I need a piper's help please

[JOHNNY FAIRLESS]

Hey brothers. I've been on the chanter about over a year now and I haven't thrown it across the room once ! I have recently told a fellow piper (my tutor) that I would buy his ABW pipes from him. My concern is that he plays a large bag because that's what he learned on and now he's used to it. He has told me though that most people don't use a large pipe bag but rather an elongated small or medium. My question to the pipers is: Should I take my measurements soon to get help sizing myself up to the proper bag for me, or, should I stick with a large bag and see if I can handle it ? I am an average athletic build dude. 5'10" / 165 lbs. / 32 yrs old
By the way- I haven't actually bought the set yet, although I am committed and not changing my mind, and have not had a chance to sit around just getting familiar with them. Any help ?

Side note: What the heck is the Bannatyne "INVERTED" pipe bag I saw on www.nwbagpipes.com ?

[robbiethepiper]

I am about the same height as you and am unhappy to have paid for progressively smaller bags in the time I've been playing, due to taking poor advice. There is a bit of a macho thing with some pipers who seem to believe that a bigger bag gives you a bigger penis ( bit like harder reeds ). Smaller bags give better strikes and cut-offs and are played by many top-class people well over 6' tall. Larger bags can cause upper arm pain and offer no advantages at all. I currently play a Ross "extended small" which has greater volume than a "medium" Canmore, but a lesser girth.

"Inverted" in this case means inside-out, so the more absorbent side is inside ( This from net - have never seen one!)......Robbie

[ragged tiger]

I,m 5'9" and play a medium Bannatyne hide/synthetic bag. I have played with a large bag and really did not notice much difference other than the fact that it takes more air to fill it up when preparing to strike in the drones. If you like the pipes, and they are also being offered at a good price, you could always change out the bag later.

[ohiopiper]

Get a medium or extended small and have someone with the know-how show you how to tie it in. Done improperly, it will leak so bad an air compressor won't keep the pipes going.

Unless you're conforming to band requirements, go with an easy reed to start with and have someone show you how to adjust your drones to match the chanter reed strength. I still use Abbedour easy reeds for solo, as they allow me to play MUCH longer than the mediums I otherwise play.

[RussellSm]

I have to respectfully disagree with Robbie regarding the large bag. I am 6'5" and have used small, medium and large bags. In my more than thirty-five years of playing, I have found that large bags suit me quite well. I have long arms and need the proportionate increase in girth. However, having said that the majority of the pipers in my band use a medium. I would suggest that perhaps if know some pipers well enough that would let you try their pipes, find those that have different size bags. Since the bag is a rather substantial purchase and a bit involved to fit, it would be unfornate to find out after the fact that you have the wrong size.

[JOHNNY FAIRLESS]

Thanks guys. All the advice is very very very helpful and will be taken into account. Only a piper would know that the answers to the simplest bagpipe questions aren't common knowledge. So I depend on my Xmarks buddys heavily. Being an average size guy I think I'll look at the medium or extended smalls if I do change. Oh, and thanks for explaining the whole inverted bag thing. I appreciate it fellas.

[Jack Daw]

I started with a large bag, but prefer the medium size bag because it's easier to play and control. I'm 5'-11'', 215lbs, and get plenty of strength exercise, but the extra control needed for the larger bag used to interfere with my fingering, believe it or not. Control is also important for striking in and for cutting off.

[JOHNNY FAIRLESS]

I could totally see that. That's something I've thought about too. If your arm's extended so far out from your torso to make it's way around the bag, you'd be hard pressed to stay in good form. That is if someone's arm doesn't have the reach.

[EagleJCS]

Hey brothers. I've been on the chanter about over a year now and I haven't thrown it across the room once !

That tells me you're not practicing enough!


Re: pipe bag size - height and weight have little to do with how big a pipe bag to get - it's your arm length. You want to get a bag that will not be making contact with your forearm when inflated and in the proper position (as high up & back as you can get it without having the drones tip forward). With long sleeve shirts, I wear a 32" shirt - could probably go 33" if they made them. 34" is too long for me. That said, I play a small Canmore bag. I have also tried a small Gannaway.

Have you been over to the bagpiping forum? (PM me for the link if you haven't.) One of the moderators over there also has his own website, and one page lists various pipe bag dimensions.

Best of luck!

[Nick the DSM]

Best thing to do, is play his set and see how it feels.