Big Ol' Alba low Bb!

Whistle
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Yesterday, a big addition to my whistle arsenal arrived from Scotland… a tuneable Alba low Bb, with an extra barrel in low C. Since Dale’s review of the re-designed Alba low D, I’ve been contemplating one, and the low Bb was the one I decided on.

The whistle is beautiful, clad all in aluminum with its graceful headstock. It’s also big, but I was surprized at how playable it is - a little more stretch than a low C, but still reachable for my medium-large hands. Stacey gave the holes a slight offset, and that helps a lot! :slight_smile:

The sound is quite large and pretty loud - this is not a subtle whistle… It’s what I would describe as a “round” sound, smooth and full, with a bit of chiff. My wife, Vicki, said it sounded “low and dark” when compared with my Kerry low C (not Kerry Pro) and a bit louder. Her comment was, “if you use it with singers, you won’t need a mic…”

I don’t have any metal low whistles to compare it to other than my Kerrys, so I don’t know how it rates on the “cosmic drainpipe” scale. I also listened to it along with my Dixon low C and D and my Hoover low D. Bottom line - a big, round, smooth sound that I really like.

The tuning is nice, and the finish is lovely. Overall, it’s a great whistle (again, to my ears). And, what can I say? Vicki likes it. :slight_smile: If my wife likes the sound, that’s good enough for me :wink: Thanks, Stacey - it’s a wonderful whistle (actually 2 whistles with the low C barrel), and it won’t be the last Alba I buy.

Cal Olson
Production Manager
His Kids Radio
An outreach ministry of
Cornerstone University
http://www.hiskidsradio.net

[ This Message was edited by: tubafor on 2002-11-01 04:51 ]

[ This Message was edited by: tubafor on 2002-11-01 04:53 ]

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Enjoy your new whistle, tubafor!

And you say it won’t be the last Alba you buy? I have an Alba soprano D which I think is a strong, assertive, outstanding instrument!

~Larry

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Thanks for the info!
Funny–I just inquired with Stacey O’Gorman about the reach of her low Bb.

I have an Alba old design low D, and I appreciate the small, easy holes. Note that the tuning is dead-on, and that the tuning slide allow me to play at the pretty low room temperatures common here (Brittany has a perfect reproduction of Irish climate…).
I also like its very stable, round, bell note, where my other metal low whistles ask for much more breath control to avoid a nasty buzz.

Now what you say of it being loud may be an advantage of the new design. Mine is quiet, but well-balanced so 2nd octave doesn’t get shrill. You get there smoothly, too. It needs more breath than the thin-duct, high back pressure whistles I know (Overton, Kerry). It may be too easy-blowing, but how curing this would affect the balance ?.

How is the wind requirement of yours ? Does it keep this wind-drone characteristic (charismatic ?) voice of former Albas ?

BbZH

[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-01 05:44 ]

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B.t.w. could you post a photo so we can see how the holes are offset ?

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On 2002-11-01 04:50, tubafor wrote:

Since Dale’s review of the re-designed Alba low D, I’ve been contemplating one

Cal,

Can you tell me where to find this review - was it in one of the recent newletters? The only review of Dale’s that I see in the main website low whistle section is of the older Alba Low D with the rings turned into the body. I’d be interested in reading the Dale’s review of the new design.

I’m looking forward to trying out the one Stacey has dropped in the mail for me.

Thanks,

Loren

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Dale mentions the re-design in the August 3rd Newsletter. :slight_smile:

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Thanks, much appreciated!

Loren

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Albas are the worst blurdy whistles I ever shaw !

They look like recorders, except recorders don’t look like pewter !

Or smell like lead !

I never met an Alba I did like ! (Lincoln)

A good Alba is a dead un. (Custer)

I shall return my Alba ! (McArthur)

They don’t sound like Marilyn, but like Betty Boop from a pre-1940 record played at 33 rpm instead of 78, on a beaten Soviet pre-Brejnev garglophone !

They’ve been designed on a PC!

Can you quote ONE other whistle designed by a womon ? (edited as attempt to be North-Calif. PC)

Originally, blonde jokes were about Alba whistles.

Who needs a cute looking whistle, when you can get a real male low whistle, with tough miltaro-industrial Soviet looks ?

If you thought haggis was the worst of Scotland, try an Alba!

Laverdas never saw the front end of a Beemer. Laverdas have Japanese speedometers, which proves Albas are made from Japaneez rice-cookers rejected by quality control!

(Help! Who’s got a script of all the insults from that crazy Frenchie up the wall in Mounty Python’s Holy Grail ? This woul save us time–it’s all about Albians)

Er, have you been to Sweden ?

