? questions… 1) are all A whistles “low whistles” ?
2) what are some/ant of the less expensive ones?
Most people call them low whistles at Low G, or at least in my experience they have. Shaw makes a good A. Maybe they started calling whistles low when they is a octive of the same key, Ex. High G, and there is the low G. No High A so now Low A, maybe that will help. But wait there is a Low A, a really low A. Okay i kinda confused myself, so the A we are talking is the High A then. I dont think i help, but whatever.
-Andrew Cassidy
The “standard” A whistle is the one between high (normal) and low D, but they are sometimes called “mezzo” or “alto” whistle, as they aren’t really low. I think Colin Goldie also makes a really low one, maybe other makers do, too.
- what are some/ant of the less expensive ones?
Tony Dixon makes a nice one, Susato has one too (though I find it extremely uncomfortable to play). Shaw makes an A as well, but I’ve never played one so I can’t comment.
Sonja
I can’t remember whether I’ve played a Susato A but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are an experienced player. Although priced in the intermediate range, Susatos are hard for an intermediate player to control.
A Jerry-tweaked Shaw would probably be just the ticket. I haven’t yet tried his Shaws but I’m getting to know a full set of Generations and these are seriously good whistles by any standards. They play just the way he says they would, so you should find the Shaws very appealing from his descriptions.
I like my Hoover A (whitecap with aluminum tube). At $60, it is not exactly cheap but won’t break you either.
John Sindt makes a wonderful A just after Bb and calls it “Low”
If you’re willing to go up to $80 or so, the Water Weasel A can’t be beat. It definitely has a “low whistle” sound (as does the Shaw, which has been mentioned), though, so if you want one that sounds more like a pennywhistle, you’d be better off with the others that have been mentioned.
The A is probably my most useful whistle after the D and C. Beside the fact it plays in A, it gives tunes in D a different feel, because of its tone color difference…
I concur that Mack Hoover makes a fine A in his Whitecap. His CPVC whistles are also worth considering…
Best.
Byll
There’s a bunch of really good expensive A whistles that I’ve played - Copeland, Overton, Abell. However, I’d second the WW A as the best bang for the buck.
PhilO
I do believe that all A whistles are “just after Bb”. 
I call my Anaconda A an “Alto” whistle.
Now, why don’t we call the ones below “Baritone”?
And what ever happened to “Tenor”??
Oh… sounds too much like re***ders!
serpent
Quote @ Whistle_along_Cassidy
No High A so now Low A,
I actually heard rumors of a high A (above Generation high G) from Alba…
I have a Susato Dublin (the one-piece, nontunable), which is fine, and a Jerry-tweaked A Shaw, which is heavenly.
i’ve had a chieftain, susato, and dixon. but i prefer my hoover cpcv a. can’t go wrong with a hoover.