Cheap whistle recommendations wanted

Whistle
1

I, know, I know, I posted the very pitiful plaint about having WhOa, but I just can’t help myself.

I’m looking to buy some more cheapies (several at a time to save on shipping), and I’m looking at these. Help me pick three of the five, please! :smiley:
In no particular order of preference: Acorn, Clarke, Feadog, Oak, Walton’s Little Black Whistle. All of these are untweaked. I’ll get the tweaked versions later.

Thank you to all.

With best regards,

Steve Mack

Or, if you have some suggestions that aren’t on the list, feel free. :slight_smile:

2

I’d stay away from Acorn, I have a Feadog and it’s a pretty good whistle. I tried an Oak and it’s not bad either. Depends if you like the more chiffy traditional sound of the Feadog over the Oak. Many sample clips at clips and snips.

3

The recent Oak and Acorn I’ve bought seem to have the exact same fipple (they’re made by the same company), the Oak has a thicker nickel plated tube, the Acorn has a thinner brass tube. I think this fipple sounds better on the nickel plated tube, so I’d buy the Oak and not the Acorn. (You’ll probably find fanatics of each of the five whistles answering this thread, so good luck trying to figure out which ones to get.)

4

Feadog, Clarke, and Oak would be my picks.

5

I love Feadog. That was my first whistle (I’m told it’s not a beginner’s whistle , and I did have a lot of trouble with it at first, but hey). It has a Generation-like tone, but… I dunno, tougher? That’s the word that comes to mind.

I’ve played my friend’s Oak, and didn’t like it nearly as much as Feadog or Generation, though it wasn’t bad per se. I remember the second octave being weak and “blurry”.

Waltons.. I have an Walton’s Mellow C, and I like it; it has an odd timbre, but it has its place. It’s nice. I’m guessing the Little Black is nice too.

6

Feadog or Clare 2 piece. :smiley:

7

Clark Original, Feadog, and the Oak. It’ll give you a nice range of sounds.

8

Oh, yeah! A Clarke Original. :slight_smile:

9

I’d get three feadogs.

10

Oak.

11

Or Feadog Pro

12

I’d get the Feadog for sure. When you first play it, you’ll hate it. Once you figure out the breath control, you’ll love it. And you will have learned something in the process. IMHO.

13

I’ve heard too many negative comments about the Acorn.

Of the ones you have up there, I’d also say Oak, Feadog, and Clarke. They’ll give you three completely different sounds.

I’m not sure if you mean the Clarke Original or the Sweetone, but I’m assuming you mean Original. It will probably need to have the windway flattened a bit. It will take a LOT of air stock - expect to run out of breath. It has a nice mellow, flute-like tone. It’s also a little odd in the mouth because of the flat angled wooden fipple. It has a very different sound than the Feadog/Generation camp.

The Feadog has much more bite. It’s got a tone similar to a Generation, but a little huskier. It’s a little harder to play stock. It takes a little better breath control, so you may get some squeaks and squawks in the beginning. I’d suggest the blu-tac tweak for this one. The tone is great though, and it gets easier to play with the tweak and some experience.

The Oak is more sweet/pure and quiet. A lot of people say they don’t like it, and many others love it. I think that many of the folks that don’t like it haven’t spent enough time with it. It doesn’t take much breath. If you give it too much air, it doesn’t sound as nice. However, if you get “In the Zone” with it, it’s a very nice whistle. Also with the triple nickel coating, it’s a little heavier and more substantial feeling. In addition, I think it’s got the best intonation of the cheapies I have. When I got my Hoover Whitecap, I bought a second Oak to put it on - very nice whistle. :slight_smile:

Another option is a Clare. I ordered a brass one but The Whistle Shop was out, so Thom sent me nickel. Frankly, it has a small dent in it, and looks a little cheap because it has no sticker or any kind of identifying marks. However, it’s got a really nice tone and is easy to play. I think the intonation is off a bit on mine, but I haven’t checked to see if the tone holes might need some cleaning. I think the price may be a bit high on the nickel Clare, but if the brass one has a similar sound and playability, you might consider it as well.

But if you are only getting three, I’d say Oak, Feadog, and Clarke Original - just for the differences in tone and playability.

Jason

14

IMO, the Walton’s have the best sound of all the cheap brands. They’re not too loud, but not so soft, and play with just the right amount of clarity. I prefer the nickel Walton’s to the brass ones for two reasons: first, I’ve come across about 5 brass Walton’s, and they were in poor condition (But New, Never Used). The laquer, or whatever they use to cover the brass pools and drizzles along the whistle, making for an unproffessional look. Secondly, they have an odd chiff. Its not like most whistles, just odd and uncomfortable. IF you’re looking for chiff, might I suggest a Clare Nickel D?

Hope this helps!
:thumbsup:

15

Can’t go wrong with a Clark Sweetone or Meg IMO.

16

Feadog, Generation, and Oak. A good choice would be a Feadog brass, a Feadog nickel, and a Feadog Pro. You can order them direct from Feadog.

You will find people who like all of these. Of these I don’t care for the Clarke original, the Sweetone or the Meg. If you go with Waltons get a Mellow D.

You pays your money and you takes yor chances. Besides sooner or later you will own all of them.

Ron

17

I just posted a thread “Guido Gonzato”. Check it out for info on his low cost whistles.

18

I have an original Clark, Feadog, Shaw, Dixon, Generation and a Sweetone. Thay are all good in their own ways but…

the Sweetone is my favorite.

Pat

19

My first was a Clarke original. Can’t go wrong with one of those. The Generations can be a little tricky for a first time instrument. The sweetone is a really nice compromise between the two, and is my favorite at this moment.

20

You probably have enough replies by now, but…
I bought a Walton’s little black whistle, and it was so pathetic it ended up in the trash (and I don’t throw a whistle away lightly). Imagine a wasp in a tin can…
The Clarke original is the best cheapie whistle (I would have said Sweetone before, but the toyish sound is getting to me). Take your thumbnail and push the windway down a bit right above the end of the wooden fipple (the part farthest from your lips). Presto! A beautiful focused sound that takes a bit more air than the modern whistles but easy to get used to. And that wonderful, fluty sound…