Blue Tack Tweaks

Whistle
1

I’ve been using blue tack for a while now on my whistles to help change the tone and make them behave better, depending on where and how you form it and place the blue tack.

I started by forming a shield around the top and sides of the window, like a Copeland is made, and it seems to help the low end quite a bit on the low whistles. But, you need to place it just so, or it will cut off the low end (not too close to the top of the window). You can vary it enough that sometimes you get a totally different sound from the whistle.

In high d’s I’ve found it works best if you place the blue tack on the blade at the bottom of the window, in a tongue shape, with some space on either side (not full window width), and thinner near the window, and tapering as a wedge to fatter farther away from the window. Move it back and forth to get the right spot, and the width will affect the tone too. It will even out a too strong top end, and make it pleasant to play again.

I just discovered how well it works on an old style Sweetheart (where the upper end is too loud for me)-now I wish I hadn’t sold it! Oh well, hope it helps you too-you may just decide you can keep your whistle you didn’t care for before.

2

I’ve been experimenting with window walls, too. I’ve found that with a big wall the lower notes became much stronger, but at the same time the second octave became more touchy and required more breath… it seems to affect the cutoff frequency I guess… just like making a taller window or a bigger soundhole…

Didn’t try using the blutac to change the blade angle, but sounds interesting!

3

I have done experiments in the same manner with good results. I use non hardning clay. Like the sticky tac it gives immediate results and no waiting for it to dry. It is not permanent but something can used for that once a shape has been found desiable. It has given me knowdgle of making fipples from cpvc without having to make and remake, and end with a small pile of unuseable fipples.

4

I have found that sometimes just a piece of blue tack (either a roll, or formed like a wall) at the top of the window, with no side walls works better on some whistles.