Does anyone have any comments about Abell in wood vs. delrin? I have a blackwood D (# 762) and I love the tone.
Based on my own experience with wood and Delrin, I’d expect you to love an Abell Delrin just as much as your blackwood one.
I’ve never tried an Abell whistle that I didn’t like. Only tried the blackwood ones in Eb, D, C and G, a few examples of each - the consistency and quality from one to the next is simply awesome. Never tried the delrin version, but I would imagine that the quality would be no different. Always found delrin to have a slightly different voice to wood - it has a very slightly harder edgy sort of sound - very bright, but with enough darkness to compare nicely with the wooden variety.
I’ve got a few Abells in different keys. Included in them are a couple C/D/Eb Blackwood combos (earlier model [#188 or so] and newer [#1103]) and a C/D delrin combo. They’re wonderful whistles. Each has the traditional Abell sound – strong, rich, in tune – yet each is distinct. I like the Blackwood best, but the delrin is also nice. I agree with Mitch that the delrin is a bit brighter with a little bit of an edge to it. Still very pleasant and easy on the ears. Interestingly (and this is from my limited experience) most non-whistle or non-flute players tend to like the tone of the Delrin a little more, where other whistle and woodwind players tend to like the Blackwood more.
Here’s my collection:
Wow, that’s about a $3000 collection.
Thanks everyone.
Our band did some recording recently and I definitely noticed the great sound coming over from my blackwood.
Thanks all.
For the record, I bought (or traded) for the whistles secondhand so it was considerably less than what one would pay now for a new collection. 