I hope this translated German Google link post properly… We shall see. Apparently Adler translates to Eagle.
Anyway, Adler-Heinrich is a former East German company that has been making recorders since the 20’s, and have recently introduce a wooden whistle. Looks nice anyway. As far as I can determine, the Antique Sound Workshop is the only company outside of Germany that is stocking them. See:
Talk about coincidences! I just got back from a holiday in Hong Kong, where I visited Tom Lee Music Store, HK’s largest music shop, and they let me try their metallic green Adler high D whistle. I was just wondering whether to post a brief review or not.
In tune with itself, nice and chiffy, good tone, very pretty (the well-finished paint on the wood is metallic and a bit sparkly; does not look recorder-y). BUT, BUT, anything from high A onwards is too difficult to play. You have to use an unproportionally and stupendously high amount of pressure and breath to get those high notes to hit. I basically had to tongue forcefully to get the notes out.
Price in HK - about HK$200 plus, which works out to USD20-30 plus.
If you’re a collector, no harm buying one. But I wouldn’t buy it to be my regular whistle.
Caveat: I only tried the one. For a short time. Dunno if I tried a bad one or if they are all like that.
Short note about Tom Lee: not much by way of whistles: only Clarkes, Sweetones, Megs and Adlers (the Adler whistle was part of their whole collection of Alder recorders/instrucments kept behind locked glass display cabinets, so I was surprised they let me try them). No Generations at all. They however stocked bodhrans of varying sizes. And Hall Crystal flutes. All these were in the misc/novelty section of the store.
[ This Message was edited by: tuaz on 2002-11-06 02:10 ]
Oh, these whistles are available several places. They receive the usual criticisms of that type whistle. I’d say they are probably a good budget alternative for those wanting a wooden whistle.
From Dale’s review page: “Weltmeister Wooden Whistles. Key of D, tunable. Made by the respected Adler-Heinrich company, a European maker of wooden wind instruments, these whistles are manufactured on woodworking equipment. Made of either pearwood or boxwood. Complete with a velvet sack and swab rod. Colors available: black, dark green, burgundy, purple, gold and pink. These precision made whistles are being offered as an introductory price of only $38.00 + $3.20 postage = $41.20 total. The Box Office is an Authorized Weltmeister Dealer. Frank Claudy, an excellent and highly experienced whistle player made me aware of these whistles. From his review: " Bottom line: for players of some experience, who like lots of chiff in their lower octave and crave the opportunity for some controllable polytonal effects, this is the best bargain on the planet, only 41.20 shipping included, which also gets you a cunning cloth case and a cleaning rod. I would not recommend it as a starter instrument. Those with WHOA - you know who you are - will simply have to get one.In conclusion, a Weltmeister should probably not be the only whistle in your stable, but it will make a unique tonal addition for both solo play, and should blend nicely with other instruments because of the complexity of its sound.”
::::::::::::WALDEN:::
of Committee to Promote the Notion that Walton’s Ought to Consider Re- introducing the Golden Tone Whistle.
[ This Message was edited by: Walden on 2002-11-06 03:12 ]
Mine was mildly out of tune when I first bought it – the G was pretty flat. I’ve had it for almost two years now (I think), and the whole thing is horribly out of tune, and the tuning slide is split (probably why it’s out of tune).
On the other hand, it’s a very attractive whistle, and has an almost harsh sound that’s unique. It does require a lot of push in the upper octave, and above about the high-G, it becomes really obnoxious.
It’s a 40-dollar wooden whistle, and you pretty much get what you pay for. I got a pretty early one, and they may have improved in the last couple of years.
I got one quite a while ago, and I didn’t like it. Maybe it’s because of my weird climate or something, but it just sounded kind of grainy and it was never, EVER in tune. So out of tune, it was painful.
As you will see this whistle has got quite a lot of negative criticism. I however, do like my A&H whistles. Have had them for a while and even if I cant say that I play them alot, they are fun to have around. Especially when I want to play someting else than Irish trad.
As with all wooden instruments they need care
to last. Cant expect it to be in tune if it’s cracket.
Follow the link above and you will get some more detailed opinions.
At the recent Houston Summer Acoustical Music festival, there were about 6 folks in the tinwhsitle workshop, 4 of which had just bought Weltmeisters from Melody](http://www.folkharp.com/%22%3EMelody) Music. Universally, these beginners didn’t like the instrument because it took quite a bit of work to get the 2nd octave. I tooted around on a few, and didn’t find them interesting enough for me to plunk down cash for.
[ This Message was edited by: Wandering_Whistler on 2002-11-06 12:47 ]
I recently tried a friend’s. It is a pretty whistle to look at and it really didn’t sound bad. However, it just wasn’t a friendly whistle, somehow. It was interesting and the bottom octave was decent, but I just wouldn’t buy one.
It is kind of funny, in that there is nothing truly negative that I can say about the whistle, just that I didn’t care for it and wouldn’t buy it for more than ten bucks.
