The Right Size/Type Bag...?
Jeff MacLeod Ramsden
1) Here's a topic that I haven't seen...and I'd really like some advice on
it. :)
How does one tell what the right size bag is? Is it just a matter of
"play what's comfortable", or is there some way to measure based
on the person's size, etc?
"Play what's comfortable" works, I agree, but if you've only ever owned
one bag, it's hard to tell what that might be - aside from trying out
every set of pipes with different sizes or whatever....
2) As far as playing, maintenance, etc, is it worth it to switch from an
elk bag to a sheep? I've heard that sheep requires more maintenance,
I don't know the particulars, but a lot of folks use it - why?
Thanks in advance! :)
--
MacLeòid
----------------------
Jeff MacLeod Ramsden, FSA (Scot)
Regional Vice President Clan MacLeod
Sìol Thorcùil - "I Birn Quhil I Se"
http://www.macleodpacific.org
MacLeod & MacLeod
What size pipe bag is right ... for women!!
Women have some "additional tissue" to deal with in/near the placement of the bag on the body. Does this mean that a smaller diameter bag is required so that arms can reach.
Why can't we simply measure people to find the right bag size....There should be an equation that will be close. As a scientist, I offer the MacLeod factor....based on very simple geometry
since total distance from fingertip-to-fingertip is very close to height, we'll use height.
(height/2)-(chest/pi)/2 = "reach to side of body"
"reach to side of body" - "desired arm not on bag" = "arm on bag" (use 11 or so for "desired arm not on bag")
"arm on bag"*2/pi = diamter of bag under arm allowing 11" of arm not on bag
Steve MacLeod
Kalamazoo MI
Shawn Husk
know what it is and frankly I have my doubts about whether or not it really
provides one with the best size as we're all different.
The best thing to do is try and play as many people's pipes as you can. If
you're in a band this should be easy enough to do. Just ask real nice. :) Then
you will know what feels "natural" to you and let's you play easy. I know for
me a good medium sized bag is just fine but there's also the cut of the bag to
account for as well, does it have a gooseneck, or a straight neck, how deep is
it (measured from top to bottom) etc...there's a lot of factors and really the
only way to know is to try them out.
As far as different bag materials the basic rundown is this:
Elk hide (actually it's cow hide with a chrome tanning) is totally maintenance
free, never needs seasoning to be air tight but it does hold ALL the moisture
in. So if you live in a very dry climate this would be a great choice,
probably. You could add seasoning to try and suck up some moisture but as for
airtightness you don't need it. Cheap and long lasting.
Cow hide. These do need seasoning to be airtight and they don't hold moisture
like a chrome tanned bag will (elkhide). Pretty good all around bag. Cheap
too. Long lasting.
Sheepskin, these are the holy grail of hide bags when it comes to moisture
control, they do an excellent job of it. They do need seasoning a bit more
often than a cow hide bag though, about twice as often. Some will say more, so
your mileage may vary. But these are excellent bags in all respects. A bit
more pricey than cow hide and they don't last as long, usually about 2 or 3
years at most. Cow hide can go 5 to 10 or more.....
Canmore, made of gortex. No seasoning ever required, they tie on in a breeze
because of rubber grommets that you slip your drones into. They do hold
moisture though so you should use a tube type water trap. They make a Canmore
bag with a zipper now so you could devise your own Ross type kitty litter
system for it if you wanted to. Good bag, very flimsy feel to it though. Like
playing a balloon. Some like it some hate it. About as expensive as a
sheepskin, lasts about 5 years or so.
Ross canister bag. The bag itself is similar to a Canmore but it is a
different matterial. It has a zipper on the bottom seam or a clamp at the
back. Inside is a drying system which comprizes of kitty litter in a box and
tubes to all the drones and chanter so that only air that's passed through the
kitty litter and thus has been dehumidified actually get's to your reeds. Very
very effective. You could play in the pouring rain and not have a moisture
problem, in fact many have done just this. Pricey though but worth it if you
like the feel of the bag which is much more solid than the plain Canmore bags.
Life expectancy? I've never heard of anyone wearing one out yet. Ross also
makes a plain sealed bag which is pretty much just like a Canmore.
Shepherd canister type bag. This is a hide bag with a gortex like lining on
the inside, it has a zipper on the side and inside is a tube water trap which
is attatched to your blowpipe stock, on the end of the tube is a plastic
bottle with some sponge like material inside it to soak up moisture. Works
pretty well but not as well as the Ross system. You could always fill the
bottle with kitty litter though and you'd probably have the same thing. This
has a nice feel because of the hide bag but it too is pricey. Life expectancy,
??????, these are brand new, who knows?
That's the run down on all the basic bags out there. I don't know of any
others that don't fit into one of those types. BTW, a Gannaway bag is a cow
hide bag which needs seasoning, etc.....
Shawn
Lori Wilson-Gaudet
Jeff MacLeod Ramsden wrote in message ...
>Hello all!
>
>1) Here's a topic that I haven't seen...and I'd really like some advice on
>it. :)
>
>How does one tell what the right size bag is? Is it just a matter of
>"play what's comfortable", or is there some way to measure based
>on the person's size, etc?
>
>"Play what's comfortable" works, I agree, but if you've only ever owned
>one bag, it's hard to tell what that might be - aside from trying out
>every set of pipes with different sizes or whatever....
