across your chest? :really: That doesn’t sound right. The drones should sit much lower than that with Uilleann pipes. They should be sitting in your lap across your belly. Something is amiss, and it sounds like it may not be the pipes.

11

I needed an extra inch of reach to put the chanter in exactly the right place to allow me reach all of the reg keys comfortably. The air-intake on my chanter top is 3/8" OD. So I cut an inch of 3/8" hobby tubing. I also cut about 2.5 inches of 13/32" and slipped it on over the existing air-intake and then slipped the 1" of 3/8" inside. You can see the results in the following image:

It gives me a very comfortable position and it isn’t very noticable.

12

ok ill get a picture up. i did fool around a bit and the main issue is left hand is at a weird angle i had an issue like this with my ghb and it was bag related but i will get the pic up as soon as i can get my cam to work :smiley: