Hi everyone, just wondering does anyone know what the sneaky key on the stock of those pipes does? its right on the stock above the decorative harp. whatever it is I gotta get me one!!!
It is there to deflate the bag quickly and was I understand fitted by Michael Carney who also turned the keys into saws
Chris
Isn’t is called an “anti-fart” valve or something similar?
I wanna know what that lever is over the tenor regulator, between the C key and the drone shutoff, right in the middle of the July photo.
It is for the ‘E’. This is on a separate regulator tucked in under the Tenor regulator and Tenor drone with just a single key and can be seen in several of the photographs
Touhey mentions in his ‘hints to amateur pipers’ that a ‘standard’ set has 3 drones and 3 regulators yet played a set with two drones (Tenor and Bass) and four regulators
Chris
Thanks, Chris. I had wondered if that might be the case. Another photo of the set, not from the calendar, but showing both keys mentioned in this discussion (and the sawtooth-edged regulator keys):
How is that E regulator is constructed? All that I have ever seen of it are the touch for the key and the end cap.
t
Basically as per the baritone but with just the single key. One set of tabs to hold the pivot and another set to act as a guide like the ‘D’ key on the baritone. Key extends back towards the main stock and has a side extension folded to pass up to the level of the other keys
chris
Is the E reg key in tune with the A or with the B?
djm
thanks lads, its a mighty lookin set alright. regarding the E key on the regulators, i was talking to Gordon Galloway and apparently he has a order for a set with a similar E key on the regs. looking forward to seeing that set when shes finished!
I am well confused by this E key. Why have a seperate regulator just for one note? Why not have another key on an existing regulator instead? The hole could be underneath or on the side if there is no room.
The mount on the end seems to be in a different style, perhaps it was added later?
J.
The key is visible in pics of Touhey with the set so the reg was there when he had it.
Nick Whitmer offers the single key E regulator with his sets.
Some makers offer this. Alain Froment added an E key to the bass regulator on at least 2 sets. I’ve seen a few sets with an E key on the baritone regulator but I understand that this can cause tuning problems.
As Tansey points out, Nick Whitmer offers a single key E reg. Nick kindly lent me one of these E regulators to evaluate. I’m hoping to add one to my set in the not too distant future. Jerry O’Sullivan has one such regulator made by Nick. I understand that he uses it in place of the tenor reg from time to time. You can see it in the following photo:
I think that Andreas Rogge has also made single note E regs.
Thomas Kannmacher explained in his article how the E reg key can be in tune with either the A or the B, but not both. That’s why he put two E reg keys on his set: one to tune with the A, and one to tune with the B. That’s why I asked about this Taylor set with the single E reg key - which note is it tuned to? Anyone know?
djm
Both, I reckon, if you know how to use a tuning pin… 
Bill, are you refuting Kannmacher’s position, then? Obviously, you can’t retune the E reg key between notes while playing. Are you saying that his two separate E reg keys are unnecessary? That would be a lot cheaper, if anyone were trying to follow his method.
Thx,
djm
Some makers offer this. Alain Froment added an E key to the bass regulator on at least 2 sets.
Seem to recall seeing this key alongside the main stock in photos an old set Egan or Coyne from memory so not a new idea
I’ve seen a few sets with an E key on the baritone regulator but I understand that this can cause tuning problems.
Chris Bayley makes sets with ‘e’ keys on the Baritone regulator as well as seperate ones perhaps as hes’ active on this thread he would chime in as he probably has the answer to the tuning issue
John
I never suggested it was Alain Froment’s design, only that he added it to at least 2 sets that I’ve seen.
Some old sets have way more than the current standard keys. Look at the Kenna set on the cover of the Drones and Chanters Vol 1. I count 6 keys on the tenor reg.
Is the E reg key in tune with the A or with the B?
I would have thought both too. I haven’t read Thomas’ article yet but why would the E note be in tune with A and not B or vise versa?
(I already kinda know the answer but I’m asking ‘why’ rather that ‘how come’)
Tommy