My motto is play the largest bag that you can play comfortably.....a bigger
bag is easier to maintain a good tone with because it has more "forgiveness"
with uneven arm/blowing pressure
A sure sign that your bag is too big around is that your wrist barely gets
round it, and you have trouble reaching with your left hand to the
chanter....some of my students have even had cramps and numbness occur.
It's time to try something smaller if that is the case.....
I usually can tell by the length of my student's arms what size they can
handle....
If they have very short arms, I recommend they try the "tube like"
bags.......ie: ross regular setup
If they have long arms.....like myself, then a ross medium is a better
choice, or an 11 and 1/2 in sheepskin
>
>2) As far as playing, maintenance, etc, is it worth it to switch from an
>elk bag to a sheep? I've heard that sheep requires more maintenance,
>I don't know the particulars, but a lot of folks use it - why?
>
Mostly, people play sheepskin for it's moisture absorbing
properties.....they are much more efficient at absorbing moisture...so if
you live or play in an extremely wet climate, then the choice would be to
use a bag that controls moisture better than elk.
They are very high maintenance, require seasoning...(not alot at once) but
often, to maintain their quality of absorption and last only a year or so
under the moist circumstances. They also are veryyyy expensive!
I opted for a more hygenic setup in the ross setup when they came out,
........the gunk of seasoning etc in the bags......I don't miss! or the
maintenance! :-)))
Hope this info is of some use to you.........
Lori Wilson-Gaudet
Lori Wilson-Gaudet
and female, child and adults for bags
Most women and children......say under 5'3" or so require the "tube like"
bag setup
I find if you are a tall woman with long arms to match.......usually we can
play a larger bag....
same with small men......I know Jim MaGillivray, Bill Livingstone and Bruce
Gandy do not play large bags.....
I think the length of your arms is a crucial part of picking the size you
need.....
If in a pipeband setting......you can try others' setups to see what is good
for you .......
Lori
MacLeod & MacLeod wrote in message ...
Chris Hamilton
<je...@CUTOUTTHECAPSmacleodpacific.org> wrote:
>1) Here's a topic that I haven't seen...and I'd really like some advice on
>it. :)
>
>How does one tell what the right size bag is? Is it just a matter of
>"play what's comfortable", or is there some way to measure based
>on the person's size, etc?
When you find the optimal bag for you, you'll know!
>"Play what's comfortable" works, I agree, but if you've only ever owned
>one bag, it's hard to tell what that might be - aside from trying out
>every set of pipes with different sizes or whatever....
Try out friends or bandmates pipes if you can - they're bound to have
a variety of bag types and sizes.
Medium works well for most people, though small can be very good for
smaller folks. Large is good for six-footers. Of course, the
definition of small, medium, and large varies from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
I recently switched from medium Gannaway to small. Though I found the
comfort just right, I began to have some trouble blowing out the top
hand on the big reeds, so I reverted to medium.
>2) As far as playing, maintenance, etc, is it worth it to switch from an
>elk bag to a sheep? I've heard that sheep requires more maintenance,
>I don't know the particulars, but a lot of folks use it - why?
A Gannaway hide bag delivers performance (ie comfort and moisture
control) nearly equivalent to sheepskin, for most purposes, but has
the low-maintenance of a typical hide bag.
The Gannaway is also, in my opinion and many others, the most
ergonomically comfortable bag on the market.
Chris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christopher Hamilton -- ToneCzar Inc.
ch...@toneczar.com -- www.toneczar.com
Ruiseart agus Ceit
<je...@CUTOUTTHECAPSmacleodpacific.org> wrote:
<snipped>
>2) As far as playing, maintenance, etc, is it worth it to switch from an
>elk bag to a sheep? I've heard that sheep requires more maintenance,
What a silly question; switching to a sheep would obviously be highly
inappropriate. The legs dangle all over the place, and I'm certainly
not going to get into a discussion as to where to fit the blow-pipe.
<grin>
Ruiseart.
http://druid.drak.net/druid/druidorder.html
LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC AT:
http://www.mp3.com/Ravenswing
Royce Lerwick
Ceit) wrote:
>On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 04:34:52 GMT, "Jeff MacLeod Ramsden"
><je...@CUTOUTTHECAPSmacleodpacific.org> wrote:
>
><snipped>
>
>>2) As far as playing, maintenance, etc, is it worth it to switch from an
>>elk bag to a sheep? I've heard that sheep requires more maintenance,
>
>What a silly question; switching to a sheep would obviously be highly
>inappropriate. The legs dangle all over the place, and I'm certainly
>not going to get into a discussion as to where to fit the blow-pipe.
Not to mention the early morning bleating.
Royce
Phantom Pipe Band:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/118/sfu.html
Digital Warrior:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/83/royce_lerwick.html
Zetland Tunebook, PM's Handbook:
shetlandpiper.com
Zetland Pipes:
www.royceworld.com
Chris Hamilton
MrRobotTow
No no, that occurs late at night when he comes home after a long day of
drinking, and is feeling "frisky."
Bill
Quote of the month: After five years in therapy, my shrink handed me a loaded
gun, threw up his hands and screamed "maybe life isn't for everyone
afterall..."