Yet another pipe case question

Uilleann Pipes
1

I need to make or get a set for my pipes. In deciding on the size I am curious as to what the consensus is on what parts if any you guys break down on your sets in order to fit your pipes into cases.

The idea of repetedly removing and replacing, say, the bass drone return over a long period of time makes me a little nervous. Am I making too big a deal?

Also, how important is it that they fit snugly in the case? Is just a padded box okay? I would be nervous about them clanking around. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

2

Hey, a late congrats on the new pipes, Paul. Hope they are working good by now.

There’s been a lot of threads on pipe cases (use “search” to look them up) but since you have a D set, the case probably only needs to be 32" x 12" x 5½" O.D. That’s what I use. I only have to remove the bass reg reed cap. I roll the reed up in tissue and place it inside the reed cap. The set sets diagonally in the case.

The 5½" depth is important so the bellows fit in sideways…so you don’t have to take the tube on and off all the time. All you have to do is detach the bellows from the bag. For local travel in car, I don’t need inside padding. The interior is lined. The only thing that might roll around is the bass reg reed cap, but I put that in a corner under the bag. The set is still together, ready to attach the bellows and bass reg reed cap, ready to play. Nothing will really roll around this way, but padding is a good thing.

3

Paul, you don’t say if you have a full or half-set. If you’re planning on getting a full set, you will also have to consider whether or not you want to break down the bass reg. How far do you carry your pipes? Are you flying?

If its just local travel, you can get away with a double shotgun case, which is inexpensive, and big enough that you won’t have to break down a full set. The caveat is that gun cases are usually only 4 - 4.5" deep, and could put pressure on your set. You will want to replace any foam padding that comes in the gun case.

If you plan to be flying, you will need to break down your set. Please do a search and see the many threads on cases for air travel.

If you are concerned with breaking down the bass drone just by removing the foot, don’t be. The worst that can happen is that you have to rewrap the thread. When you get to removing entire drones or regs from the stock, you have to be much more careful. Depending on how your bass reg is mounted, there could be an issue with wear over time.

djm

4

djm, check out his avatar, silly. Also note the recent photos he posted a week ago on the “Pictures of Your Pipes” thread. He also posted a nice “preview” of the Rogge full D set dissasembled, a month or two ago, to keep us informed. :wink:

Paul, are those made of cocobolo wood?

5

Does anyone have a pic of Geoff Wooff cases out there. They’re great!
I takes a bit of dismantling to get the pipes in the box but well worth it. Super cases!
You’d have never thought that a great pipe maker would come up with great cases too…but there you are.
Tommy

6

thanks guys! djm, you put my mind at ease. I will plan on something to accomodate them with the bass drone foot off. The idea of making my own case is really appealing. Thanks for the measurements, Lorenzo.

Yes, and the wood is all different grains and hues and shades of orange and red. I asked them to mis-match the wood as much as possible. It looks really cool.

7

Lorenzo, sorry, but I don’t give any credence to avatars. I don’t look anymore like my avatar than you do yours. :smiley:

Also, I don’t keep track of who owns what set. Pictures of pipes are of little meaning to me. That’s not to say others don’t or shouldn’t enjoy them - just that I personally don’t follow this stuff.

djm

8

Paul, the 32" length may be a little short for taking the bass reg foot off. 34" might be better. If I remove the foot on mine, I lack about an inch or so of the set fitting in the case diagonally. The main reason I leave mine on, and take the cap off instead, is so I don’t have to retune the drones. I seldom ever need to adjust them (cane reeds).

9

These are [u]pictures of your pipes[/u] you posted djm, and with much gloating! :laughing: Now try not to forget which ones are yours! :wink:

10

In addition to the bass drone slide, the baritone drone slide might be good to take off, too (depending on your set’s design)

For a light, not-rockhard case - $35,
http://www.exploreproducts.com/breakdownguncasesh3.htm

More sturdy - I have one, it’s great - $70.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22699&item=3679062980&rd=1

Cases can rage up to $350 in this size. Bellows size seems to be most people’s size contraint. I have bellows that both fit in easily to the 2nd case.

11

Sure they’re mine, but I only made the pics available at the specific request of those who like such things. As I said, I have nothing against people who like to see pictures of pipes, but I don’t try to keep track of who has what. I put this up next to golf and billiards as far as spectator sports go.
:sleep:

djm

12

This case is an absolute MUST HAVE this season! It made its debut at last year’s “East Coast Tionol” to rave reviews, and is certain to be at the top of every piper’s “cases to buy” list this year… It has been referred to as the “Irish Giant”, but is more popularly known as “THE BLUE COFFIN”. After making the guest list of this year’s Gainesville Tionol, it can be seen here, taking it’s place between the illustrious piper, John Maze and the noted bodhran player, Michael O’Malley for the group photo. (Obviously it travels in only the best of circles).

So, weather it’s mingling with high society, or just mucking about with some of the other cases, you can rest assure that when you need it to, it’s going to stop traffic! Be sure that you get your order with DuPont in early, as only a limited amount of blue Kevlar will be produced this year… If you buy only one case this year, this is sure to be it!

