Tanx -postman came today, drove right up to the front door and presented me with a package for some who has never lived here. I got all excited until I saw the small square box he carried in one hand… the name on the label was pretty interesting though :
Nrrers Brgrgd…
Was it " Illie N Piper "
RORY
A little corn with that bread sir?
Otsaku,
was reading through the thread and got to your last reply dated the 18th… several days later an no word. I hope this means that you have you pipes and are playing away happily! I, too have been waiting on a new set of pipes, and received the 1/2 set a month ago. Anxiously awaiting the tenor and baritone regulators!
Please let us know what is happening.
Arbo
still waiting… And dreaming.
My silence says more than words ever could.
RORY
I hoose to believe the best in people… And the worst in the postal service.
I believe in the Christmas miracle… Watch your doorstep, or chimney!
Arbo
that’s actually my biggest fear, not home right now and knowing our postman he’d just leave the pavkage on the frontstep
I never got my Christmas miracle. Lets face it, the said maker has probably taken our money and ran. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Just to let you know. I also had communication problems with Richard. But with patience all was resolved and I am very happy with the chanterand other other work. In other words it was trying but he came through big time in the end.
My pipes arrived with the post a couple of hours ago.
I can see from the delivery notice Richard sent them on the 10th of December, so 19 days of limbo - which in retrospect isn’t that bad - though it has been a huge worry at this end.
I’m a very happy pipelet ( similar to a piglet? ) right now, despite influenza and what feels like the onset of the worlds worst hangover without the joy of drinking beforehand.
The brass needs polishing - think the pipes have been some cold damp places on their way here - the chanter reed sounds with very little pressure applied on the bag, can’t really give an opinion on the drone and regulator reeds yet as the strap is too small for me and I can’t get a steady flow of air into and out of the bag to do more than get the chanter sounding.
This set was made for a person of challenged girth me thinks…
With the little bit of playing around I’ve done so far the biggest issue is the neck of the bag - well the biggest issue is the person struggling with the neck of the bag - I can’t get it to stop twisting and bunching up, so either it’s still alive or I’m holding the bag wrong, which is probably what’s happening as I’m new at this and the strap doesn’t fit… My wife had this helpful suggestion that I lost weight - think she is hoping to postpone me playing the pipes.
Also a bit concerned my hands are too small for the chanter
Glad to hear you got the set in the end 
About the bag neck twisting and turning: it’s pretty common at first before you get used to having the bag in the right place. My guess is you’re holding the bag too much in front of your body. Try to pull it more backwards and/or upwards under your arm. You may consider using a longer hose between the bellows and the bag if it wants to get loose when you’re doing this. Experiment with different positions before doing anything else. Good luck and happy piping!
Thanks islander - longer connecting pipe is the second thing on my to do list, already replaced the strap with a not so old belt.
Got a nasty friction burn off the bellows pad, so don’t think I’ll continue playing with short sleeves.
Managed a wheezing scale before my right hand started cramping - now going to check all the advice on proper handling of the chanter before trying again tomorrow but I think I’ll concentrate on inflating the bag and trying to maintain a steady note…
That’s how it goes I seem to have a constant dry spot/bruise on my bellows elbow from too much playing.
You’ve probably checked it up already, but try to relax your hands while covering the holes. You’ll have to find a position for the fingers which allows them to cover the holes without the need to use force. That should eliminate the cramps. Anyway, Good luck again and congratulations on the new journey! It may be slow at first, but once you get used to the driving the thing, it will start to get easier and easier and you can focus more on what you’re playing instead of how you’re doing it.
Main problem is stretching my little finger, I’ve moved my right hand so the holes are covered by the crease under each knuckle and then I can only just get the tip of my little finger stretched to cover the hole, thinking of making, so that the weight of the chanter rests on the top of my right hand thumb, might make it easier gripping - or not as the case probably is.
A few years back I did a lot of reading about small hands and piping but subsequently forgot that I was aiming for a narrow bore chanter to learn on…
Maybe we newcomers should be encouraged to make large lists of things to remember whilst saving up to purchase the first set.
Cover the bottom hole with the pad of your little finger, then cover the g hole with your index finger. Don’t sweat where the index finger hits the hole, just find a position where you can cover these two holes with the least amount of stretching. Once you’ve found a comfortable position for these two fingers, let the two middle fingers fall into place, covering their holes. Whether they cover with the first crease, the middle pad or the second crease doesn’t matter as much as getting the holes covered comfortably. You can swivel off the little finger, tipping the hand slightly down to get a little more reach without stretching.
Hope that helps.
Tried the above and it works wonders but now I’m gripping the top like a man hanging on to cliff…
ow the pain.
Lengthened the connecting hose, which also solved many problems but learning to relax and cover the holes is an art in itself - but I managed a moaning scale.
It’s (obviously) important to relax both hands. If I remember correctly you bought a full set, it may help if you use a strap to keep the pipes in a comfortable position and reduce the strain on the left hand/arm. Fitting a proper length bellows connection is important. Find a comfortable and relaxed posture and fit everything around that, don’t let the pipes force you into a position that will, in the long run, get you into trouble.
I had similar problems with the low whistle and got round them by cheating, I dropped using my ring fingers and used my little fingers instead. Which obviously doesn’t work on the pipes…
I’ve laso forgotten the excellent advice about stretching and warming up my fingers first. So I’m going back to the low whistle and try and get the proper grip working there, the lack of music coming from the pipes is frustrating me.
And yes they it is a full set, I’ve removed the regulators as they were just getting in the way and am thinking of blocking off the main stock hole or getting a new bag so I’ve not got so much to fiddle with.