Hi all,
Long time reader, first time poster. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a tuneable whistle that would be suitable for playing in church. I have a Syn that I currently use, but it’s just too loud. Thanks!
With the beautiful acoustics of a big hall, I think this is where a Fred Rose whistle would really come into its own. Or - a soprano recorder with baroque voicing, like a Coolsma handmade. Step up to the chromatic whistle!
Of course, I’m assuming you’re playing in a real church, not a tin shed on the edge of a swamp like we see in Sam Raimi movies.
Or a nice oboe or trumpet. But they’re not whistles either, chromatic or othewise. 
oboe is a bit eastern, innit?
I’d go with the trumpet 
Well, the recorder really is just another type of whistle, I think. But we won’t argue.
Anyway, my point was more about the timbre of this type of instrument, and the Rose whistle is quite similar to a recorder in tone. It really shines in big halls with good acoustics.
Welcome to C&F.
I’d generally suggest a Susato but if you find the Syn too loud that may be out.
My go-to whistles for church work have been Burkes for some years. Any of the Burke narrow bore whistles should be nice.
Have you checked in with the Praise Whistlers?
Again, welcome!
Feadoggie
Whistles are allowed in churches?
It surely isn’t appropriate - no self-respecting whistle would be seen dead in places of such ill-repute… The International Council of Whistles and Whistlers Disciplinary Committee would have to remonstrate severely with any whistle which so strayed from the straight and narrow!
As an alter boy I always carried a brass Low D to bash up the pastor if he starts getting too “friendly.” No “personal baptisms” for me thanks.
You were your own alter ego, so to speak.
I’ve played highland pipes in church, which are way louder than any whistle. Most churches don’t have any problem swallowing up the volume of a set of pipes.
But anyway, if I was going to play a D whistle in church I’d play my Mellow Dog, but for most churches you’d probably want a mic.
Just you stay unaltared! 
That’s the plan. Avoiding this: 
Also I really wanted a chance to use that icon.
well so far they haven’t kicked me out yet and i’ve used:
Hoover Db, brass with white cap
Somers C
Reviol G
all have worked nicely. however, i had to educate the sound guys as to which end to mic.
Welcome. I attend a Catholic Church that is the school’s former gym (but with all the accoutrements of a church including stained glass windows and it still looks like a gym.). We have a small folk group. I play an assortment of instruments guitar, whistle, flute, yamaha not-really-a-fife, ocarina, and occasionally a harmonica. I use a Susato whistle but I step away from the microphone. No one has complained of volume one way or another. I can’t speak about an actual church building with real acoustics. I’ve never been a member of church with real acoustics although I have visited them and I cry.
I’ve had the opportunity to play in a number of church sanctuaries. The acoustics in most have not been anything special - much like school lunchrooms really. But a couple were big spaces with hard surfaces all over and the natural reverb was spectacular. In those cases you just step away from the mic and let the space do its thing. It’s a lovely experience.
There’s a small and I mean really small chapel north of here that is a small hex shaped rough laid stone structure. It’s one of my favorite places to play. But then I spend a lot of time in churches.
Feadoggie
wow! that’s a lot nicer’n mine…
I avoid them, but credit where credit’s due - they do have spectacular acoustics for solo instruments. Of course they’re mostly several hundred year old stone buildings in Europe.
The only time I played a whistle in church was in Germany last year when I was on tour with my wife’s choir. I tried out my Dixon Trad between rehearsals from the minstrels gallery up at the back. It sounded fabulous. Not that that helps much.
Hi atl,
Welcome to C&F’s simple answer forum. I do have a suggestion and I sent it in a PM.
Mack