For the life of me, I can’t seem to reach my regs’ lower keys while playing (closed handed that is). Seems the bass reg keeps me from pivoting my torsue so as to get down that far. Others of my stature with the protruding bass reg seem to manage just fine. Suggestions?
[ This Message was edited by: tommykleen on 2003-01-11 23:26 ]
Try a strap around the stock and your shoulder,or maybe the cup to the bag needs shortening.
Slan go foil
Liam
thanks for the tips, Liam. I do have them strappped, but I don’t know how I’d shorten that stock…short of sawing it off. I guess I could see if the maker has a shorter stock around the shop.
t
Perhaps if the neck of your bag was extended it would give you a little more reach to the bottom regs. I needed to extend the neck on my bag. It worked well.
I had the same problem reaching the lower regs. I
I recently received a copy of “The Tutor: Irish Union Pipes” by Denis Brooks.
It has a very nice section on regulators and how to position them, what part of the hand and wrist to use with what chords, etc.
It’s quite a useful tutor, I think.
“The Tutor” is available from the Irish Pipers Club in Seattle.
You should also check the length of the connection between the bellows and the bag. It amazes me that makers don’t systematically ask customers for their waist measurement, or even adapt the length when they know the customer in person.
The practice of using a hosepipe to make the link also introduces rigidity which was not there when the connection was a stitched leather tube (though that also had its drawbacks)
One thing I’ve noticed with the Quinn B set is that the reach for the reg keys is a couple of inches further down than the D set, but I’m able to reach the lower keys okay w/o a strap. The B set only has the tenor and baritone regs.
Twisting the mainstock forward in the bag seems to help. This makes the bag hang more vertically, and somehow keeps the regs up closer. I think it’s because the bag is more against the leg rather than the waist, and this somehow keeps everything from slipping. This position requires a slightly longer (stiff) tube from the bellows and also a goose-neck to the chanter.
All,
Thanks for the tips. If it helps in the diagnosis, here’s a picture (not a great one) of me and my set:
http://www.concentric.net/~pdarcy/photos/net2002_tk.jpg
t
Tommy…nice pic. That angle of the bag is exactly what I was trying to describe. Whose set of pipes are ye playing? You should stick that picture in the photo album a few threads back.
Hey!?!?!?! It IS TOO a good picture! Picture is great! Love that photo! well composed!
No it isn’t… he looks like such a dork!
Patrick.
I noticed that Patrick Hutchinson has his stock exit the bag near the very bottom. This way he has more control over the angle of the drones/regs, and the kit lands on both of his thighs - across his lap. very interesting and it made a lot of sense to me.
But it only works if you have a folded bass reg.
Here’s a nice example of some guy holding the regs in a very nice position…
Patrick.
A lot of this depends on the placement of the bag on your side…do you wear it high? or low? Also, a lot of the bag placement and the lay of the drones and regs depends greatly on the length of the humerus (upper arm bone), and in particular, its length in relation to the length or stature of your trunk, and on your girth. Note the S. Ennis photo, in it his upper arm is shorter relative to his height than is the length of the arm suppopsedly owned by P. Hutchinson. (I know, different vantage points but any bloke can see the differences here) So, there will be different placements of pipes parts. Truth is, makers produce pipes that often fit themselves, send them to you, and part of the difficulty with them is they don’t fit your body habitus. Most of us do more adapting that we probably should have to do. This may lead to nagging injuries in some players. Whenever possible, stock placement, bag neck length, blowpipe length, etc, should be determined on an individual basis… pre sale…or at time of sale/delivery…or with provisions to change some of these things after a little while of playing a new set.
D’Arcy…great picture of Ennis(!x10). I find my attention keeps returning to those hands and fingers. Long fingers may not be that much of an advantage, e.g., Rowsome’s were shorter, but I bet it helps. I’m finding the reach on the B chanter to be more comfortable every day. I was surprised to learn that it’s the left hand that gets sore.
I once had this theory that some of the finest fiddlers hands were narrow and folded easily, and a long pinky. A couple years ago I was at a Christmas party in Portland, and I asked fiddler Kevin Burke if I could look at his hands/fingers. He has a relatively short pinky and semi-banjo hands, not unlike mine. I was disappointed to learn that it’s probably just a lot of work, no cheating. Darn…same probably goes with piping.
Sorry, I mean the picture is fine, I am more stunning when viewed from the front, donncha know. Someone also suggested I insert the stock deeper into the bag too.
…go for it D’Arcy!
t
Oh no… too tempting… can’t continue typing… losing all sense of reason… suddenly I want to play bodhrán… if you did nay have your wellies… where would ya be… you’d be in the hospital or… Aaghhhhhhh 
Patrick.
All,
I have solved my reg problem! And I have a great picture that illustrates how I did it. Unfortunately, I do not have the picture on any website, so I am unable to paste it into a message on this forum. Bummer! Any I dea how I can get this image posted here?
t