Sorry guys but this might be an obvious question I am failing to understand but I did try searching the forum for the answer. What is the benefit of a swan neck. I am trying to decide what options I want for ordering a half set.
Thanks
I don’t think there’s any acoustic difference. At least I never noticed a difference when I had one (which I used interchangeably with a regular “L” shaped reed cap).
Depending on how the maker sets it up, it could have an influence on the “effective” length of the neck of your bag - the neck might feel longer or shorter depending on the connection to the chanter.
The other difference I noticed is that the swan neck is effectively longer and takes up more room in a pipes case than the standard “L” shaped reed cap. This won’t be an issue if your case is big.
I must say that I simply prefer the looks. The swan neck also causes the bag neck to connect to the chanter a little less horizontal (i.e. “steeper”), causing it to bend (or not) depending on your posture.