I’m wondering if the Abell low Whistles are just as nice as the soporanos. I have just purchased (second hand, batch #1235) a C, D, and Eb set and I must say the tunning is right on; in repalce of some other whistles (the maker and tweaker is to remain namless) that I was not at all happy with. Out of all the whistles I have heard the Abell is probably one of the nicest whistles out there. Mind you tonal qualities and opinions of what is a good whistle will very from person to person. I’ve done some research and not many people seem to have some of Chris Abell’s Low Whistles; as to say his soprano’s. One thing that I do really appreciate about the Abell whistles is how much breath control (louds and softs) you can have on pratically any note; yet still maintain good pitch in the process. You can also get some really nice tonal colours on notes through crossfingering without affecting its pitch too drastically.
At the moment I have some Low whistles from another maker who I will also not disclose (different from the sopranos mentioned above), in where the tuning on the C is way out of pitch. The D on the other hand is excellent and perfectly in pitch. They are about the same price as the Abell once you’ve considered the exchange rate. Question is what are your opinions of the Low whistles, in comparison with the sopranos, and are they worth the arm and a leg that you’d pay for one; plus the longish turn around time (waiting list). Once you consider the exchange rate it’d probably be about AU$900.00 for a C low whistle. On that note does anybody have any sound samples of an Abell low whistle; especially the C.
I have a Bf/A set that are really, really nice. It took several months for the sound to become more pure. Not sure if that was the whistles or the whistler but they are exquisite. I bounce between the Abells and an O’Riordan set I have. One set is not better than the other, just a different sound. The O’Riordans do take just a little more breath; the breath requirement is not bad, just different. One day I play one more, the next day I play the other. Both have a permanent home with me.
I liked the Abell Bf/A set so well, as well as the Abell high D, that I traded for a low G. I never got it to sound like what I wanted, which was for it to be a little more towards the purer end of the sound spectrum. It wasn’t a bad whistle at all but it didn’t match the sound of the A/Bb that I was looking for. I did pass it on. I sometimes think about trying another low G since I have found there is some variability in Abells…not in the quality but in the sound. Just my two cents worth.
I’ve had a low A/Bb set for several years. Excellent sounding to my ears. Mine are very breathy, no doubt about it. Of course, that quality is obliterated in a noisy sound environment. The tone of the whistle is unlike any others I’ve heard. People I’ve played it for have uniformly commented on how nice it sounds. I tried some low O’Riordans recently. Far purer sounding and they take more breath to play. The Abell low A has the most “flute-like” sound I’ve heard in a whistle.
I’ve been considering a low G from Abell. Would someone please make a sound clip if you have one??? Is your low G very breathy?
Tony
Here are links to “South Wind” and “Boithrin Bui” that I recorded this evening. I’m self-taught and so there will no doubt be problems with my playing, but the clips should give you an idea what an Abell Low G (mine anyway) sounds like. (This is actually the same Low G that Jim sent away – and that I’d sent away to him, but then bought back.)
I’ve owned the low G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F (twice now), and high G.
In addition, he’ll do B and E.
He keeps trying to find the time to make a low F, but not yet.
Go here: http://www.knotwork.info/
and click on “hear samples” for a few Abell samples - D, Eb, C, and two in the A (as low as I got in that batch).
Now I play only one whistle in my band - an Abell high F.
I’m a confirmed Abell fan. (pronounced “ay-BELL”). I have a couple dozen “high end” whistles from most major makers except Grinter and O’Riordan and I stopped looking with Chris. Whistles are entirely a matter of personal preference, not “good” or “bad”, and my preference is Abell for most “personal” playing. In a session, I prefer to use my Burke “pro” aluminum wide body or a Sindt because they are crisp and sharp and I can hear myself playing!
Starting low, I have G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G in blackwood, as well as C and D in delrin - wonderful for travellng.
My low G is “flutey” as are the higher whistles. This is the sound I prefer. Other low G’s I have, Copeland, Alba, and an old model Burke are all more “sharp” and “crisp”. A matter of preference.
