Okay. My Hoover narrow bore arrived, and as the post title says, I’m happy. I’m very happy. If that isn’t specific enough you can read the rest of this but it will take some time.
YOU CAN SKIP THE NEXT BIT IF YOU LIKE BECAUSE IT HAS ACTUALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HOOVER
I promised an appraial in my previous post, (Hoover Intonation), but please keep in mind who is doing the appraising.
I am a 6 month whistle player, I don’t have many whistle CD’s to listen/compare to, I don’t know any other whistle players, I live on a sailboat, and I’m a bit deaf. Could I be less qualified? In my defense, I have been around music all my life, and briefly played professionally. (tuba, string bass, guitar)
Also, so you understand what I’m comparing to, you should know that I have about a dozen inexpensive whistles. They all have tweaked fipples (ie: ball of butyl tape under the wind-way, plastic stuck on blades etc.) and most have some other whistle’s mouthpiece. I also have some cane flutes and whistles, soprano, alto, & tenor recorders, ocarinas, harmonicas, keyboard (my wife’s), an electric fly swatter, and a guitar. And yes, they’re all on the boat.
Now (finally! you say) back to the HOOVER.
The whistle came from The Whistle Shop, and was securely packaged as usual so that it was in perfect condition when it arrived. I used air-mail to avoid UPS broker fees and it took longer than normal in todays circumstances. (Even longer due to a foul-up at this end)
APPEARANCE: It is a beautiful whistle, in bright unlaquered brass. The word “slender” kind of describes it. It is numbered and signed by Mack. There isn’t much more to say about its looks. Did I say it’s beautiful?
TONE: It has a pure clear tone, but it is quiet which is exactly what first attracted me to it. After I ordered it I suddenly began to have irrational fears that the sound would be “thin” as opposed to just quiet. It’s not thin or shrill. It sings. The tone is beautiful throughout its range which is two octaves plus several extra bonus notes on top, with no “strangled” notes. (You can actually play a whole 3rd octave but it does get a little squeaky up there.) The octaves transition smoothly one to the next.
VOLUME: At first I thought that it was so quiet that no-one more that 3 feet away would hear it. But as I get used to it, I realize that, while it is very quiet, the contrast with my other whistles is because they’re actually rather loud. Now that I’m used to the volume, I find it very pleasing. (Just forget about playing it in a bar.)
PLAYABILITY: It is beautiful played slowly, and easy to play fast. That is to say, as fast as I can play any whistle. (I’m taking internet lessons from Brother Steve, and trying to get my rolls to snap crackle and pop in perfect daah blaah blaah rhythm.) The separation between notes in nice and clean, without a tendency to squeak. Ornamentation is easier to make crisp than on any of my other whistles. I have experienced minor clogging problems (dancing on a small sailboat has always been…never mind) but I have been playing in 55 to 60 degree temperatures so condensation is a risk. Air requirements are so low that it is hard to keep the whistle warmed up in those conditions. Voiding humidity is limited to sucking (while playing), or flinging and mopping (the whistle and environs) afterwards. The mouthpiece is very comfortable.
INTONATION: Intonation is bang on according to an electronic tuner I bought after my last post. Any tuning problems are caused by the carbon life form on the end of the whistle. (When the Crystal People come and give us Special Food, will that help my whistle playing problems?)
DOWN SIDE (sort of): There is nothing to tweak, although I’m going to buy some brass cleaner and polish it. I hope that will satisfy my tweaking needs.
The Hoover is extremely sensitive to air velocity. I have been playing it for over a week and my control is improving but I have to take care.
Because ornaments are so crisp, there is a tendency to try to play jigs and reels etc., faster than my magic fingers really can fly, and they end up messy and squeaky. (Not my fingers, the tunes).
A different fingering is required for C-nat as described by Thom on his web-site (0xx-xx0)to be in tune. If you fake other C-nat fingerings, sometimes even in fast passages, the other notes are so clear that it can be heard.
SUMMATION: I guess to rate the Hoover on a scale of 1 to 10, my other whistles vary from -0.163 to 4.031 (approximately), and the Hoover is a 10. It is much better than my other whistles. I haven’t played any of them since it arrived, except momentarily just to compare. It’s now my “favourite” whistle, and my WHOA has finally ended. (I’m thinking about a Hoover Traditional Bore but that isn’t WHOA is it? That’s just a logical progression based on rational thinking.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: In all, because you really can’t fake it with this whistle (it’s too accurate) I’m learning to be a better player. When I get it wrong, it doesn’t sound very good, but when I get it right - - Oh my! And I’m beginning to get it right as much as it get it wrong.
My wife’s first comment about the whistle’s sound was after I played Brian Boru’s March with the octave jumps (which are easy and very clean with this whistle). She said it sounded beautiful. Last Sunday evening, after a week-end’s sailing, she paid the whistle the ultimate compliment. She actually fell asleep as I played the whistle about 4 feet away from her. It is a quiet, beautiful sounding whistle.
I am in total agreement with you but… could never in a million years…put it so eloquently. It is definitely a favorite when I want something beautiful and quiet…and that describes Mack himself…beautiful and quiet. Quit yer blushin Mack. Gm
Well said Peter. My Hoover narrow bore is a wonderful, sweet little whistle, especially for late night playing. I liked it so much that I also ordered a traditional bore from the Whistle Shop. If anything I like the traditional bore even better. My only reservations (althought slight) about the narrow bore is that the low D is a bit touchy due to the low air requirement and there is a slight tendency to clog, due, I suspect, to the very narrow windway. I have no concerns whatsoever about the Hoover traditional bore. It has a very sweet upper register as well, approaching the narrow bore, but with a stronger low D and a little more volume (although still quiet). There is no clogging whatsoever. The traditional bore is now my favorite whistle, and I’m amazed it isn’t even more popular than it already is. Thanks Mack for a great whistle.
Glenn Morton
I’m indeed a lucky guy to have both met our dear Mack, and to have made my own whistle under his guidance. He’s a wonderful friend, and a very patient teacher!
As for his brass whistles, I don’t own any…YET…but they’ve been on the wish list for some time now. 
Having spent some time with Mack, I’ve had a chance to play many of his brass whistles, and am forced to whole-heartedly support the previous posts!
They are soft and sweet, but not TOO soft. The bell note does sometimes tend to break, simply due to the fact that I learned whistle in the first place on a Shaw. Enough said! LOL
Anyway, order one, and I bet you won’t be disappointed!
Bri~
Must add my “amen” to this. I don’t have any of Mack’s brass whistles, but judging by the set of his PVC whistles I play, the brass must be wonderful. I love my Hoovers, and use them as my primary solo instruments, with Susatos as backups. I was accompaning a soprano soloist on my Hoover PVC Low D, and was amazed how its sweet and quiet tone worked so well with the vocalist.
Awesome whistles, and you couldn’t ask for a nicer man to work with than Mack.
Cal