Way to go. Good on you carel! 
Tell me again, Tim, I’m a bit slow today :
“I don’t recommend getting one.” ??? Bass reg? 
j.i.
While it’s true the use of the Bass reg has gone out of fashion a bit for the moment, with a lot of pipers following Liam Flynn’s habit of sitting a lot on the lower two chords (d-f and d-g) I wouldn’t say that ‘most of the effect’ comes from the two. if you listen to an older style, more Rowsome-ish Doran ifluenced, there is actually a lot of movement from high chords on the two higher regs to the same chords using the bass. I realised this way of playing had gone out of fashion some years ago when sitting down with Tommy McCarthy who had this style down very well. Listen to Willie Clancy playing,say, The Connaught Heifers on one of the Pipering of WC Cds. He’s all over the regs and it’s more varied than almost any piper playing today. And he doesn’t stay away from the bass.
If the effect of the regs comes from the higher two, it’s a matter of choice, it’s not so by definition.
Ennis used a strap and his pipes weren’t particularly heavy, JOBM uses a strap. I use a strap too and my pipes are not heavy at all, the strap helps to bring the lower chords in easy reach by lifting the left shoulder. Again, it’s a matter of choice, whatever works for you.
Carel wrote:
" its 8 days now, that I play the regulators " (Mark van Daal = full set 4000 euro’s) "
First congratulation to you.
I have had my Van Daal full set for about 1.5 years now. Still only 4000 euro’s for such a fine quality set.
I have started playing the regulators for about a year ago.
Beside the article that Geoff Woof has written , there was another article from Phil Wardle where he describes “to get used to the last rows of the regulators first ,instead using the first rows, which are easier to reach, but they are harder to get in tune for a beginner”.
In that way a shoulderstrap could be great help I think..!
Ole
What I meant was I don’t recommend getting only one reg. and that most of the general chordal effect of regs can be gotten from the smaller two, particularly since the bass gives you no new notes albeit an octave down. The expense and further complication of the bass need not be assumed necessary for the money and energy budget minded. Of course everything Peter says is accurate as usual.
My point about the strap is that it need not be considered necessary except for heavy sets. I’m speaking to the struggling neophyte who may be grasping at straws to get on top of the game, not the experienced piper who doesn’t need guidance anyway.
No nitpicks intended,
Tim
Got yer. Cheers, Tim.
j.i.
Right, there was a bit of mistundestanding there so. I thin kwe ca nsettle for this: One reg is a bit thin, two is adequate and the bass, while maybe not adding to the harmonic potential a lot, does add tonal variety.
I don’t know why, but I prefer to hear only tenor and baritone regulators on flat sets.
I like the full set of regs on a concert D.
Mukade
Peter’s sumation nails it.