New To The Holy Ground

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hello All!

I’m a new piper from the state of Missouri and I’ve haunted these grounds before I got my pipes, but now I think I can offically post something.

I got a new set of pipes for Christmas, and I’m playing a Gallagher 3/4 set in D. And, Im afriad, Im having piping woes.

Heres the deal:

The trouble is, that when I pump air into the bag from the bellows, the bellows and the bag want to “share” the air being pumped. And alot of the air gets “caught” in the connecting tube. What can remedy this, or is this just how uilleann pipes work, and I should get used to it?

When ever I pump the bellows, alot of air comes out before the leather peice sticks and grabs closing the hole. It takes a tremendous amount of pumping and of air to make the chanter work, and when you pump air, sometimes the chanter is non-responsive. These pipes were a gift from my parents, and I really don’t want to tell them all this, just yet. Any suggestions? I thought I may need more hemp, but where do I buy “Hemp” at how do I put it on?

Maybe Hemp may not even remedy this situation.

Thanks for helping me.

Just a little about myself. Im 17, from Missouri. I got started in Irish music after I got an awesome chance of a lifetime to meet and play with The Chieftains. I’ve played fiddle since I was 13, and I started playing harp 3 years ago.

I’m also going to start taking lessons from Tommy Martin in Saint Louis, Missouri. Ever heard of him?

Thank you so much, and I hope that you welcome me to the community, because Lord knows I’ll need all of your help.

2

Greetings, Johnathan…

I am quite sure you will get all the help you need from Tommy, as he knows his stuff, and he’s also a great piper besides. You are quite lucky to have him as a teacher.

From what little I know, that flapper valve may not be working properly… then again, it may just need to be broken in a bit. Keep pumping, and working with it, as it may adjust itself… but don’t fiddle with it (no pun intended!) too much.

You may want to remove the tube from the bag, and press the leather flapper against the tube end, just to be sure it seats itself properly. Just a little. Then put everything together and try again.

3

Make sure the flap (hinge) in the shutoff valve is on top. It should open when you press the bellows and close quickly keeping the air in the bag.

Is the set new? (not just new to you) or has it been played a while?

4

I agree with elbogo there Jonathan. It sounds as though the valve in the air in-take tube which takes the air in from your bellows must be twisted in the stock so that it is either upside down or side ways. It should hang down so that gravity will force it closed after each pump from the bellows. Good luck and don’t get discouraged.

5

Go see Tommy Martin in St. Louis or else come see us on Jan 2nd in Nashville. See the separate thread re the Nashville gathering. Lewis

6

I guess it all depends on what you’re doing with this hemp. :roll: :smiling_imp:

If I knew where to get some, I don’t think I’d tell you… after all, that would be contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Oh - wait - you mean THAT kind of hemp - the yellow string stuff. :boggle:

Whoosh. You had me worried there.

Follow elbogo’s advice and see your tutor for help. Fortunately, this seems like just a minor mechanical problem, and is easily remedied.

7

Just let me be the third guy in a row to tell you to go see Tommy…he’ll know what to do, it’s his soon to be job. :smiley:

Oh, and welcome…set a spell…take your shoes off…ya’ll come back now, hear?. :smiley: