I’m an “old” musician but a newbie whistler. (Umm…I have already aquired 6 whistles - WhOA!) My 2 absolute favorites (Burkes) make my lips chapped! The mouthpeice seems to “leak” moisture around the seam in the delrin (not between the delrin and the metal) as I whistle. My others don’t so that. So:
is it me?
what can I do about it?
If it’s a function of the way Mike builds his whistles, just tell me what kind of chap-stick to use, 'cause I will continue to play these far more than my others (Clarkes and Susatos)
Hi and welcome! This may not be what others do, but I have a couple of Burkes, and between songs I just cover the windway with my finger and blow hard. The “moisture” that bubbles out, I just wipe off, and I do it until no more comes out. Usually takes a couple puffs. I don’t know or care why they do this, I LOVE how they sound! Mary
Hi Kep! I have a brass, a composite and two aluminums, and they all do this. Between sets I seal my mouth around the bottom of the windway where the moisture is and inhale sharply, then dab…I don’t think it affects the sound at all if I left it there, but I like to get it out.
Another way to remove moisture from the windway of a whistle is to use blotter paper.
If you go to an art/office supply store you can pick up a piece of blotter paper (like they use for caligraphy or used to be used on desks). Cut the paper in to strips about 1/4th inch wide and 4-8 inches long. Its stiff enough to work the the windway and absorbent enought to remove any droplets of moisture. I’ve used this on my Overton Low-D on a number of occasions with success.