I have a Merlin Black Knight ($65) and a Clarke Celtic ($10). The Merlin has a huge bore (nearly 3x of the Clarke), sounds GREAT, but is VERY hard to play above high (second) octave F#, even with a lot of wind.
The Clarke, is super easy to play high, but the low D is very “delicate”, requiring VERY little air.
Any thoughts? I plan to get another high D whistle, maybe a Susato, just to see if I can get something in between. I like both whistles, but neither seems to be an all around instrument for me.
You can try the “thumb squeeze” tweak on the Clarke to flatten the windway and tighten things up a bit. But a delicate blow for the bell D is perfectly normal on the Clarke - or any traditional style whistle, for that matter.
On the Merlin you’re describing the same symptom that Susato whistles exhibit, and the Susato head “cowl” is similar. So you can try the Susato O-ring tweak. A #12 ring might fit just about right. Also tighten your embouchure for a smaller, faster air stream.
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/mtguru-o-ring-susato-tweak/47141/1
Good luck!
Thanks! I’ll give those a shot. I did just order a Freeman tweaked Mellow Dog as well, to see how that compares. At the very least, I’ll have 3 variations on tone and volume!
I have bought a few whistles and have streamlined my collection to just four. Firstly you should really buy the Clarke Original in D - that lovely black and gold finished one - for that lovely breathy sound - following that you should buy the Dixon high D. Both are lovely to listen to and play, they respond very well. Following that, you should buy the C versions of both. They are the only four that you should ever need. Personally speaking, I bought the Clarke Sweetone four days ago, played it a few times, was very dissapointed with the sound of it, it had a kind of ‘rattle sound’ in it, I did not like it. So I threw it out - it was approx £8. I don’t feel guilty about it. I wonder if any one else is as dissapointed with the Clarke Sweetone as I was ?
Yep. 
Nope!
I think the Clark Celtic Sweetone is the one with the plastic mouthpiece, so you’ll need extra strong (and possibly heated) thumbs.
ya know ya shouldn’t mention hot strong thumbs here 
some of 'em get a bit excited…
Oops, you’re right. Then again, crushing the mouthpiece into smithereens is what I would consider the proper tweak for a Sweetone.
I’ve never seen an excited thumb…
The correct tweek for the Clarke Sweetone is to have them fixed by The Daleks and The Cyber Men - “Exterminate” and “Delete”.
'course not…the mods would delete it in a heartbeat, wouldn’t they
this is just not that kind of forum.
thank you,
I just got my Jerry Freeman Mellow Dog ($35) today, and it’s exactly what I was hoping for! The low notes aren’t too delicate (like the Clarke Celtic), and the high notes aren’t too hard to get (like the Merlin).
Amazing job Jer, you’ve got a fan in me!