That sinking feeling..

Uilleann Pipes
1

My bag is drooping.

Hmm… ok.. not the best way to phrase it. I find that when I am playing, the bag seems to want to start sinking down. I have enough troubles since I am in effect using a ‘shortened’ chanter (no cap, just directly connected to the bag) so everything wants to pull down. I notice Seán Og Potts using what looks like a leather cord ‘round the shoulder to hold things up. Does anyone here do that? My questions would be for those in the know: is there any special way to tie to the stock, or is it simply looped around loosely? Do you use a think rawhide cord or does it tend to get uncomfy after a while? Those with droopy bags want to know! ( Go ahead.. have a field day…’:twisted:').


Working on a great tune.. “Maids In The Morning” by Walker Jackson; I do love those old tunes so.

Thanks in advance!


Robert Mouland
www.wireharp.com

2

If you look closely at people with full sets you will see that most of them have a cord, a leather thong or a thin belt tied around the stock and looped over the shoulder to help support the weight of a full set. There is no need for this to be permanently attached to the stock. Just looping it around the stock is sufficient.

It is purely a personal choice whether to tie your set on in this way. There are no “rules” about it. I wear a thin belt on my sets.

djm

3

I use a leather shoestring looped around the mainstock and tied to the top rear of the bag. I also use a shoulder pad from a bass drum assembly that someone gave me as the string can cut into the shoulder and get rather uncomfortable.