Despite having owned this set for like, 10 years ..
I think something’s wrong with my posture/position or something.
What I mean is, (I have a half set) when I’m set to play, the top of the drone stock is on level with my belly button.
Pics that I pull up online seem to show many fellows with the pipes further up on the body.
Why I even bring it up is that flipping the drone switch is difficult, if not impossible to do with any finesse..
My left elbow touches roughly in the middle of the bag.
The bottom corner of the bellows touches the bottom of the drone stock, if that’s any help too..
Case in point(try not to get too distracted)..
Her stock rides up high, unlike mine.
and I do realize that one tionol or lesson would fix this problem.
Have ye tried holding the set up higher ?ye will find that the example ye have shewn is to facilitate the regulators.
As fer the switch ,a nice touch would be tae tie some strings around it …attach one tae yoor foot tae close it an the other tae yooor forehead tae open it or vice versa
I believe that as a general rule smaller people need to hold the bag higher in order to reach the regs (or the drone switch) properly whereas bigger/taller pipers with longer arms are more comfortable with the bag and the main stock positioned lower. Therefore there is no single correct height for the stock/bag. As Uilliam suggested, holding the set up higher might help in your case?
The uilleann piper is Catherine Ashcroft of Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria - I think she could be a member of the Traveller community as she’s photographed at the Appleby horse fair. Could be wrong though as Kirby Stephen is near Appleby and she’s prehaps just busking at the fair. http://www.flickr.com/photos/allybeag/2558820209/in/set-72157605491161425/
I can see the headline: “Yooleein piper strangles self after following Uilliams advice..”
I’ll play around with positioning: though I think from memory, that trying to hold higher, was difficult because the set would simply slink back down where it started.
I have also wondered about a support, like the sax players..
like he said, theres no ONE "right"way…
not that Im the epitome of ergonimics,
or nearly as cute as thon Lass
cant see from underneath that vintage 1980’s suit, but Im not scrunched up anywhere:
havign everything as far down on the lap as possible works for me.(5’11")
the mainstock ties comfortably into the bag just below the left elbow.
Depending on where your drone switch is,
From this angle the right thumb can flips the drone switch, (& also hits C &B on the bass reg)
a longer blowpipe wood move that bellows back from the mainstock.
ah ok
it’s all becoming clear to me now:
I need to upgrade to a full set, thus creating the need to have the bag up higher.
No seriously, thanks guys I’ll see about getting the set up higher on my bod.
I think that’s the ticket.
I’m 6’10" and recently got a full set, I am bringing to a maker on the east coast to maybe tie in a new bag so the stock will fit me better. I’m very new, but I do think that the stock can be tied better to suit the stature of the piper. I know its a hard instrument but I shouldn’t have to fight with it to keep it going. Good topic, thanks for starting it. cheers…johnny red
yeah, what is it about a pretty young girl playing a set of Irish pipes…
she could be doing a million other things, talking on the phone, bowling, shooting a cat
but playing a set of Uilleann pipes makes the scene that much more…pleasing on the eyeses.
I have a 3/4 set and found it hard to play my regs.
I tried many things like blow pipe length, chair size, bellows position, high and low bag, leg bent leg straight, chanter leaning left or straight. It was still hard until I noticed the obvious. I was thinking of getting a bass regulator and noticed how it would fit on my pipes. I like how my pipes look. Not thinking that I would have to turn my bass drone so the cool looking shinny parts would be facing down to fit a regulator. Turning my bass drone raised my pipes a good inch and 1/2, and now I can reach everything like a champ.
The only thing is now my pipes do not look as cool as a 3/4 set. So now I will have to make it a full set. That is a lot of cabbage for four notes. I can’t wait.
are ye suggesting I am a hobbit? 
…are they behind the beautiful girl? (must be an optical illusion.)
I was thinking of getting a bass regulator and noticed how it would fit on my pipes. I like how my pipes look. Not thinking that I would have to turn my bass drone so the cool looking shinny parts would be facing down to fit a regulator. Turning my bass drone raised my pipes a good inch and 1/2, and now I can reach everything like a champ. 