From what I hear, most people think that the susato whistles are the loudest. But after trying them I would say that my chieftain is much louder. I’m talking about the newer style chieftain, very wide, with very large holes. Does anyone feel the same way, or am I just being stupid. And if it isn’t the loudest, what is?
Jack Murphy
I think that most people might mean the “loudest of the inexpensive ones”…my soprano Chieftain (old style) was also the loudest whistle I’d owned. I’d bet my Silkstone Alloy is every bit as loud as a Susato, also.
My Thin Weasels are louder to my ears than Susatos. I’m not sure if they’re actually louder or whether the growl of the TW’s makes them seem so. Overtons are generally cited among the louder whistles, and of course nothing growls like them. I don’t find the Silkstone alloy particularly loud, but that may be because it has a pretty pure sound.
Charlie
I tried a Chieftain sop C that was unbearably loud in the second octave. I tried a sterling silver Copeland sop D that was almost as loud. They both felt much louder to me (painfully so) than my reg bore Susato sop D.
I don’t know if Susatos are “the loudest.” When I describe my Dublin as “loud,” I’m comparing it (and particularly its lower octave) to my other whistles (several Generations, a Feadog, a tweaked Feadog, a Clare, a Mellow D, and a Meg). The Susato has a “bigger” sound, one that really carries, and thus isn’t one I’d use to practice on at midnight when the rest of the household is asleep 
My Generations are “loud,” in the upper octave particularly, but they tend to sound shrill, as if I’m deliberately PLAYING them loudly. The Susato’s voice just seems to carry more by nature (on the upside, it doesn’t sound at all shrill or “forced”).
Redwolf
The loudest whistle that I’ve played is without doubt the Alba soprano D. It’s much louder than a Susato; from the bell note to the top of its range, it produces serious volume!
Mick
The new Micheal Cronnolly whistle is very much louder than a Susato.
It takes serious breath support though–not a whistle a soft-blower should consider. You need lots of hot air like me! 
Best,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
The Seery Delrin whistle also needs a pretty good puff to keep it going, but has some serious stayig power in a large session.
The susato’s may have gotten the “loud” rep from the second half of the second octave on the kildares. Mine would leave my ears ringing after 20 minutes play. Some of my other whisltes (Chieftain Reg-D) actually sounded louder in the first octave, but never gave me the ringing problem. It may be that my Susato Reg-D has some ultrasonic overtones or something. I only really had problems with the susato in an enclosed space so it may be a product of the space and the overtones also. I didn’t have the problems the dixons or chieftains.
My absolute loudes whistle, right now, is an Overton mezzo-soprano/alto A. Its pretty loud in both octaves.
Lee,
I really like your ultrasonic overtone theory!
Many whistles feel too loud rather than sound too loud to me.
Lisa
edited after stupid attack
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-07-26 18:53 ]