I have been listening to a lot of tunes lately and have noticed that Regs aren’t being utilized very often.
So I was wondering if it would be approapriate to have drones without regulators.
Thanks
Drones without regulators? Absolutely.
Regulators are mainly played by solo pipers as pipers in sessions or groups don’t need other accompaniment or the regulators won’t fit in with the other accompaniment proved by the other musicians. In addition, you probably won’t hear regulators in a group or session.
I’m not sure how you could have missed this with all the reading you should have done to get this far, but a set comprising chanter and drones is called a half-set. Beginners are often encouraged to just start out with the chanter, but many insist on buying both chanter and drones from the get go, and don’t feel the need to upgrade further.
Getting drones usually means also getting a mainstock added to the bag (to plug the drones, and later, regs, into). I believe Patrick Sky makes a set that forgoes the mainstock and just plugs the drones directly into the bag. This set would not be upgradable past the half-set point.
Those who get a mainstock and drones will notice that the mainstock is pre-drilled to add regs at later date. You may choose to get these one at a time as money permits (they involve a lot of work and cost accordingly). Many people get just the tenor and baritone regs, eschewing the bass reg. This is called a three quarters set.
djm
PJ:
Regulators are mainly played by solo pipers as pipers
So am I to assume by your statement that if playing solo its a must to have regulators or an option?
PJ said:
Regulators are mainly played by solo pipers as pipers in sessions or groups don’t need other accompaniment or the regulators won’t fit in with the other accompaniment proved by the other musicians. In addition, you probably won’t hear regulators in a group or session.[/quote]
I believe you are quite wrong about that, PJ.
Mark
Yeah, regs may very well be heard in sessions. That said, it’s seldom I hear a session piper bother with them. For that matter some folks think even drones are unnecessary in a session, just let the melody carry.
Regs are usually relegated to the ‘Advanced’ chapters, you can certainly make nice music, including solo piping, without them. But, if you reach a level of proficiency where you can actually play them while playing the chanter, they are one of the things that really set the uilleann/union pipes apart[1].
I wonder why you’re asking this ATM; if you’re for some reason thinking you won’t have a ‘real set of pipes’ without regs, I’d say save your pennies for the absolutely best chanter and drones you can afford, and leave the regs for way down the road. You can always (almost always) add them later, and lots of people play mix-and-match sets with parts from different makers.
Bill
[1] Yeah I know, pastoral pipes had 'em too, but how often do you actually see a set of pastoral pipes nowadays?
[2] For a proper regulator ‘census’ you need to use the ‘poll’ feature 
Wouldn’t be the first time, uillmann. 
In what way would I be wrong?
djm Stated:
I’m not sure how you could have missed this with all the reading you should have done to get this far, but a set comprising chanter and drones is called a half-set.
djm: Your assumption that I have gotten as far as I have is giving me too much credit in regards to the pipe. With that said, I do know the difference between a practise set, 1/2 set, 3/4 set and full.
What my question I was intending to ask if you could get by with never having of utilizing REGS…it was not a question regarding upgrades or the difference in sets. Most advanced players I have spoken with, read about or heard rarely seem to use REGS even when they have a 1/2, 3/4 or full set…so with all this wealth of informatuin and hx…I was asking whats the need for them, could you do without them and now I was asking PJ if REGS are needed for a solo player.
Thanks
Regs are never needed, but they are a great way to take your piping to another level by way of self accompaniment.
ah…straight up answer from the man…my thoughts exactly… 
Regulators are mainly played by solo pipers as pipers in sessions or groups don’t need other accompaniment or the regulators won’t fit in with the other accompaniment proved by the other musicians. In addition, you probably won’t hear regulators in a group or session./quote
“don’t need other accompaniment”
It isn’t about “needs”
“won’t fit in”
They fit just fine if they are in tune and the rhythm is solid.
“probably won’t hear regulators in a group or session”
If you aren’t listening, you won’t hear them.
No, Keith, I’m not sure you’re getting this. If a player has regs, it can’t possibly be a half-set, as a half-set is, by definition, a set without any regs.
You would have to determine what it is you want from UPs. There are professionals who record only the chanter (mixed in with synths and other instruments) who still consider they are playing UPs. There are people who only play chanter and drones. There are people who play three, four, and even five regulators.
You do not need regs to call your set UPs. You can have all, some or none of the regs possible. That is a personal choice for you to make.
You must listen to as many uilleann piping recordings as you can get your hands on to understand the sound of them, get the feeling for what regs are for, and then decide if that’s the sound you want for you.
djm
DJM:
No, Keith, I’m not sure you’re getting this. If a player has regs, it can’t possibly be a half-set, as a half-set is, by definition, a set without any regs.
I do understand that 1/2’s don’t have regs, but I just happen to know of a 1/2 set that has regs. If I can find the site again and I am sure I can…I’ll send you a pic or post it on here..maybe its a modified set.
Either way thanks for all the information.
A half set has no regulators… which is why it is called a 1/2 set.
But be careful…once you hear someone playing a great set of pipes, making good use of the regulators, regulators in tune, in time, etc. you’ll know that regs are something you MUST have someday!
Meanwhile, enjoy the journey.
-gary
Yup, guilty as charged.
I think KDMARTINKY is referring to that maker, whose name I’ve forgotten, who makes half sets with drones that have keys on them like regulators.
CHeers,
DavidG
Ah, yes, I recall those pipes. I’m not certain if I would consider them a half set or not… at least not in the traditional sense I guess.
Hi,
Wouldn’t these be Jim Dailys’s pipes?
I won’t disagree with you on all of the above, but the fact of the matter is that pipers in sessions or groups play their regulators less than solo pipers.