This is something I recently found with my Shaw D. The area around the block had quite a bit of light shining through when looking through the bore, to see the how high the blade is off the duct floor. (It’s easier for me to check it that way than look through the duct. Can never quite tell if the whistle is straight on/level.) All together, there had to be just as much light shining through the sides and bottom, if not more, than through the duct. No wonder the upper second octave was such a challenge! So, I just took a pair of needle nosed pliers and kept squeezing the sides tighter to the block. The bottom was a little trickier. Had to put the whistle on the kitchen table and push down while holding the sides tight so they wouldn’t bulge out. Much better! The second octave A and B are a lot easier now. Didn’t check to see how it compares with other whistles, but this former smoker of 20 years can now play fast tunes on a Shaw without passing out.
The tone is improved too. It’s hard to describe such things, but I’d say it’s clearer. It seems that it’s a little louder now also. It’ll definitely be played more now. This may have pushed it back up to the #1 slot.
So, if you have a Shaw lying around that’s an air hog, it might be worth checking up the bore and seeing if there’s a lot of light coming through around the block.
Seems to me I also remember a tweak for Shaws and Clarkes that involved sealing the gaps by dipping the head in hot wax. But maybe I’m only imagining that.
Seems to me I also remember a tweak for Shaws and Clarkes that involved sealing the gaps by dipping the head in hot wax. But maybe I’m only imagining that
… not imagining … I must of read it somewhere, at least I don’t think I came up with the original solution, but my “original” Clarke “D” benefitted significantly from a dip in candle-wax, the “C”, however, didn’t need it
I don’t recall reading that one, and didn’t find it when searching before making the OP. Oh well, Google isn’t always my friend, and I can see all kinds of things going wrong with the hot wax dip method if I tried it. Good to know about these different tweaks though.
Something about the phrase “dip your fipple in hot wax” just sounds wrong somehow. OTH, “Hot Waxed Fipple” would make a great name for a really fast reel or a jazz recorder consort (if such a thing even exists).
Some days my biggest achievement is getting to the bathroom on time while having an allergy attack, so clever gets bumped down on the list.
Oh, and one thing I didn’t do while squeezing the sides on the Shaw… use a cloth so the pliers don’t mark/scratch up the nickel silver. It’s not a big deal to me, the main thing is how an instrument sounds and plays, but there might be some who think differently.