13

Hey orbis, nice to see you since Gainesville. I remember that case, and it IS roughly the size of a coffin. I used to swear by ANVIL cases for my guitars and electronic gear for its design and strength, this blue monster has everything that my old ANVIL cases did in that regard but it is sized for a full set of concert Ds.

14

There’s a contest question! How many sets and whistles could you get in to that case?

15

why not try one of Rogge’s flight cases? I use one and everything fits, albeit snuggly. True, I do have to remove the bass drone return. The bass reg. extension I hardly ever put on (in Rogge’s design it is really cosmetic anyway). I only put this reg extension on for gigs or as a back up during winter looseness. I can post a picture of how my set fits in my case if it would help.

t

16

Seth Galagher also offers a very nice case - more for transporting short distances I would thing. I’m not too certain how well it would hold up to the abuse an airline baggage handler could dish out. :boggle:

Also, I know that some shotgun cases are very popular. Many have locks and are of a sturdy enough consruction to hold up to travel well if needed.

17

That would be great, Tommy. Thanks.

18

just my 2 cents… i have always been case happy… as a beginner years ago, i bought probably 5 different cases to find the perfect one for my precious pipes… picture gollum here…

anyway, i have a mythological case even larger than the blue giant that florida’s own michael talks about… too heavy for an old man’s back such as mine now… did its time as a coffee table…though the 3/4" ply with 1/16" textured aluminum did add a certain allure to it…so now it sits in the garage… waiting for someone of the neck of red persuasion to purchas it for the back of their new kingcab.

BUT, for non-carry on, i find a bass clarinet case perfect for the pipes after you remove the one little compartment in it. long, sturdy, and MY pipes can fit in even with out removing the bass drone crook… due to the taylor style wrap around bass reg… otherwise it still fit well just removing the bass drone crook, which is not a problem and is just standard proceedure.

BUT, for carry-on purposes (and i do travel with pipes more and more for gigs and all) a highland bagpipe major case is perfect. they are maybe a bit more than 24" long (not near me and i am lazy) and frankly last time i went to catskills, i had two full sets (taylor bass regs) in the case, with 5 chanters… but the bellows with two sets had to go in the drum case with the flute. otherwise it is perfect as a case for one set with bellows and a flute, and minidisc recorder, etc… and is never questioned for carryon which is a huge deal.

email me directly if you want more info.

19

You know, of all the topics that we bitch and moan about here on C & F, few things vex me more than The Case Issue.

Think about it. I doubt any serious orchestral or jazz musician with half a brain would be caught dead knocking about their precious chopper in any of the cases usually used for uilleann pipes.

Would you toss a $6-7,000 saxophone in your average Savage & Hoy or Rogge flight case? No. Cause it’s very fragile and it’s got all these special hand-forged keys and…Hey, wait a minute…

Really, if you’re going to spend upwards of $6,000 dollars on a custom handmade instrument, you’d think more people would be concerned about getting a case that snugly fits all the components of the instrument to go along with it.

My smallpipes from Hamish Moore came with a velvet-lined case (also from Savage & Hoy, oddly enough) that features a compartment for the main body of the insturment , a seperate compartment for the bellows, a compartment on the top part of the case for the top section of the bass drone (similar to what you see in violin cases for bows) and a small built-in box for spare reeds, maitenance stuff, etc. All this and a humidity gauge to boot. Now that, my friends, qualifies as a case. It’s not frilly. It’ s not some snooty pipe case for the nefarious smallpiping bourgeoisie. It accomodates and protects the instrument in a snug, form-fitting and ergonomic environment. Which is what an instrument case should do.

If someone were to make an uilleann pipe case that would fit a set of uilleann pipes in the same way that a saxophone case fits a saxophone, or a bassoon case fits a bassoon, etc. I think they could certainly do a fair bit of business…I’d go out and buy one straight away.

Some enterprising person who cares about pipes and the people who play them needs to find a solution to this problem once and for all.

But it isn’t going to be me cause…well, I’m just too lazy.

20

SPfork, you’re skipping over the fact that few sets are the same size or shape. For instance, some sets have a rap-around bass reg, instead of extending up over the neck of the bag. Some bass regs are made to come right off the stock (mine do) whereas some are bolted on and force you to get a case to accommodate them. Some makers take advantage of the fact that drones sound better the longer they are, so you can’t count on all the bass drones being made the same length. Add in that no two pipemakers’ bags or bellows are the same size. Then, of course, you have to consider that sets in different keys are all of different sizes.

I can well understand people agonizing over finding a case of some kind that will meet their needs. The cases I used for practise sets were, of course, no use when I went to a half-set, which in turn didn’t meet my needs for a full set. I agree with the sentiment that it would be nice if someone had a one-size-fits-all pipe case that suited all makes and models, but who would take on the work, and how much would you be willing to pay for such a magical case?

djm