BbZH

[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-02 09:23 ]

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Whizz, you don’t need to send a whistle to Loren to change his opinion : you read it, he’s almost sold.
Now, I’m even meaner, ruder, way more opinionated, and mucho more negative! I even have a Phil Read replica helmet, with the Union jack up front, see?
So I deserve the worst : I hate so much your whistles you need to send me one so I have to endure it every day.

P.S. Can you throw in an extra tube, so I suffer in stereo ?

P.P.S. Knowing of your nation’s reputation, should I stress postage to France is cheaper, too ?

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Low Bb? The tuba of whistles. Congratulations on your obviously enviable lung power.

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I have an Overton BASS A. It’s awesome!
Chris

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Chris, is it that black anodized A I saw ? Yes, awesome.

  1. Do you need–like Colin–to turn your face to the left to get the right hand reach ?
  2. Did you need gloves when playing softball ?

I’m still working hard on getting that 2nd hole covered, and I have only the C…

BbZH

[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-02 13:34 ]

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Alba whistles are some of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. This thread makes me want to stick a fipple in the dijeridu my buds in Adelaide sent me! :slight_smile:
Cheers,
Bill Whedon

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On 2002-11-02 12:45, Chuck_Clark wrote:
Low Bb? The tuba of whistles. Congratulations on your obviously enviable lung power.

Uh-uh. I know quite a few D and even F whistles which require more lungs than some well-designed contrabass. True, my only experience in this realm is an Overton big bore C. Some will say I could have found worse, and I agree. The problem I hit is the fingering (right hand, in my case) not the pump.
This whistle is really loud (except at bell note), but the back pressure gives it high gas mileage.

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On 2002-11-02 09:07, Zubivka wrote:
Albas are the worst blurdy whistles I ever shaw !

They look like recorders, except recorders don’t look like pewter !

Or smell like lead !

I never met an Alba I did like ! (Lincoln)

A good Alba is a dead un. (Custer)

I shall return my Alba ! (McArthur)

They don’t sound like Marilyn, but like Betty Boop from a pre-1940 record played at 33 rpm instead of 78, on a beaten Soviet pre-Brejnev garglophone !

They’ve been designed on a PC!

Can you quote ONE other whistle designed by a womon ? (edited as attempt to be North-Calif. PC)

Originally, blonde jokes were about Alba whistles.

Who needs a cute looking whistle, when you can get a real male low whistle, with tough miltaro-industrial Soviet looks ?

If you thought haggis was the worst of Scotland, try an Alba!

Laverdas never saw the front end of a Beemer. Laverdas have Japanese speedometers, which proves Albas are made from Japaneez rice-cookers rejected by quality control!

(Help! Who’s got a script of all the insults from that crazy Frenchie up the wall in Mounty Python’s Holy Grail ? This woul save us time–it’s all about Albians)

Er, have you been to Sweden ?

BbZH

[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-02 09:23 ]

Nice try Paul, But Beemers still suck and Laverda’s Rule. After all the frame was a Nico baker design,so voor spoowrong yer dork tecnic.
Maybe you should try the old smoothy tack.:roll:
Wizzy

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On 2002-11-03 14:08, wizzy wrote:
Nice try Paul, But Beemers still suck and Laverda’s Rule. After all the frame was a Nico baker design,so voor spoowrong yer dork tecnic.
Maybe you should try the old smoothy tack.:roll:
Wizzy

Nice try ? I’d say “Touché”! You don’t mind the rice cookerz, the hell with haggis, but don’t step on your blue suede twin…
This pintless feud will have to be washed down at Ballaugh Bridge.

Paul (uncloaked)

[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-11-03 21:42 ]

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On 2002-11-03 21:39, Zubivka wrote:

On 2002-11-03 14:08, wizzy wrote:
Nice try Paul, But Beemers still suck and Laverda’s Rule. After all the frame was a Nico baker design,so voor spoowrong yer dork tecnic.
Maybe you should try the old smoothy tack.:roll:
Wizzy

Nice try ? I’d say “Touché”! You don’t mind the rice cookerz, the hell with haggis, but don’t step on your blue suede twin…
This pintless feud will have to be washed down at Ballaugh Bridge.

Paul (uncloaked)

NA! Yhe Railway Inn
Wizz

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If you thought haggis was the worst of Scotland, try an Alba!

What if one actually likes haggis…? :slight_smile:

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On 2002-11-04 04:51, Jens_Hoppe wrote:
What if one actually likes haggis…? > :slight_smile:

Jens, there were huge billboards all over UK, a score years ago, for a whisky ad :

HAIG, BEAUTIFUL WITH HAGGIS \ \ \ \ \ \ \ even better without

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Hmm, I think I will stick with a good single malt and haggis, rather than Haig whisky by itself. :slight_smile:

Nice ad, though!