I’ve been gradually coming to the conclusion that I play a bit better if I choose one whistle and stick with it, rather than switching around a lot (one whistle for fast stuff, one for slow stuff, another for travel…)
At the moment I’ve settled on a Dixon trad. For years I basically played nothing but Clarkes, with Hoovers for the “other” keys, but I goofed around with several others. The more whistles I play, the more I realize that each has its own personality to be studied and learned. I can’t keep up with all of them.
Maybe I’m just reaching the age where I’m ready to quit playing the field and settle down.
Oh Geeze Tom, you don’t want to start talking this sort of stuff around here - just go over to the flute board and look what happened when Gary and I starting saying this sort of thing over there, we nearly got lynched!
I have a very serious WHOA infection and require immediatle help. I just started playing whistle seriously this summer and bought my first whistle - a Dixon D.
The disease is spreading throughout my system wildly. As a former sufferer who is now cured of MAS (Mandolin Aquisition Syndrome), I thought I would be resisent to this strain of infection but I was wrong. I am in serious trouble. Since the summer, my collection has grown to :
(5) Burkes - NB D - Brass, NB D - Allum, NB C, Session C and D.
(2) Busman (C and D) - a third (Eb) is coming
(1) Seery D
(1) Lon Dubh D
(2) Thin Weasels (C and High G)
(2) Black Diamonds (D and C)
(1) Greenwood (D)
(6) Assorted tweaks (Freeman, O’Briain)
(1) Silkstone D
On the way - Abell C/D set, Rose, Busman Eb, more tweaks (Irvine, Freeman, O’Briain), Humphrey D/C set, Water Weasel.
Really dig the Lon Dubh, Black Diamond C, Freeman Mellow-Dog, O’Briain Eb Feadog (in case you were wondering).
I am feeling slightly better of late. With God’s help and a loving and supportive family, I believe help and healing are on the way.
The best thing to help you out would be this:
Give me your
Lon Dubh D
Rose (when it gets there)
Greenwood
And that should help you out a bit .
Seriously though, that’s a pretty nice collection. You gotta review the Lon Dubh for us, and possibly the Rose. There’s already a review of the greenwood on the tinwhistler site. But if you feel like selling some, help out another whistler with a bad case of WhOA
You are on to something very real here, Tom. I too played a lot of whistles at first. Whoa was rampant. As I progressed over the years, I found that a few certain makers - and certain whistles within their various ranges - suited me very well. I sold the rest and have used the remaining instruments for quite some time. You can never keep up with all the miniscule improvements by makers, without going broke. Every now and then, something different and special comes along for me, but it is rare…
And that’s OK…
I have the cure Patrick but it’s painful. Buy yourself a set or two of pipes. Then you’ll be so broke you won’t even think about whistle acquisiton anymore.
Trust me, I know whereof I speak.
Some believe the flute can be a cure but I have seen many a sad case of FlOA and it’s ugly. No, no…it must be the pipes.
I’ve spent many years playing “cheap” whistles (won’t dare mention names here ). I bought lots of them but only rarely looked to spend any serious cash. That was until I started playing beyond the session with the latest band and I needed more volume and power. So I borrowed from the “don’t-use-unless-an-emergency” fund and I’ve upgraded a lot in the past year or so.
Let me just say that the term “Penny Whistle” is out of date and should be replaced by something more appropriate.
I suspect that for many of us rampant WhOA is an attempt to improve our playing - “surely if I find THE ONE whistle, the problems I have with all my other whistles will disappear”. Of course, the real area that needs improving is our playing, but this looks like a quick fix.
I know that when I first started playing, I was always eager to try new whistles. Granted, whistles have different voices, and some are objectively better than others - better in-tune, more balanced between the octaves, less likely to burble on octave switches, etc - but as my playing has improved I find less and less urge to get more whistles to try.
I’ve still got a long ways to go with my whistling, but I’m to the point now that although I like all the whistles I have, I could get by with just one or two. When I want a traditional sound, I reach for my Humphrey narrow-bore or a Feadog. When I want more volume, I grab a Syn. When I want a breathy tone, I reach for my Serpent Polly. But if I lost them all and I had to start over, I’d be pretty much back in business as soon as I got my hands on any good cheapie.
Last week at Tony Higgins’ s C & F party, I took my flutes and all my favorite whistles. At the start of the party, there was a certain amount of show and tell going on. But at the end of the evening, I found that I had spent most of my time playing a Feadog.
I still want another whistle, but I have to play it first. No more ordering. The second-to-the-last whistle I bought, I played it first and love it. The last whistle I bought by mail sucked and there was no return option. I don’t ever want to do that again.
So my Whoa is mollified by getting out there and finding one. Yes, some new builders have a try and return policy but it doesn’t feel the same as just finding one and buying it on the spot. And the ones that I think I might like to own have the waiting list bit…I almost think that a broke-in whistle would be better anyway, especially if made of wood.
I enjoy having many whistles and their many voices.
Over the past couple of years, though, I have become a regular player of Burkes when playing in session, sometimes supplimented with Syns or Susatos or Oaks, just depending on what kind of playing and what kind of sound I was after.
Here lately I’ve discovered O’Brien whistles, which are good enough they have started to appear at session more at more…fact is, his narrow-bore-brass is just outstanding.
And of course my wife just gave me an Overton for my anniversary, and it is just jaw-dropping–a phenomenally good whistle. I think all the work I’ve done with learning to control the Susato has done a good job getting me prepared for the Overton.
As you can see, Doc Jones is absolutley unreliable as a source of information on controlling oneself in the face of almost any purchase. We regret having wasted everyone’s time and are trying to get his medications re-calibrated. He’s currently resting quietly in a padded room (twitching just a little). We expect a full recovery…again.
National Treatment Center For Whistle, Flute and Pipe Addiction
I may have cured myself. I ordered a wooden flute. I have no more money to buy whistles. The last whistle I bought was a Waltons C. I played it first and immediately said this one is mine. It is wonderful.
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