I see lot of good pipers that usually play 3/4 sets instead of a full set. Think of E. Grasso (B set), R. Hannan (B), S. Potts (B & D), Ciaran MacFeidmhlimidh (D), Emmett Gill (C & D), Cillian Vallely (C), Joey Abarta (D)… Even some famous pipemakers, too: B. Koehler and A. Rogge.
There are evident economical reasons for some people. Lot of money for only 4 notes, as Hannan said (Some chiffer told this, as he listened to Robbie). But there are more reasons. Let´s talk about it.
1.- What would you prefer?
2.- Why?
I´m in a list for new full D set… just trying to decide correctly after hearing more expert opinions.
IMO, it is mostly a question of personal taste, as well as the individual approach to regulator playing.
If you play mostly jigs & reels and use the regs for rhythmical accompaniment, I think the bass reg can easily be dispensed with. In slow airs (and other slow tunes), there are different points of view: some players don’t use the regs at all, in this case of course the bass reg is not needed, either. If, however, you want to add the organ-like, full-sounding chords, you will want to have it. FI, Liam O’Flynn’s sound wouldn’t be the same without the bass regulator.
The way I look at the regs is as three unities: first, the upper three notes of the tenor and baritone regs respectively (which I use mostly rhythmically); second, F# and G of the tenor in combination with D on the baritone (which I use for longer lasting chords, and which, on my set, are sound-wise much different from the higher tones); third, the four notes of the bass with baritone D (which has very much the tonal characteristics of a bass reg tone, on my set) which give me the possibility to underline the melody with a bass part. This, of course, is only my personal approach, but I wouldn’t want to do without the bass.
And if I could afford it, I would probably also have a double-bass, and one for unnecessary tones like E, Fnat, B flat and C#, and and and…
Bass regulator - If, however, you want to add the organ-like, full-sounding chords, you will want to have it.
And if I could afford it, I would probably also have a double-bass, and one for unnecessary tones like E, Fnat, B flat and C#, and and and…
Am contemplating adding regs to my set and main stock has the socket ready bored for the Double bass however I am taken with the O’Mealy set up of Double Bass, Baritone and Bass for those full deep chords you can hear in the recordings on the SRS journal 3
Just another option but not many makers offer a double bass regulator