Hi List,
I would like some advice on buying a good D and low D whistle. I am a long time recorder player, but new to the whistle. A friend gave me a Mack in D, (Mack in the name of the maker). It plays in tune well and nice tone, but too soft in the lower register for performance with a band. (Even miked). I bought a Clarke, but it’s junk! I wasted $11.00. Doesn’t play in tune and lousy tone quality. So any suggestions of a strong in tune D and low D? Thanks. Hillrockra
What are you needing in a whistle?
How much do you have to spend?
What are you going to do with it?
Perform?
One of the best whistle shops in
the country is in Illinois–The
Whistle Shop. It’s online, too.
Check ‘buying whistles on the internet’
on the main website. Best
You can get a Dixon or Susato or Water WEasel for a bit more…they should be loud enough. Just wait til I get to IL!!! Gm
PS … I’m playing my Dixon low D with the group and we’re still not talking a lot of money.
Make a joyful noise!
[ This Message was edited by: Grannymouse on 2002-03-05 00:50 ]
I recommend the new VSB sopranino Susatos now without hesitation for players of all levels.
As for a low D, a Dixon is a great instrument for the price.
Just don’t ever pick up an Overton low D… not unless you’re prepared to fall in love and have to buy it! 
I am using my whistle in a worship band at our church. I didn’t know about the Whistle Shop!! Thanks, I’ll have to find it. Is it near Chicago?
Thanks
On 2002-03-05 00:26, jim stone wrote:
What are you needing in a whistle?
How much do you have to spend?
What are you going to do with it?
Perform?One of the best whistle shops in
the country is in Illinois–The
Whistle Shop. It’s online, too.
Check ‘buying whistles on the internet’
on the main website. Best
The whistle shop is in Bloomington (I have no idea if that is anywhere near Chicago?). See The](http://www.thewhistleshop.com/misc/clock/clock.htm%22%3EThe) Whistle Shop
(Edited a typo - I need to learn to touchtype …)
[ This Message was edited by: garycrosby on 2002-03-06 13:14 ]
Hillrocka,
The “Mack” you have is Mack Hoover whistle. They’re a great whistle, sweet sounding, but very quiet. The quietness is intentional. The craftsmanship is very good, and if you get to deal with Mack Hoover himself you’ll find out he’s great to deal with. As for the Clarke, the bad tone quality is probably the "airy"ness of it. That’s more of a traditional tone. Some folks like it, some don’t. As for inexpensive whistles, a Walton’s Little Black, an Oak, or a Walton’s Mellow D are good choices. I still play my Mellow D quite a bit even though I have more expensive whistles. But, the Dixons are causing quite a stir anymore. I don’t have any (yet!), but everyone that has them loves them from what I read on this board. Both the soprano D and the tenor D are getting good reviews, and they are not expensive. You can get a non-tunable low D for $50, and that’s a very good price for a low D. Hope this helps. Take care.
NO. ITs NOT near Chicago. ITS the OTHER illinois. Actually it is pretty much in the center of the state. (and this includes the whole state not just Chicago) ..
Signed
a downstate illinoisian (the OTHER illinois)
No doubt you looked at the C&F reviews on soprano and lw d whistles? Dale has done a splendid job of assempling some great info & if you want to hear some of them, the Clip n" Snips resource is a treasure.
I really like both my Ralph Cook & Dixon Low D’s. They’re reasonably priced, sound good and user friendly. Hands down for me however is my Overton tunable Low D.
For soprano D, my favorite cheapie is the Clare. My favorite soprano overall is a Burke AlPro D and for a little chiffier sound, the Burke WBB. However, I’m in anticipation of a Sindt soprano D that’s currently on order! Like yourself, the reviews of the Dixon soprano D sounds really promising although I have no personal knowledge to render an opinion on that one. Hope this helps!
Before you switch out the whistle, you mentioned that miked the whistle is too quiet, which suprises me, because I am lucky enough to have a Hoover high E, and correctly miked it’s great - very sweet sounding. What mike are you using? Perhaps you can tweak that end instead of switching out whistles… Hoovers are nice whistles.
That said, if you really want to try something else, I use a Dixon D in Church - it’s inexpensive (~$16), and well tuned. For low whistles, the sky is the limit price-wise- your choice depends more on the sound you are looking for if cost is not a huge option.
Richard
Went shopping for whistles last weekend and hit an acoustic store I’d never been into. I knew they had Oak, Walton, and Generation whistles and when I went in and asked to see their whistles, the man said, “I can tell you there’s no difference in them. They’re all the same and who knows where in the world they’re all made.” I asked if he knew he was speaking heresy and he replied that he’d heard that, but he stood by his statement - they’re all the same. So, what if all this “my Clarke..my Susato…my tweaked Sweetone…” is just the microscopic differences between a bunch of almost identical pieces of metal - maybe even made at the same factory? (his belief - not mine - just thought I’d pass on the comments of a supposedly knowledgeable store owner)
Susan