Well, I just recieved in the mail a used Abell D whistle that I bought from C&F member Banshee biscuit. This is an outstanding Whistle. The tone is very pure and unlike many other whistle brands Ive played in the past is not shrill at all. This will be my main whistle and to be honest my other whistles will be sitting in the drawer for awhile. If you don’t have an Abell D Whistle I would email Chris Abell today and get on his list to make you one, you won’t regret it. The Whistle is #827 and Banshee says it is about 10 years old.
Ben Shaffer
so does that mean we’ll see some of your other D whistles in the used instrument exchange? 
probably not , the others didn’t cost much more than the cost to mail them 
Ben,
You got a great deal on that Abell for 300$ (Catching…hi five..Ya baby).
Now for the million dollar question. Hypothetically speaking would you pay the current asking price of 450$ for one?
Hey Mr.Nate.
Hard to put a price on a very good Instrument. when I’m playing that Instrument, I’m not thinking about the price. but yes I would buy one at $450 and I was actually thinking about placing an order with Chris, when the oppourtunity for this one came up . But that would be a call each Player needs to make
Ben Shaffer
Hello! I hope you don’t mind my jumping in, but I have a question for you regarding the Abell whistle. Do you find that you have to blow harder on it than when playing a Generation D or a Dixon D?
I just purchased an Oz whistle, made of African blackwood and silver by Mitch Smith, and I am finding that to be the case so far. It does need to cure for a few months because it was just finished, but all the same, I thought it would be similar in playability. The sound is wonderful, though!
Kristen
Thanks Ben for that honest answer!
I remember a few years ago when you could buy a new Abell for 300$. I guess I missed my chance and bought a Rose instead. Beautifully crafted like an Abell but quite a bit different.
Cheers,
Nate
Everyone deserves to own the best instrument they can possibly afford–because we spend so many hours enjoying them. How could anyone call that a waste of money? Congratulations on our Abell, Ben!
Everyone does deserve to have a nice Instrument, I think that will bring out the best in your playing. Conversly having a not so good Instrument, and I’ve had a few, brings out the worst in my playing and puts me in a bad mood, its like having a pebble in your shoe. If Ive got the cash I don’t let cost of an expensive whistle or Flute hold me back…really if you think about how many hours you spend playing that Instrument over say 5 years, it actually makes the Instrument inexpensive in a way 
Kristen , With the Abell I don’t think you need to blow hard at all to get a good sound.
All I can say is the Abell is the Cadillac of Whistles 
I am glad that my Abell went to a good home. I like having nice instruments and always get the best but ya know – I rarely play the whistle. If that whistle was played a dozen times by me it would be overstating it. Seriously, I had forgotten I even had the thing. I had to ask Mike Eskin, “So what’s the make of that African hardwood whistle?” 
I am no math major but based on inflation at about 4%, the $300 someone did NOT spend 10 years ago is now $450. I’m figuring about $12 a year by 10 = $120. 
I do have a Glenn Shultz Water Weasel I got at about the same time, which I will keep. But anybody know how to clean PVC pipe or whatever it’s made out of?
anyhow, I’m glad Ben is happy with the whistle. Instruments are like living things to me and they need to be played to stay alive. Ben has brought that whistle back to life. 
Thanks again Banshee for giving me the oppurtunity to buy the Abell. Whistle wise I really wanted to play alot more , but didn’t have a quality Instrument, and the Abell has been a godsend. I’d like to think every C&F Member has had the experience of getting a really nice Instrument and their desire to play goes up dramatically
anybody know how to clean PVC pipe or whatever
I’d start with warm soapy water, only hand-hot, you don’t want to distort it, let it soak if necessary. That should shift any build-up of day-to-day grime, nicotine stains etc. If you’ve been a bit more unlucky, (like stirring paint with it 
) I’d have a word with the manufacturer to confirm EXACTLY what it’s made from before using any solvent cleaners … whatever you do, use nothing abrasive, unless you want a “fashionable non-reflective finish”
That’s going to be a bit difficult with a Water Weasel. But Paul Busman (brewerpaul) here, having studied with Glenn, is a good source of information.
Water Weasels are terrific whistles, IMHO. Glenn was a master whistlesmith. The ivory colored models were made from CPVC water pipe. The grey ones were made from PVC electrical conduit. Paul Busman may have better info, as MTGuru said, but Kypfer has it right from my viewpoint. I’ve made quite a few whistles from the same materials. Soap and warm water work to clean up most dirt and grime. That should be all you need. The plastic polishes up nicely too. I’d stay away from higher temperatures and caustic cleaners. I’ve run a few of my own whistles through the dishwasher on the top rack as an experiment and some dishwashing detergents can etch the plastic and the high water temperatures can distort the blade of the whistles and tuning slides. Enjoy the Weasel.
Feadoggie