Mainstock pulling forward

Uilleann Pipes
1

I have recently enough put a new bag on my pipes and find that the drones/regulators are trying to constantly pull forward away down my leg and against the chanter. I copied the position of the blowpipe and mainstock locations from the previous bag and wonder if the mainstock is too close to the seam (about 1cm at the closest point) creating this problem. Would moving the mainstock slightly further back make much of a difference? Any views on this would be much appreciated. Hamish

2

You don’t say whether the new bag is the same size and shape as the old. A difference in either of those could be the problem, despite placing stocks in positions as before.

I would say, if the new bag is the same shape etc as the old, then keep pulling the drones back into position from time to time, and this might resolve the problem. Otherewise, retie but pulling more leather onto the stock opposite the falling away point, in the direction you want the drones to lie.

If you make the hole bigger in tying to shift the fall, you will probably not get a good seal, and may wind up having to buy another bag.

Pwrt

3

Hi Pipewort,

Yes the bag is exactly the same as the old one. An L&M standard uilleann pipe bag. Might try retying as you suggested because continually pulling the stock back is very frustrating and making playing awkward. Just thought that if the hole for the stock was slightly further back it would make the angle of the stock more perpendicular to the bag. Perhaps with the old bag the stock was tied in as you suggested. Don’t really wish to buy another one so if the retie doesn’t work then I might have to put up with it. Thanks for the reply.

Hamish

4

Have you tried tying a small strap around the stock or through the loop in the bass drone and attaching this to your belt (or a belt loop)?

5

Hi PJ

Gave your suggestion about the strap a go and played at a session last night. Perfect, just like the old days! Looped it around bass drone bend and onto a key ring that I attached to the waist strap. Thanks for advice. Hamish

6

I always use a strap for my Rogge Pipes. I put the strap around the mainstock brass cup when I play pipes as a 3/4 set.

Cheers

Ferg

7

The distance from the seam can indeed alter the angle at which the mainstock exits the bag - it tends to exit perpendicular to the bag of course. If there is no bass bar to wedge the set the other way, then putting the stock near the seam will tend to push the drones down your thigh towards your knee as you describe. It’s hard to say without seeing the setup firsthand, of course; but as a general principle it’s relevant.

8

Bill-

I have this same problem with the drones and regs moving to far towards the knee and it is indeed because of where the mainstock cup ties into the bag. I had to put it closer to the seam than I’d like in order to fit the bass reg bar around the bag. Is there any trick (or hope…) for set with the long bass reg? Or any particular bag style that is easier to use to avoid this?

9

Tying in an over-the-arm bass regulator set can be tricky. When I do this with one of my bags I cut a leather reinforcing ring to surround the mainstock and glue this on the inside of the bag. This gives some added stiffness to the bag, and stops the drones sliding forwards. As this can only be done at the bag making stage of operations I also shape the “turn” of the bag where the neck exits to give a little relief for the separator tube.