I just received one of the new design Alba Low D’s and find the air requirements to be quite reasonable. The whistle very easy to blow - there is not much back pressure, yet even the high notes are very easy to hit.
Wizzy
On 2002-11-07 03:56, wizzy wrote:
As for told the Alba whistle company did send a a whiftle to Loren.
The knocker of knorkers, and now this! from the great one.I just received one of the new design Alba Low D’s and find the air requirements to be quite reasonable. The whistle very easy to blow - there is not much back pressure, yet even the high notes are very easy to hit.
Wizzy
Thats a very polite testimonial,thanks.I assume you mean its from Loren or does the “great one” refer to somone else. Mike
On 2002-11-07 03:56, wizzy wrote:
As for told the Alba whistle company did send a a whiftle to Loren.
brrmbll… spaghetti-rider…Laverda rhymes with… mblll…yer granny in barbour pants… grrritt… haggis in a Cromwell helmet %$#@
Bbeemer
[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-07 04:51 ]
Wizzy, you might want to let Loren take his time and come up with a full review, rather than quoting him the first time he mentions the Alba whistle you sent him. After all, all he’s been saying is that the air requirements are reasonable. Not much of a review there, nor an endorsement of your products (yet!).
Jens
Keep talking, please. I have a friend who is very interested in the Albas and there’s not much here yet for his further enlightenment.
Marguerite
The whistle, like most, does have it’s pluses…and minuses, to be sure. I’ll try to post a full review after I’ve had a few more days to play it - don’t want to make any hasty judgements you know 
Loren
On 2002-11-07 07:40, Loren wrote:
The whistle, like most, does have it’s pluses…and minuses, to be sure.
Loren
I think I’ve come to believe that there is no such thing as a perfect whistle. Given everyone’s very different tastes, a whistle that one loves, another will hate.. But I dont think this is a bad thing, the worst thing i can imagine is everyone playing exactly the same on identical sounding whistles. At least with the musical pursuit we have chosen we get the chance to try and own different instruments. Ask how many piano players can think about buying a steinway after 6 months of playing! well anyway thats my opinion. btw ill be looking forward to that review.
jeff
On 2002-11-07 04:18, mike.r wrote:
I assume you mean its from Loren or does the “great one” refer to somone else. Mike
C’mon Mike, everyone (except wizzy) knows that Gretzky is the “Great One”.
I’m still trying to figure out what a “Knorker” is…
Loren
that is kind of worrysome isnt it?
Stacey, what is the difference between the “new” and “old” albas? and can you post a picture, there isnt one on the web page.
Gee, Loren, I always thought the “Great One” was used in reference to Jackie Gleason!?!
Owning an Alba D and liking it, I, too, am interested in your opinions of the whistles…
~Larry
On 2002-11-07 09:54 Loren wrote:
I’m still trying to figure out what a “Knorker” is…
Loren
It’s a person who does a review on a whiftle…
Cheers
Gerry
Think before you Think before you Talk!
[ This Message was edited by: WhistlingGypsy on 2002-11-07 13:26 ]
Ahhhh, I thought it was someone who knew how to “for tell” …
Darn, at first I misread it and thought I was the “Knocker of knockers” which sounds like much fun, if you think about it…
Loren
A few years ago, a man whose job title was “Activities Coordinator” had to get a new business ID card. There was, apparently, a misspelling, and his new badge said “Activtities Coordinator.” True story.
Hee.
On 2002-11-07 10:07, jeffmiester wrote:
that is kind of worrysome isnt it?Stacey, what is the difference between the “new” and “old” albas? and can you post a picture, there isnt one on the web page.
Re:
New Alba pictures, its not to important to have new pictures on the web site as out side they still look the same, its the inside which has changed. A longer and narrower windway & window + changes to the fipple in answer to problems that some were having with wind requirements. Although some Shaw /Alba type players have not been as happy, which all goes to prove Sods law.
What I have tried to do is gain the middle ground, but I have and always will update the whistles if I find something that makes them in my opinion, play better.
Which is my right and duty.
When I started making whistles a little after Overton, there was very little to go on none of the make it quick plastic top low D jobies no all plastic numbers, or overton lookalikes.
So I started with the basics, looking at organ pipes and old whistles and recorders
and like Serpent now, I started to experiment, as time went on more and more people
wanted them and here I am.
The main thing I would like to get across is that the splendid isolation that I live play and work in, is bound to have an effect on my whistles. And me speelin.
I always feel humbald by super word boffins like Mike r and loren!
Wizzy
Well, I’m not quite a ‘word boffin’ but I can say that I very much enjoy my Alba low D. It’s the old design though, so I’m naturally very interested in the new version.
Something that quite suprised me was the reach on the Alba is much easier on the fingers than any of the previous whistles I’ve tried (both Dixon, and Burk low D’s). It may be that I’ve gotten more used to the piper’s grip, but it sure feels easier. I’m inclined to think it does have a shorter reach as two of the group members I play with on occasion have commented that it’s very comfortable to play.
Maybe Loren will pipe in with a measurement comparison in his review.
Wizzy’s vocabulary cracks me up every time. I mean everytime I dig it : I don’t have the definitive jive/slang dictionary to catch up. So I appreciate your comments too, they’re like close-captioning.
As to spelling, I try my best in any language I write though, as we say over here :
“L’orthographe est la science des ânes”
Cool, now, no offense! this is to be taken tongue-in-chick.
Zub, I never know about you… “tongue in chick”, indeed!
Looking forward to Loren’s review. Much though he and I don’t hit it off, I think he’ll be a really good reviewer.
Stacey, experimentation’s fun, ain’t it!? You learn a lot - even negative information is still information. Later on, you can ask the theoreticians for explanations, but the getting down and dirty with the metal is really where it’s at! If you want to see some close-ups of toolmaking for some of my own experiments, have a look at http://www.serpentmusic.com/toolmaker There are JPEGs of some of the prototyping stuff.
Sorry, the titles are about all the explanation ya get, but I think the makers, and some of the players, will “get it”.
Cheers,
Bill Whedon
On 2002-11-08 08:40, serpent wrote:
Zub, I never know about you…
Well… do I ?
You’re right : experimenting IS fun. There are improvers, there are innovators. Keep on digging and maybe you’ll find some really new ways. It’s worth it.
“Only dead fish goes with the stream”
Or as V. Vissotsky sang “–I mean, everyone, dig your own rut!”
BflatMW