My experience with wood whistles is very limited, but the three I have played—Sweetheart Pro D, Syn Ironwood Prototype and Syn Nigerian Tea—all have very little back pressure, just what I find enjoyable to play.
For reference on what I don’t like, I can say the only thing that kept me from buying an Overton high D was the amount of back pressure it had in contrast (higher) to all my other whistles . . . so I made the decision not to open myself up to that type of adjustment.
I realize that better players like back pressure so they have more headroom to lean into and get expressive. And maybe that’s where I need to be, but realistically, I enjoy my Burke DBSBT just fine, and I don’t see myself investing the time I need (right now) to grow enough in my ability to warrant going in that direction.
I would love to hear comments on wood whistles (not already mentioned above) that have low back pressure. Ideally, I would love something leaning more to a flute-like tone, with a darker, rather than brighter sound, that is good for slow air/soundtrack background-type of playing, as opposed to jigs and reels (not that I wouldn’t use it for that too). But I am hoping to find something that plays smoothly through two octaves, without a noticeable jump in volume and a strong bell note. I definitely want something that is uniquely different in sound/tone from my DBSBT . . . so I can justify having “another d”.
I currently need a tunable C whistle with good volume, but if I find the right D/C set, that would make more $$ sense to me. My budget “may” be able to max out around $250, so I may be confined to a used whistle, which is just fine so long as it’s in good condition, no cracks, etc. This depends on my selling my Cillian O’Briain low F . . .
All a matter of personal choice. I personally don’t like backpressure. I find my Copeland to be quite expressive. My Burke WBB (old style) has almost no backpressure and it’s very expressive for airs.
Some of us are backpressure maniacs, some don’t like it. It’s all in what your personal preferences are. Don’t get caught up in thinking otherwise, it will just get in your way.
That said, my Thin Weasel had very little backpressure. My old Sweet wooden had a bit more, but was still low on the backpressure. THat’s all I have to judge on.
The only wooden whistle I own, a Fred Rose, has less backpressure than I thought it would. I mean, it’s not like playing a generation, but it’s not as bad as my susato.
Scheky, my Burke can get expressive, so I know what you mean. I can enjoy playing more with whistles on the low side of back pressure.
Congrats, the Fred Rose is a nice looking whistle, and from what I’ve heard, is a beautiful one at that. I don’t think he makes a C though, and that’s what I’m hoping to find . . . is either a C that I can justify the expense (seeing that I won’t use as much as the D).
I like the looks of the Bleazey, but I hear it has higher back pressure. I would hate to count it “out” if it was within a “tolerable” level (for me).
I’m curious to see what other comments there are.
The other thing I am weighing is the limit of what is “reasonable” for me to spend in consideration of my ability. I know I’m not alone in that respect. One reason I don’t buy a Copeland, is frankly, that I think it’s overkill for me, AND if I were to get noticeably better, I would like to leave something to look forward to—make any sense? So I wouldn’t want to spend more than about $150 on a wood C alone. If I get just a wood D, then I have no money left for a C, so ideally, a wood D/C set for under $250 would be “reasonable” for me.
To tie this conversation into what we have already discussed in email my Bleazey C has just a little bit more backpressure than my Rose D. It is more noticable in the upper second octive (G and up) where you need to make a slight adjustment to breath support.
I read everything you said you were looking for and imo, you described the Greenwood D/C set in Blackwood. I’m pretty sure the price is $290 for a new set.
Sorry, but I’m hanging onto mine.
Loooook into my eyes, you are getting sleepy, sleeeeepy, now when you wake up, you will realize you no longer NEED your Greenwood D/C set, and sell it to Matt for a ridiculously low, low, looow price . . . [snap of the fingers] . . . well Mike? . . . did it work?
Count out the Bleazey if you don’t like Back Pressure. I myself like a fair amount of back pressure. I sold my DASBT after I got my Bleazey and my Sindt D (the C has a very wide bore which I like) might be on its way it has been replaced with a Black Diamond which has a wider bore and more Back Pressure. I would say look at Abells I remember them not having too much back pressure and a great sound but my memory could be scewed.
There is a fair amount of difference in BP between the D and C whistles. Quite noticable actually. My Bleazey C has noticably less BP than the Black Diamond whistles too.
I will be doing some review work with Doc Jones this Friday and will attempt to have him give an impartial estimation on the Bleazey then.
I know I’m not alone in that respect. One reason I don’t buy a Copeland, is frankly, that I think it’s overkill for me, AND if I were to get noticeably better, I would like to leave something to look forward to—make any sense? So I wouldn’t want to spend more than about $150 on a wood C alone. If I get just a wood D, then I have no money left for a C, so ideally, a wood D/C set for under $250 would be “reasonable” for me.
