Anybody Else Out There Have the Old Alba Standard

Whistle
1

Years ago I got one of Stacy’s original standard soprano non-tuneable whistles. I found it difficult and requiring a great deal of air, but never sold it as I also found it to be one of the most uniquely beautiful whistles - brushed aluminum, a series of machined cosmetic rings, albanite fipple, etched and blue colored Alba logo, etc. - thick walled like an Overton. Not to mention a very haunting chiffy tone.

Well, I just took it out, and lo and behold, it’s still beautiful and of haunting tone, but really no trouble at all to play. Yes, a bit more air and breath control required (as compared to Burke, Sindt, O’Riordan, Abell, e.g.) especially in the second octave, but rather easily manageable.

So now, it’s like, double not for sale (not that anybody asked, mind you).

Then I pulled out my really old Shaw D, remembering it as requiring a third lung, and it played easy as pie. However, I think I recall Jerry doing me a trial tweak on that one a while back.

Ok, so I finally had a day of repose…

Philo

2

Now I know how I can finally come to grips with the air requirements of the Low Whistle: Put it in storage for a few years!

That approach works for me. Suffice to say, I’m not exactly the hardest working man in show business.

3

Holds true for many instruments. :laughing: It’s amazing how good a ‘bad’ whistle sounds once you actually know a bit about what you’re doing. And I’ve noticed that I also tend to forget some bad habits (certainly not all, to be sure) when I’ve been away from an instrument for a while.

4

I used to have one a couple years ago, but I sold it at some point. Can’t remember why or when, but they are nice whistles and Stacey is a nice lady as well.

5

Sounds a bit like our Bb Alba but it is beginning to come along- it is a wonderful haunting key not quite like a high D but with some of the depth of a low D

6

I enjoy the “middle” keys like Bflat, A, G, but I think all Albas within each key have a unique tonal quality; although I’m always more impressed when I test a bunch of whistles of the same key by recording the same tunes one after the other, how much alike whistles of the same key and player actually sound when played back (as opposed to when you’re playing them). Probably just my tin ear…must be from all that tin whistling.

Philo