Bargain of the week or White Elephant?

Whistle
1

Hello again

In my first post earlier this week I said ‘hello’ and I posted an odd little ‘whistle’ I spotted on Ebay (I spend too much time and MONEY buying things to blow on there) ‘Odd’ whistle was kindly identified MTGURU

Anyway I’ve been on Ebay again and just picked up this whopper for what seems a bargain price:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200541155423&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

LOOK at the size of that lad, seen a clip on Kerry Whistles site of Phil Hardy playing one they’re HUGE

Anybody have experience with these?

Is it ‘Bargain of the week or White Elephant’?

Surprised at the tuning slide, thought these were one piece

‘Review’ to follow when it lands in UK

Hulbert

2

I was going to bid on it, but let it go.

I’d say you got it at a decent price, as according to the website, new Kerry tunable A’s go for about $190’ishUSD

Enjoy! :thumbsup:

3

Sadly I am looking at around $40.00 P&P to UK which makes it slightly less a bargain. Why is post from US so expensive? I sent a Low ‘D’ from UK to NY last month, $15.00 including full insurance cover

Currently unemployed with Xmas looming it isn’t the best time to buy BUT how often do these turn up at this price?

May have to sort through the whistle drawer and have a fundraiser, sure I have a couple of items that are neglected

Thanks for the good wishes

Hulbert

4

They’re probably mailing it priority so they’re able to insure it. I just mailed an Overton low C to Australia (non-priority). I put it in heavy duty 2" PVC piping which could probably handle a car running over it and it only cost me $25 ($30 when I add the cost of the piping and end caps).

5

..Or maybe the shipping charge is where they’re making their profit.

6

No … checked the price myself with USPS as the gent said above the ‘Priority’ option comes at a premium

No complaints though a Low ‘A’ at less than £100.00 Sterling inc P&P is pretty good

I paid nearly £200.00 for a Low ‘D’ that came from 30 miles down the road recently

Hulbert

7

Whenever I buy goodies from the U.S.of A. ,I always try and go for the USPS First Class Mail International option…reasonable prices and (touch wood) I 've not had any dramas…
Looking forward to the Low C’s arrival Jim :slight_smile:

8

It may well be a bargain AND a white elephant!
You may find it very challenging to finger, perhaps even impossible, depending on your hand/finger sizes. You need to use piper’s grip and probably use your right hand pinky finger instead of your ring finger to cover the bottom hole.

9

AT LAST … a comment about the whistle rather than the P&P

(JTC covered that nicely, Weedie has given me useful information for the future, s1mon well not sure about his ‘input’ accusing the Ebay seller of making undue profit on the P&P is a shade cynical I feel OR perhaps he is correct I am being ripped off … everyone knows it only cost pennies to send nearly three feet of heavy aluminium piping across the Atlantic GGGRRRR)

Anyway ‘pinky’ you say, oh dear that may be an issue, I am over 6ft 3in and have proportionally HUGE hands so I hope I will be okay BUT due to a mishap with some sheet metal a few years back I have a lot of VERY inflexible scar tissue on the underside of my right ‘pinky’ it’s near useless frankly (there was talk of amputation at one time)

Can only do my best when it lands, if it’s a no go I’m sure I will at least get my money back if I post on here or Ebay it

Thanks Hans

Hulbert

10

Hi Hulbert

Wait till you get stung for import duty, VAT and Post Office handling charges on top of the rest :frowning:

David

11

You may have to play with your shoes off and “toe” that lowest A

12

Davy: Already taken that into account mate

Paul: I hope not

Hulbert

13

Why is post from US so expensive?

The USPS website does not give you quotes for all options. In fact it looks liek they only quote you for the msot expensive option.

I recently bought a Sindt D from a member of the forum, he quoted me 25 (I think, possibly even more) for postage (US to Ireland), which is what the website suggested. I told him to go to the post-office and post it either as fixed rate airmail or second class. The whistle arrived three days later, the postage was $6.78.

Providing the seller is not trying to pull a fast one on you, tell him to get a quote at the PO and charge you actual cost.

14

IF you need to use the pinky to reach the bottom hole, and IF your right pinky is not up to the job, you could try swapping hands: right for the top and left for the bottom holes! That will exercise your brain quite nicely as well, and you end up being an ambi-dexterous whistle player!

15

Thanks Mr. G but I think we’ve said all we can about the P&P, I’ve already paid the lad $40.00. I got the whistle dirt cheap so if he is making a few bob on the P&P (which I don’t believe he is) good luck to him

Hans: I don’t know about that I used to play Sax/Clarinet and it took me a year to stop rolling my left thumb for the octave key when I first started on whistle, going ‘ambi’ will send me insane I fear

Hulbert

16

DOH!!! I just realized that this is a LOW BASS LOW A (30 inches long), not a mezzo A

So, the above price I mentioned is totally incorrect, as Phil only offers mezzo A’s on the website…
My mistake.

Something like that new would probably be well over $300USD, maybe closer to $400USD

17

Hello Cat

Did wonder about that, $190.00 seemed a little cheap and as far as I know Kerry no longer make Bass whistles

Goldie still has one listed: (inc P&P) 316.54 EUR = 433.073 USD EEEEKK

Even allowing for P&P, duty, VAT etc I think mine is a ‘bargain’ though as Hans said may also be a ‘White Elephant’ if my digits can’t cope with the beast

Hulbert

18

It’s here nine days after leaving US (UK Customs kept it three days or some reason) I had to pay an extra £23.17 (VAT and an £8.00 ‘Clearance Fee’ ?) not bad really all in all £115.00 for a Low ‘A’

A ‘review’ … ?

Seller described as ‘excellent’ I’m afraid not it looks like it’s been used as a tyre iron, scratched along it entire length (some are more gouges) mouthpiece full of gunge, and mildew in the body (odd though the condition of the tone holes indicate it’s had little use, poor storage perhaps?)

Before I dared play it I split it (it’s tunable) and gave the inside a wash, when I turned it upside down the mouthpiece block fell out. Went back in as easily but is this something to worry about?

Tuning slide is metal against metal, was worried about this as these are prone to sticking, needn’t be concerned it’s so loose the top half moves round as you play it and it leaks saliva at the joint (PTFE tape time I think)

Hole spacing, not ‘easy’ by any means (I’ve split the ‘D’ a few times) but not as difficult as I feared

Intonation is pretty good, drifts off a touch at the top (but that may be me needing more time with it)

Tone is divine in both registers, has an almost ethereal quality

Volume is however disappointingly quiet, I don’t know if this is a characteristic of all Bass whistles, or if it’s characteristic of a Chieftain OS (could be both I suppose) never played an OS, I’ve had a Chieftain NS before and a Kerry Pro and they were more than loud enough

Early days yet, I’m off to set about it with some 320g Wet & Dry, then 600g, then a pan scrubber, then Aluminum Polish, will be pristine by tomorrow

Will give you a ‘progress’ report in a week or so

Hulbert