I am asking for info on bag shape , and stock placement in regard to being able to hit the regulator keys at will , including the lowermost keys , even on a flat set , as low as b " flat " . I have found that if the drone stock is set in the bag suiting the players body type , then it is almost easier to play the regulators , than the chanter . What a relief !! As some of the most lovley Pipeing airs are starving for regulator use as a background . What a pity it is that many pipers cannot access the regulators , due to the simple fact that the pipebag is not taylored , " pardon the pun " , to the individual body shape , be it long arms and a long back , or short . It seems silly to me to stand on ceremony in this regard , though , I do not discount the effort required to be a good piper .
any takers ??
tom .
It seems to me that this could be formalized somehow, that a chart showing what shape of bag would best suit a person of whatever build. It would make a great resource to have online, like so many other things.
Another piece of very interesting piping info was the chart devised by Dickey Deegan and Malcom McLaren showing the effects of widening the bore of a chanter at various places, and the effect thereof. It was printed in the Pipers’ Review, and perhaps unfortunately they chose to use the musically correct terms for the notes instead of D, G, A. Squealing hyperdominant, anyone? I was thinking I’d convert it into piperly terms for us dullards. Don’t know if it’ll inspire anyone. Don’t know if it has. Doubt it!
Go for it, Kevin. I’d certainly be interested. Would you make this available on the web? Do you have your own web site?
Thx,
djm
Don’t forget to include differences in shoulder straps and foldover bass regulators (taylor) vs traditional (straight) bar.
Tom, you’ve opened up what seems to me to be a long-overdue discussion of the whole issue of ergonomics and posture.
Part of the problem as I see it is that we get into bad habits with a practice set, and just make do with what we have when we move on to a full set, and as a result aren’t able to articulate our needs to makers who on the whole seem to underestimate the issue.
Position of the mainstock on the bag, length of the stock, shape of bag and length and rigidity/flexibility of the connection between bellows and bag all come into it, and these all have to take into account what the French would elegantly call the piper’s “morphology” (i.e. are you a fatso or not?). One size does NOT fit all, but I’ve never heard of a maker asking for the piper’s measurements.
I have barely begun to feel my way around the regs after having a full set for four years, and uncertainty about the musical aspects is compounded by uncertainty about what is the best posture and position of the regs within the limited range arbitrarily set by the way the pipes are built, so don’t even know if a slightly different setup would help or not. So while I share your interest in the question, I don’t have any answers, and I suspect there are probably quite a few people who support this thread but don’t feel able to contribute much - there have so far been 129 views and only 3 posts.
The length of the hose is a simple enough modification. Many pipemakers use simple rubber tubing - washer/dryer hookup. Another is the height of the chair you sit in.
Keep in mind what Denis Brooks says: you become used to playing the regs after months, overcoming what at first seem like flaws in the construction.
kinda makes me wish that practice sets came with dummy drones and regs.
as I learned to play on my practice set (who’s bas was actually bigger than the one on my full set…at least it seems so…hm…) I had nothing to go on but a couple books and the clip of Davy Spillane from Riverdance to go on.
I thought I had a really good system goin’…'till I switched over to my full set, that is…it was like learning to play all over again…
Auto parts stores carry hose. 16mm I.D. runs about $1 a foot. That’s a cheap investment to try a longer piece if the hinge on your bellows rubs the regulator keys.
Agreed what feels uncomfortable at first, soon becomes habit… you may grow to be perfectly happy until you play someone elses pipes and have a different design to gauge.
For example:
One maker runs the bass drone bend on the knee side that keeps the regulators level on your lap where another maker puts it on the torso side and the regulators have a tendency to tip forward. Small detail that can keep you busy if the regulators tend to slide toward your knee.
Another thought:
Vinyl bags are really cheap to make.
If you suspect your bag isn’t sized for you or the stocks aren’t in the best location. Try making some vinyl (temporary) bags in different sizes until you hit the right dimensions for you. It may take a while to get them but MacHarg or L&M will cut custom leather bags if you send them a paper template.
I use radiator hose. Its even cheaper. Cut the first piece long, and then keep cutting off an inch until you get to the best size for you. Sometimes cutting the hose at an angle will help fit the angled outlet tube on the bellows better.
djm
There is some geometry to look at here . if the pipe bag is based on the rousome design , then the bag neck somes out at a right angle and the drone stock is usually put in the bag just under the bag neck . The other option is more like the goose neck bag shape , and the drone stock is set either , in a similar place as in the rousome design , or is set a bit lower on the bag . I have seen that where the stock is placed , will affect how one can reach the regulators . If the bass regulator is made without the bar , i.e. using the taylor style wrap around , then positioning the drone stock for a given piper is that much easier , though , speaking for my self , or , rather , typing for myself , lol , I like the extended bass regulator bar as it looks good .
It is true that some measure of , blood sweat and tears are required to master the regulators , but havent we all seen thouse pipers who can easily reach the regulators , due to the fact that their pipes are set up so that they can reach them with ease . Back to the spa , .
tom .