I’ve been trying to read up on these two brands a bit. These have similar looks, similar prices, and from what I’ve read both are be described as having a traditional Generation-type sound. So, does anyone have experience with both that could tell me what the differences are? It looks like the Black Diamond has more back pressure, but I can’t find too much beyond that.
I’m looking specifically for differences in tone and breath requirements.
Thanks in advance!
I have had two Humphreys and one Syn whistle (but not the Black Diamond model) So I can’t comment on the Black Diamond. I can tell you that the Humphrey is a very nice whistle indeed. Frankly, I don’t see how a comparison could be made with Generations outside of the fact that they are both tubes with holes and a fipple on one end. The Humphreys had a tone which was purer the any of the dozen or so Generations that I have had. Yet the tone still had a trace of chiff which made the sound interesting. Also the tone was as “clean” from the bell note right on up the scale. I had the session bore and still have the narrow (traditional) bore. The sound on the wide bore was a bit more resonant and somewhat louder than the narrow bore. The narrow bore has a slightly easier to control upper octave. Although the wide bore is almost as easy too. On both, the amount of back pressure required was low to medium. Ie. - not as free blowing as a Dixon nor as ‘resistant’ as a Syn.
The tuning on both were right on as was the overall machining quality. I will have to leave it to someone else to comment on the Black Diamond…
I’ve not played a Humphrey–though I’d love to try one–but I do have a Black Diamond.
The BD has a very complex sound and is pretty stiff in terms of backpressure and how hard you have to blow. In particular, the BD drops easily back to the first octave unless you keep good support in the second octave.
It’s a great whistle but it is one that takes some getting used to. Because of the backpressure, it doesn’t feel anything like playing a Generation, for instance.
The BD is a medium-loud whistle and does have good balance between the octaves. Intonation is good, and the whistle is pretty nimble.
I thought I had a recording of the BD…but I can’t find it, so I’ll try to do a recording of it and get it posted later so you can hear the whistle.
–James
Ok, I found it.
I did a review of the Black Diamond here.
And here is a jig played first on the Syn and then on the Black Diamond.
http://www.flutesite.com/comparison/syn_bd_favorite.mp3
This was recorded a couple of years ago, so I’m not saying I would play it exactly the same way now…but at least it’s a pretty decent recording as far as the whistles sounding pretty much like they really do.
–James
Thanks for the info! That does clear things up a bit. It sounds like the Humphrey would be more to my tastes.
It’s difficult to describe in words what the ‘Generation’ sound is, but there seems to be a commonality in most whistles with thin walled brass bodies. You would probably need to look at a lot of frequency analysis charts to be able to detect a particular set of overtone relationships that are enhanced by the resonances of the whistle material.
Anyway, you can hear the difference. I voice up my Syns the same as the BD’s and you can certainly hear the variance there with one of the main differences being the material of the body.
I’ve never played one of Mr Humphreys whistles so I can’t comment there, but BD’s are certainly built with lots of backpressure to suit players who prefer that style of whistle with the generation edge but with different response characteristics.