Alto whistle recommendations and advice for newbie

Whistle
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Hi there! I’m new to whistles (but not to wind instruments - i used to play sax) and having a great time playing around & learning. :slight_smile: Wanted to talk about the whistles I have and what i’m looking for & get some recommendations/advice, hopefully!

-I started with a clarke original, but quickly found the second octave to be too shrill while i’m learning- for me but especially for my dog LOL

-so i then got a generation Bb due to it being the most affordable whistle in a lower key than D. I find it much more comfortable to play than the clarke D, although i do find a few notes sound off key, and the second octave Bb note really wants to squeak if I’m not careful. Overall I find it the most fun & easy to play, and it’s my default when I want to play. I just dont love the sound of it though, if i’m being honest. Plus my dog still finds it too shrill :sweat_smile:

-listened to a sample of different whistle keys and fell in love with how G & F whistles sound, so I got a james dominic F whistle. I adore the sound! It’s so pleasantly mellow and warm, and how much larger the holes are makes it feel much more expressive… but also, the hole size & spacing is taking some getting used to, and I find the air requirement a bit…. strange? I already tended to struggle with hitting the lower notes smoothly on my smaller whistles (as a saxophonist, i’m used to needing much more air pressure), but the bell note (and other lower notes to a lesser extent) on this whistle seems to require a combination of a decent amount of air but almost no air pressure, which i find challenging to combine. This all seems to be expected for a low whistle, though, and I’m enjoying the challenge/how different it feels! (and my dog tolerates it better​:sweat_smile:)

newly afflicted with Instrument Aquisition Syndrome, i’m now of course thinking about what whistle to buy next! I would like something that feels like it bridges the gap between my Bb and F (so presumably an A or G?) - in an ideal world, it would play more like my generation Bb, but sound more like my F? I dont know if that’s even a reasonable ask, just trying to give an idea of what I like

I don’t play with others or perform, music is just a way to enjoy my downtime, so what songs are in what key isnt really a factor in my decision. I just play tunes in whatever key I feel like playing it on without transposing anything

My budget is quite small - my james dominic F was quite an investment, I’d prefer to not spend much more than that if possible. Also open to suggestions outside of my budget to add to my mental wishlist :sweat_smile:

Thank you in advance for any whistle recs or advice in general! I’m loving learning something new & I’ve appreciated reading old posts here as a resource as I learn :slight_smile:

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As a former sax player, you’d likely find the Goldie/Overton whistles the most similar to sax in terms of playing characteristics - relatively high back pressure, combined with low air volume input. I’m thinking specifically of the medium to hard blowing versions. Key of A or G, as you mentioned, depending on whether you want to lean higher or lower pitched, or perhaps based on price and availability.

There are a ton of other whistle options out there at various price points, many of them good whistles, and you’ll certainly get a bunch of recommendations. That said, having played sax a bit myself years ago, I’d say the Goldie and Overton (Colin Goldie made) whistles play and feel much more like a sax than anything else I’ve run across over the years.

Of course if you want something that plays like a traditional penny whistle, that would be going in the complete opposite direction of what I’ve recommended, so it really depends on what playing characteristics you’re looking for.

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It occurred to me that I should have included the following:

I realize my recommendation is well beyond your stated budget. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, there aren’t many good alto whistle options in the sub $100 price range. Admittedly, I haven’t played many of the most recent entries in the market, including those by J.D., nevertheless the cost of producing such instruments on a relatively small scale generally makes such an item a bit of a unicorn, IMO.

That said, you might try a Tony Dixon alto. His whistles are typically fairly common and you could probably find an alto A or G used in the $40-$70 range. Perhaps less depending on model, age, and condition.

The thing about alto and tenor whistles is that you can easily spend more going through multiple whistles trying to find something you like, than you would just buying a better suited (to you) more expensive whistle to begin with. OTH, if you simply enjoy trying a bunch of different whistles, nothing wrong with that, it’s just sort of slim pickings with regards to “inexpensive” alto whistles, particularly when talking about purchasing new.

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Sadly with Alto/Mezzo whistles, as with Low Whistles, you get what you pay for.

I’ve found that “wind guys”, professional studio musicians who primarily play Sax and Boehm flute, really like Michael Burke whistles.

They take more air to “fill” and take more “support” in the 2nd octave than most Alto and Low Whistles, but these things never bother Sax people, who really like the big fat low range that Burkes (of every size) deliver.

Personally I prefer Colin Goldie mezzo/alto and Low whistles in part because they’re more air-efficient. I have a Goldie mezzo/alto “F” that’s simply amazing.

But both Goldies and Burkes are beyond your stated budget.

Not my favourites but more affordable are Susato whistles. I think Susatos get better as they get lower. I had a Susato mezzo A that was superb, and I really like Susato Low D’s and Low C’s.

In the “you get what you pay for” category are Tony Dixon whistles, however I will say that I tried a mezzo/alto “G” that was a very nice player. It had an alloy body and plastic top.

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I agree with others that the Tony Dixon whistles are very good for the price. I have an A (plastic head, alloy body) that plays very well and easily all the way up, with a pleasing chiffy attack.
The much more expensive MK A is magnificent, smooth and husky and is usually my favourite though sometimes the Dixon seems to go better in a group - that’s very subjective though.

I like the Susatos too - I don’t have the A but the Bb and G are both nice. Hard to get hold of at the moment though.

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Great reviews and less than premium price alto (E,F,G,A) whistles:

Tony Dixon, Killarney in A, Kerry Whistle Optimas (note that G comes in two models; mezzo and alto, based on using two different bores, which greatly affects response and tone), Reyburn, Milligan, MackBeth, Goldfinch, Hermit Hill, Thornton.

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I had a Wild whistle in A (sold by McNeela) for awhile, and really liked the robust tone and responsiveness to it, but found it to be a bit weighty to play for extended periods of time, so sold it on. I’m on the list now for a Whorfin in blackwood by Charlie Tarrio. The Irish Flute Store also stocks his whistles. But we’re talking USD$200, far above the OP’s given price range.

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Did anyone mention the Jerry Freeman modified Generation mezzo/alto whistles?

He takes a Generation Bb head, does his modifications, and puts them on a new longer body.

He makes an “A” which I’m sure would play really well. I haven’t played one but I do play a Freeman modified Bb Generation head on a self-made “A” body and it’s my favourite “A”.

I did buy two Freeman mezzo/alto “G” whistles. The smaller-bore one has perfect tuning and plays like a good narrow-bore whistle. It takes me a while to get used to any narrow-bore whistle but once I do I love how they play.

Here’s my video talking about the Jerry Freeman mezzo “G” whistles (two bore sizes), my home-made mezzo “A”, Colin Goldie mezzo “F”, and a rare early Susato mezzo “G”, machined out of PVC stock with a wood block. (I receive no money from YouTube.)

Freeman Generation and Susato low G mezzo alto comparison review

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