I am fairly new to the pipes and my starter set Gallagher D Chanter has a gooseneck top. I am considering a side style top because the neck of my bag seems to kink with the gooseneck style.
Any advice
PS I bought the chanter used
Perhaps the neck is too long or your arms maybe too short. Probably easier to adjust the bag but with help from an experienced piper or maker
John
Thanks
I thought shortening the neck but opted to wait. But then got to wondering why the two styles. Is one better than the other or just a matter of personal preference
As well as the swan neck and side feed pipe styles there is also the chanter tied into the bag neck style. With a flat chanter this would mean a very long neck to get the chanter in the right position. Perhaps you should consider getting a longer crook made, like that fitted to a bassoon. I have just made a swan neck type fitting for a chanter I just finished, and I don’t like it so I am making a standard side-fitting head.
you could also try tilting the bag up (or down). Last thing you want it a chanter you’ve got to muscle to keep in place…guaranteed death-grip. As for the two different styles people have theories (like with the straight vs. u-bend bass reg arm, or the trumpet vs. ladder style bass drone) about not bouncing the wind around. Not sure if any of them hold wind.
get a new back with a shorter neck.
That sounds like radical surgery. 
Not necessarily - you admit to being somewhat new to this. I’ve encountered many learners/starters whose posture or chanter position isn’t ideal. For most people, the chanter should be leaning in two directions - the top should lean to the left (assuming you are right-handed) and also should lean away from your body, with the bottom of the chanter somewhat closer to your body against the popping strap, also slightly to the inside of the leg (to ensure that the chanter meets perpendicular to the popping strap. This also requires the right leg to be slightly “dropped”, for the same reason.
The above posture requires a longer bag neck, since it places the top of the chanter further from your body than a more “vertical” position. You should seek advice from experienced people (preferably from more than one) before settling on a posture that may take years to correct, if not right…
There are valid individual variations and preferences here, but in my experience a position requiring a “too-short” bag neck is a common feature of beginner posture.
Barring that, have a good long look at pictures of experienced pipers from NPU (not all of them will be “correct” for learners, so use judgement), and look in a mirror when practicing.
best regards,
Bill
I’ve tried both types. The swan neck can take a bit of getting used to, but there’s nothing wrong with it. I’ve heard it said by a couple of makers that doing the chanter top with a swan neck results in a slightly more stable back d, but I’m no expert.
Snipping off part of the bag and making it shorter would definitely not be a good idea. Have at least one other experienced player take a look at things before making permanent solutions to possibly temporary problems.
I’m with Billh (he said what I was thinking much better than I could). BTW, are you coming at this from GHB piping?..if so, an adjustment in posture might be the key.
mq
Guys
Tanks for all of the advice. Bills advice was spot on I adjusted my posture and it helps alot. I also will get on with getting an instructor as I know breaking bad habits is difficult. I am a GH piper but the Uilleann pipes have been a dream of mine for a long time.
I am on Long Island New York so there is no shortage of instructors.
Thanks again
Thank you! This is also helping me in my struggle with “roaming chanter syndrome.” I’ve taken a couple of workshops now, but since both were populated by various levels of beginners it seemed the tutors had little time or mental bandwidth to cover things like that.
My chanter’s the skinniest little thing and I have stupidly long fingers so I seem to have trouble getting an ergonomically sensible and relaxed grip as it is. I’ve known position is vital but haven’t been able to settle on a good one on my own.
This helps greatly so again, thank you!
well, I’m no master piper, but I’ve heard told that side-style neck guys are well, more svelt..
I could be wrong…
Out of curiosity when did the change of style come about. Which maker went for the side entry as opposed to the swan neck / direct tie in to a long neck.