For a research project, I need a few vintage C Generations. These are the ones with the ridge on top of the beak. If you have such a whistle that you don’t use much and might be willing to part with, I’ll trade you a tweaked Generation in Bb, C, D, Eb, F or high G or a Bluebird in D or Eb.
Thanks!
Best wishes,
Jerry
I agree with that, Peter.
However, I’ve run into an unexpected result that I would like to investigate.
I’ve just finished filling an order for a full set of tweaked nickel Generations. As I was gathering from my stock the six whistles for this, I discovered I’m out of nickel C Generations. Not wanting to delay the order, I searched through my odds and ends of whistles, thinking I’d seen a bluetop C somewhere among them. I found a pre-1980’s C top, which I had dismissed as unremarkable, but was nonetheless the only nickel C top on hand.
Looking it over, I determined that I could refine the surfaces to remove the ridges and mold mark, such that the finished product perfectly resembles a current C top except for a slightly smaller bump on the ramp and a deeper blue color. Having accomplished that, I proceeded to tweak the whistlehead according to my normal scheme.
The result was the best, in my opinion, tweaked C Generation I’ve ever done.
A few weeks ago, when Lunasa played in Rhode Island, I spent some time with Kevin, Cillian and Sean going through and picking out which of my whistles they wanted. (We’d done that a few years ago, but my whistles have improved since then, and I have some new keys available.) Kevin tried the tweaked C Generations I had brought (he’d already selected low G, A, Bb, and D) and commented that the C’s didn’t quite suit the way he plays, and he didn’t think he should take one because he probably wouldn’t use it.
I asked him to describe what he’s looking for, and he said he liked a whistle he could push (meaning it would play cleanly with strong breath pressure). I told him I’d see if I could come up with something, and if so, I’d bring it for him to try when he returns in May with the Teetotalers.
The tweaked nickel C Generation I made using that pre-1980’s bluetop would fit Kevin’s specifications, I believe, and I want to try to duplicate it (and ideally with two or three examples for him to try) in time to bring it to the Teetotalers’ concert.
Hence, my request.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Edited to add, the post I’m responding to disappeared whilst I was composing this one, but I’ll leave this one up, since it provides some background.
Hi Jerry. Does your ability to meet Kevin’s request for a harder-blowing Generation C mean you can tweak a Generation D like that, too? (Although I see he took one of the D’s–does that mean they already allow for a bit more push?)
I love sound of narrow/regular bore whistles, but as a flute player, I prefer the extra puff I can put into the wide-bore Mellow Dog. A Generation that could take a bit more air could be the best of both worlds.
I could do that.
It would have a more reedy, less pure/sweet voicing, more like the current, less like the vintage, off-the-shelf Generations.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Could you post a pic?
Middle one : 1990s, other two mid 1970s.
Earlier I posted that in my opinion there’s not a significant difference in how the old ones play when compared to the newer model. I removed that post because I thought it was not really relevant to the OP but as Jerry responded to it, there you have it.
Hmm, I placed an order for a full set of tweaked nickel Generations not long before you posted this. I’m now even more excited for what the mail will bring (I was already pretty excited). 
If, per chance, I’m the lucky recipient, I wouldn’t mind sending the tweaked C back, if that helps, for the sake a Lunasa. I have no vintage whistles to offer otherwise, however.