Within the last week or so I’ve picked up two early model ‘ridge and dimple’ type Generations. One in D, and the other in C. The D came privately via a seller whom I’d previously bought a whistle from. It was among a small collection of lower end whistles, and not one he’d rated. An even more previous owner had made a bit of a mess of the mouthpiece, and not just chewing but filing (?) the sides to make it narrower? BUT, it plays and sounds fantastic to my ears, and that’s what matters. Both it and the C are the nickel plated models with blue mouthpieces.
The C version I bought on an eBay BuyItNow for a mere £5.00 including postage and one of those Feadog ‘How to play Irish Whistle’ sheets, which I’m sure most of us have already. The seller stated that it had never been played, and was in effect new without original packaging. A quick look when it arrived proved that statement to be apparently true. There isn’t a mark of any kind on it anywhere. I already have two of the old ‘ridge and dimple’ models in brass with the red tops, both of which sound very nice, and if anything the nickel plated one sounds better.
Now I’m aware that there is a variance of opinion on this forum, as to whether or not these early model Generations deserve the reputation they’ve acquired. All I can say is that I’ve stopped playing all my other whistles and am playing the grotty D exclusively. Even in my dead sounding lounge it sounds good, but in the close confines of the downstairs loo it sounds magnificent! I’m obviously aware that this is a very subjective subject, and also I don’t have any expensive whistles to compare it with, so other peoples opinion may vary. I should also say that it’s not just the sound of individual notes, but the way it cuts and chirps; I just love it!
So if you haven’t gathered already, my vote also goes wholeheartedly to these old model Generations.
When you say “old model” Generation, you mean the early plastic head ones, right, and not the “old model” all metal kind?
Anyway, yeah, I think the early plastic Gens are well enough liked hereabouts. But as with any low end whistle, especially, you get what you get. And what you often get is one gem in a whole load of barkers. (This also applies to higher end whistles. But it’s much easier to plow through a couple score Gens to find that gem than it is to go through half as many Abells or Busmen, even though you’re more likely to find a keeper early on with those.)
Anyway, good job on finding a nice whistle!
And a good week for new ones, too!
Just because going on about the virtues and vices of Generation whistles is by now about as traditional as the jigs and reels themselves, here’s a recent anecdote:
Last week I had the opportunity to try about 20 Generation D whistles and about 10 Generation Bb whistles at a shop (I left the G whistles where they belong–on a shelf), and I came home with a very nice Bb indeed.
There seemed to be a bit more variability among the D’s than the Bb’s, but there were also more of them. About two thirds of the D’s were perfectly fine, and about five or six were especially nice. But none were ghastly or unplayable. Some did squawk too readily, and a few had a weak bottom D, but really, all of them were playable. About half the Bb’s were very nice (and the rest were fine); it came down to two or three for the final choice.
So nothing new here, really, except that this experience, at least, didn’t bear out the ‘horrible Generation’ narrative. Yes, there’s variability and it’s best if one can try a bunch, but plenty of them play just fine–or better.
Hi there,
Yes, sorry I should have been more specific, it’s the plastic headed model, and it’s still sounding great!
Yes it’s one of those things!
As I’ve said, I’ve tried fantastic old Generation Bb’s owned by others, but never had the luck to find one for sale. I have around ten old Generation Bb’s and they’re all mediocre. I’ve tried hundreds of Generation Bb’s in shops over the last 35 years, never found a great one. So, for Bb I play a Freeman Generation Bb which is quite good.
I also don’t have a supremely good old Generation D, just a couple good ones. A friend, a few years ago, went down to a local ordinary music shop and bought the first Generation D he saw, untried, and it was better than any Generation D I have ever owned. So, for D I use a c1980 Feadog MK1 that’s wonderful.
I do have a supremely good c1980 Generation C, the best all-around whistle in any key at any price I’ve ever had.
Hi there,
You’ve got a heck of a lot of Generations! I’m guessing you tried all you could to get hold of your friend’s D?
I’ve got a single Feadog MK1 but from my first play around with it I wasn’t that impressed. However, I bought it secondhand and am not sure if it had been altered at all. If I recall correctly (I can’t get at it at the moment) the centre of the blade was intruded upon by either original moulding, or somebody had forced another tube into it and caused this to happen; I suspect the latter.
Both my early red topped C’s are better (in my opinion) than my early blue topped nickel one, which is a bit harsh in the second octave.