[NSP] Re: bag shape

2010-01-29 Thread rosspipes
The bags that Jackie makes are based on my sending him the shape of 
Burleigh bags which by the 1960's had proved to a good practical shape 
and size i.e. 21 in length, 9 deep with the bag approx. 12x9 with 
the neck curving up steeply to avoid pressing against the left arm or 
wrist. I make the neck length 9 from where  the drone stock is tied 
into the bag.

Colin R


-Original Message-
From: Francis Wood oatenp...@googlemail.com
To: Richard York rich...@lizards.force9.co.uk
CC: NSP group nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu
Sent: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 8:33
Subject: [NSP] Re: bag shape


Hello Richard,

Many NSP bags can be slightly rectangular in aspect and the 'corner' 
near the

blowpipe has the potential to annoy some players. If you find that
experimentation in managing the bag differently does not help, a good 
solution
would be to order a bag with the profile of that edge smoothed into a 
broader
curve. Enough to make this more comfortable without significantly 
disturbing the

position of the blowpipe stock.

Jackie Boyce will make you anything you like. His bags are excellent:

http://pipebagmaker.com/

Francis


On 26 Jan 2010, at 18:18, Richard York wrote:


I'd welcome comments/advice on nsp bag shape, please.

There's the conventional shape, and now I learn there's the tear-drop 

shape.
I've been playing other (non Scottish) bagpipes for quite a long 

time, with
various shaped bags, from medieval/renaissance large tear drop, held 
more in
front of the body, to nsp-like but bigger on Jon Swayne D border pipes, 
and have

got used to  comfortable with them.
I'm still finding my way on nsp's... I suspect this is a life-long 

state...
but find that after some 10 or so minutes of playing I'm getting a 
restricted
left hand movement, as my arm's getting pressure from the bulge of the 
bag
against my forearm where it restricts the blood flow or something; this 
is a
problem I don't get with my other sets. I've tried varying my arm 
position/bag
position/drone angle/position of jaw/general earth energy and leyline 
alignment

etc, but  haven't yet cracked the problem.


It seems logical to expect that the tear-drop shape, with most of the 

bag
further back under the arm, is going to leave my forearm more relaxed 
and less

pressured.
But until you've tried anything you don't know, and I'd like to hear 

from
anyone who has, please, either positive or negative experience of this 
shape.


With thanks,
Richard.



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[NSP] Re: blowpipe

2010-01-29 Thread rosspipes

Dear Tim,
You clearly show your ignorance in these matters which is not a 
criticism but just shows the continuing problem of new folk coming into 
piping who have not sought advice from experienced players and 
pipemakers like myself. I could have explained all this to you if you 
had tried not to be so independant as others with the right level of 
experince and skill could have done.

Colin R


-Original Message-
From: tim rolls BT tim.ro...@btconnect.com
To: Francis Wood oatenp...@googlemail.com; NSP group 
nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu; Richard York rich...@lizards.force9.co.uk

Sent: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:55
Subject: [NSP] blowpipe


I think bellows blowpipe length is an are well worth looking at. In 
three years playing I haven't actually owned a set of pipes (although I 
am now close to a purchase) but have relied on the kindness of others 
who have lent me sets. Because they were borrowed I felt unable to 
adjust the pipes to suit my shape. 
As a result I have played regularly on five different sets, and on 
three of these I have had problems with the blow pipe separating, 
sometimes at the designed point, sometimes at another joint. 

 
I put this down to having learned a particular comfortable position 
with my first set, and then failing to adjust to each new set. When I 
did make such changes to the position of the bag as were necessary for 
me to play without loss of bellows, I found the new position quite 
awkward, and as has been said, more effort to play as I could no longer 
just use the weight of my arm. 

 
Unfortunately I didn't take measurements of any of the sets. Although I 
have observed the necessary shape for a gentleman piper, and I am 
working towards it, I would still not yet say that I require a 
massively long blowpipe. 

 
What work has been done on blowpipe length, is it purely maker's 
preference? How many makers measure up a customer before making the 
pipes? 

 
Tim 
- Original Message - From: Richard York 
rich...@lizards.force9.co.uk 
To: Francis Wood oatenp...@googlemail.com; NSP group 
nsp@cs.dartmouth.edu 

Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 10:19 AM 
Subject: [NSP] Re: bag shape 
 
Thanks greatly to one and all for these - great food for thought 

here. 

 
I'm interested that everyone's addressed the matter of how to make 
the  existing bag shape comfortable, but no-one has offered experience 
of the  tear-drop shape - are they very rare, or just deeply 
heretical? 

 
Meanwhile I shall try every position from armpit downwards for my 

existing  bag, and seriously examine the matter of neck length. 
Its neck, not mine. (Thanks too, Mike S, for the off-list advice on  

position photo's - I'll try that.) 
I imagine, Barry, that bellows blowpipe length also came into your 

shifts  of bag position? 

 
 
Interesting too the matter of which way the seam goes. I was 
convinced at  first that it was the seam which was getting to me, but 
now think it's the  bulge of the square bag shape - as suggested 
earlier in this string. 
Thanks Francis too for pointing up the pics on my own website... in  
fairness in have to say that while the Jon Swayne huge Flemish set and 
 renaissance-type smaller set (both all brown) are comfortable, Jon 
does  make the seam the modern way round. 
In the case of the massive Flemish set I've had to mend the 
protective  strip on the outside of the seam more than once, as it's 
stuck rather than  stitched in place. 
The Jim Parr medieval gaita-type ones (black bag, light boxwood) and 
the  little hummelschen both have the seams on the inside and are very 
 comfortable indeed. I've never had problems with the seasoning in 
them. 

 
Best wishes, 
Richard. 
 
 
 
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[NSP] [nsp]

2010-01-29 Thread inky adrian
   Yes, I like this forum, until it's disturbed by ' The Child'  having a
   tantrum.

   Inky-Adrian

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[NSP] Beginner in California

2010-01-29 Thread A.J.Gilhooley
   Are there any members of this list in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area
   California? I am a beginning player, working with John Liestman's book,
   and was wondering if there were any other pipers close to me. All the
   best, Andrew Gilhooley


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[NSP] Re: bag shape

2010-01-29 Thread Anita Evans

rosspi...@aol.com wrote:
The bags that Jackie makes are based on my sending him the shape of 
Burleigh bags which by the 1960's had proved to a good practical shape 
and size i.e. 21 in length, 9 deep with the bag approx. 12x9 with 
the neck curving up steeply to avoid pressing against the left arm or 
wrist. I make the neck length 9 from where  the drone stock is tied 
into the bag.

Colin R



Just to say that when I need to supplement the bags I make myself, I 
have always found Jackie to be very accommodating with regard to bag 
shapes and sizes, though I order several at a time, not one-offs. The 
dimensions I use are very similar to the above with perhaps a little 
extra length in the body.

--
Anita Evans



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[NSP] test

2010-01-29 Thread inky adrian


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[NSP] Test message

2010-01-29 Thread A.J.Gilhooley

This is a test message in plain text for Wayne.




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