So I currently have some money which I naturally would like to spend on whistles. But I don’t know what to get. On one hand, I am thinking about taking the plunge into high-end whistles, possibly a Burke. The idea of finding the “perfect” D is very appealing. On the other hand, this may be my chance to try the low d. At this price range, it would most likely be a Dixon. On the third hand (how does that work??), perhaps I should wait and get a high-end low whistle, like an Overton or a Burke. So there is my dilemma. I hope some of you C&F folks will give me some advice. Of course, you can’t really go wrong with whistles.
Get yourself a good high d whistle. A Burke d of any design is a reliable choice. Low D can wait…it will hurt your hands at first. Another option would be a Water Weasel from Glenn Schultz. Good luck.
Or you can buy a whole truckload of Generations and look for “that perfect whistle”!
On 2002-10-11 14:12, fiddling_tenor wrote:
Or you can buy a whole truckload of Generations …
Not if you buy them at Shanna Quay, you can’t.
I wonder if one could spray paint those ugly water weasels??? Has anyone tried??? 
Careful Bloomfield…
weasels ugly ???
Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
My water weasels are pieces of art. Some maybe see “The Ugly Duckling”, but I see the beautiful Swan…
The more plumbing type lettering on them, the better.
When I’m occasionally asked about that “flute” thing I’m playing wiht the beautiful sound, I quite enjoy telling people about its humble & modest beginning as a piece of plumbing. I particularly enjoy this when I’ve just been playing duet with the flautist next to me with the $2,000 instrument, accompanied by the guitarist with the $3,000 6-string, and the keyboard player with the $5,000 Yamaha claviwhatever.
Fortunately haven’t yet had anybody outside my family with nerve enough to say that what I play coming out of it is very close to what plumbing pipe normally carries.
On 2002-10-11 14:35, bob baksi wrote:
Fortunately haven’t yet had anybody outside my family with nerve enough to say that what I play coming out of it is very close to what plumbing pipe normally carries.
We have a local plumbing firm called ‘Danny Boy Plumbers’. Their slogan: the pipes, the pipes are calling.
This is kind of hard without knowing what type of whistle you like, but I’ll share my choices. My wife has said that I can get $100 of whistles for Christmas, so here is my current list.
-
Hoover Brass D
Dixon Low G
$97
I’ve heard awesome things about the Hoovers, and would like a quiet whistle for playing at home. The Hoover is also supposed to be very pure and non-chiffy, which is what I happen to like. I also would like to start getting into low whistles, and the Dixon Low G seems like a good choice. It gets good reviews for sound, and is an easy way to head towards a low D. -
Burke AlPro D
$100
Burke whistles are all good, from what I hear. If you’re going to play, why not play a superb whistle. Pure sound with medium volume is what I seem to have surmised. -
Silkstone PVC
Dixon D
$101
I listened to some samples on Clips 'n Snips, and I LOVED the sound of the Silkstone PVC. So pure and sweet. They have a “Goldring” which is supposed to be quieter, but I’ve heard it is not that much quieter. The Dixon D is because I’ve wanted one for a while and I had $15 left to go to reach $100. -
Parkhurst Copper D
$80
What a great looking whistle! And it has a nice sound. For $35 more, you can add a C body, which if I ordered I would probably do.
There is my wish list. We’ll see how Santa treats me.
John Mac
Well all I have is a clark in high D…So what do I really know??? Actually I cant decide whether to get a Water Weasel or one of those Elfsong whistles…Its between a really pretty one and an ugly one…But which one sounds best??
but alas, I am but a poor housewife and have to beg money from my dh..So it will be awhile yet before I can buy anything…
Well, my only Hoover D is a narrow bore. Pure tone, VERY, VERy, VEry, Very quiet. I love it to death as a practice whistle, but probably wouldn’t buy it as my first high-end D, because it IS so quiet and also because it’s minimal air requirements make it hard for me to hit the lower D/E when descending or playing very fast.
I tried the same bit, the first part of Sheebeg, Shemore on a Silkstone PVC D, Parkhurst D and a Water Weasel D. To tell the truth, I can’t see much difference. Tone is very pure on all three. The Weasel and Silkstone are a bit louder. The other “advantage” they might be said to have on the all-copper, wooden-plugged Parkhurst is that they aren’t as finicky about being warmed up first.
The only advice I’d offer between them is if you’re going to play outdoors or with others, the plastic whistles would probably be a better choice, but if you’re playing is alone and indoors, the less expensive Parkhurst would look very attractive. And if you’re nice, Dave might even agree to engrave your initials on it - which is sorta cool all by itself. At least he did for me all those many months ago.
c4, in case you didn’t know it, elfsongs are running a special this month and next where you get a combo set of two whistles for the price of a single. looks like a great deal. tempting, eh? (the eh added because Sandy is Canadian)
Is the Elfsong special two whistles for the price of one, or is it two bodies and one mouthpiece?
Duck, there’s no such thing as the perfect whistle. The whole reason for WhOA is that there are many whistles that are almost perfect. And, I think for every JessieK, who’s has a single favorite whistle for quite some time, there’s a chas, who sometimes has two favorites, sometimes many more.
The question is: do you have a high-D whistle that you really really really like? If not, you’d probably do to get a really good high-D before you branch into other keys.
That said, I would concur with the several other posters who say Burke. Aluminum if you like a pure sound, wide bore brass if you like something with a little chiff.
Get a Hoover AND a Dixon and you’ll still have money left over (plus two good whistles).
On 2002-10-11 14:14, Bloomfield wrote:
On 2002-10-11 14:12, fiddling_tenor wrote:
Or you can buy a whole truckload of Generations …Not if you buy them at Shanna Quay, you can’t. >
Bloomfield is quite correct. If you bought them at Shanna Quay it would be “a lorry-load of Generations”.
[Edited to correct a typo caused by a caffeine-induced stupor]
[ This Message was edited by: garycrosby on 2002-10-11 18:33 ]
Thanks for the advice. My current favorite whistle is my Dixon D. There are songs I can barely squeak out on my other whistles that sound great on my Dixon. I certainly hope an aluminum Burke can improve on this. I will probably think about this for a while, but I will certainly consider everyone’s advice.
I’d pretty much agree with Jessie for that price, I’d get just one really good dependable soprano D whistle, e.g., the Burke AL-pro, one of my lonstanding favorites. I like different types of tonal qualities in different whistles; this one is very pure, medium volume, possibly the easiest most forgiving whistle on the planet, and ethereally light physically.
For less than that price, you might try an Elfsong. Also pure of sound, but very much physically heavier. Nice unique custom work on the cosmetic side.
Enjoy,
Philo
PS - My waterweasel without the plumbing marks is beautiful -grey tubing with red plastic fipple (Low A).
You know what the obvious answer is, don’t you? Just send the money my way…I’ll make a decision for you (no guarentees that you’ll get the whistle that I choose, though!)
Brent
Waldie
it’s one mouthpiece and two bodies. check out their web page for more info.