I’ve been searching the forum, but haven’t been able to find a comparison between the Bleazey and current Sweetheart low d whistles. I know they’re both fine makers, so maybe the response is just try it and see what you like, but I can’t try them, so I wonder if anyone has played both and would share their opinions. I have a Bleazey high d in blackwood that is very nice. But the Sweetheart is a bit less expensive (and like others on the forum, my spouse is putting the breaks on…) Basically, I have some nice low d’s (Goldie, Howard, Shaw), but would like a wooden one, since the sound of the wooden high whistle is so different from the others. So other recommendations as to good low d wooden whistles would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jay
I’ve played 2 different Sweetheart Low-Ds, a few years apart. They’re lovely. Wish I had the $.
On one occasion I stood in a whistle-store for a long time and tried about 10 different Low-D brands. The Sweetheart was hands-down the most flute-like, with a voice quite different from all the rest.
I’ve never played a Bleazey but would love to try one at some point. One idea: check the layout of the toneholes between the two: not absolute location, but proportions relative to each other.
trill
I haven’t played a Bleazey, but I LOVE my Sweetheart in Dymondwood. Sold a Copeland to buy it, if that tells you anything. It simply does everything that I want a low D to do. It’s the easiest fingering low D I’ve ever tried too.
Never played a Bleazey but I have a Sweetheart low D in rosewood and it’s wonderful. Easy playing with a unique deep, flute-like tone and good volume. Beautiful workmanship.
I know it’s not really fair to judge a make of whistle from one example, and I see above that others have played some nice Sweetheart Low D’s, but at a shop a year or two ago I tried I Sweetheart Low D whistle/flute combo and it didn’t play well with either head. The low E (typically the Achilles’ Heel of Low D whistles) was feeble. Sweetheart flutes have a well deserved reputations for strong bottom D’s but this combo had a subpar bottom D.
The Bleazey is very quiet. It has a nice rich woody sound, not unlike a flute. The grip is the easiest grip I have ever played on a low whistle, but it was just too quiet for me.
I have a Bleazey Low D in damson wood. My level of expertise does not justify such a nice whistle, but I thought it a better way to spend a small bequest than frittering it away on food or fuel.
I too tried to decide between a Sweetheart and a Bleazey (I wanted a tapered bore wooden whistle). I had no opportunity to try either, so chose the latter as I live in the same country as the maker.
To me the Bleazey does not sound particularly quiet compared to my Overton, but that may be the way I play it. When pushed slightly it gets a rather nice ‘edge’ on the sweet tone.
From the moment I first played the Bleazey I though ‘this is my whistle’. I have had it for two or three months and have rarely played my other whistles. It has such a nice sound that it is hard to put down, and my pleasure in playing it is immense. Such dedicated ‘monogamy’ has nudged my playing on a little…
I was surprised by the strength of the low notes, as I had assumed a weak low D and E would be a consequence of the taper. In fact my main difficulty is the strength of the low D, E, and even F. When playing fast (or fast for me) I find it hard to hit the second octave notes without overblowing to the second harmonic. This is almost certainly my lack of skill, but just might be a fault that Phil can fix when the whistle goes back for revoicing.
The fingering chart shows cross-fingerings for the second Cnat, C#, and third D that are easy to blow, pleasant, and (to my untrained ear) spot-on.
I cannot imagine being without this whistle. The only reason for needing another would be to hit that damned Eb/D# in Cape Clear… the Bleazey has small tone holes I cant seem to half hole B3.
I hope that helps with your choice. Alternately, buy a Sweetheart, send it to me, and I will do a back-to-back comparison 
Phill