Hello all,
I am currently on the waiting list for a full set in C from a good maker, but have been considering the option of a 3/4 set instead. I have spoken with several pipers who consider the 3/4 set easier to deal with including transportation and tuning.
How nice is the bass regulator to add chordal variations? How often do you use the bass reg? Would you absolutely go with the full set if buying again?
Thanks,
Alex
You should look at Seth Gallagher’s sets if transport is an issue for you. He huses the wrap around style bass drone. I play a D set made by him and it fits comfortably in smaller cases. His web site has some photos, and a great photo in the case is as follows:
http://www.uilleann.com/otherproducts.html
Maybe if you are to far along on your wait list you could ask the maker to majke it this way.
Good luck.
Neil
Good question. Some truly excellent players I know swear by 3/4 sets, citing their ease of handling while playing, transporting, and somewhat reduced maintenance (one less thing to tune/balance, fewer things that can leak). good reasons all. They can produce a very full sound with chanter, 3 drones and two regs blazing. Benedict Koehler is a very, very fine piper who prefers the 3/4 configuration, and there is certainly nothing missing in his sound!
To help your decision, try to listen to recordings of pipers who use their regs a fair amount. Try to identify the bass reg sound, how often it’s used, and (most importantly) whether you like the variety it provides, and is it worth the additional expense to you? Only you can answer that question for yourself.
A very important part of the equation is, how does the make of instrument you’re about to acquire sound in each configuration? Talk to your pipemaker about it. Make an appointment, visit the shop, maybe try it out both ways, and see what works for you.
One other thing: Many older-style flat sets and copies of them have a removable bass regulator bar, making it possible to dissassemble the instrument and pack it into a smaller space. Food for thought.
I play full sets, even though they’re more expensive, and they’re slightly harder to play, maintain, and transport, because I like piping styles that make use of the bass reg for occasional, tasteful vamping and harmonic color. I use the tenor and middle reg more often, but I’m getting into the bass reg a bit on several tunes I play. It does not add any new harmonic possibilities, though; the four notes on your standard bass reg are one octave below the first four notes of the small regulator. It does have a different sound that I like very much. But that’s my preference, a decision I made based on hours of listening to recordings and going to concerts.