Phil Hardy is releasing his 4th version of the Chiefain low D whistle and he has been gracious enough to make one available for us to try. If you’re interested in being part of the tour send me a PM with your mailing address. Should be rolling in about 2 weeks. North America only. Gawd I love these whistle tours !
Getting a lot of interest so I won’t be responding to each PM - when I receive the whistle it will go out east to west, starting with me 
That is great news 
. I am looking forwrd to trying the Chieftain V-4.
Thank you for putting this tour together.
PM sent.
The new V-4 should be on the way soon and Phil Hardy is enclosing an Optima also, still some time to sign up if you haven’t - PM me.
Wow that sounds great!
I’m looking forward to it!
Richard
Phil just posted his new V4 video on his website:
http://www.kerrywhistles.com/movie.php?groupID=46
Scroll down to the bottom (tab on the right side) to see the V4 video-it’s the last one. Might have some new interest in the tour after seeing this one-good job Phil! He plays some other whistles in comparison too, which are interesting to hear as well.
Thanks for posting Mr. spiderweb 
It has really been a luxury having this many tour whistles out in the U.S. First the Reyburn, next the Bracker high and low D, and now Phil’s new offering. It is interesting that he has tamed his whistles a bit and compares them to other louder, brighter whistles. Some people would consider a louder, brighter whistle a plus at the session but his new design does have a lot of appeal to the person who wants a easier, more responsive whistle, with a consistent breath pressure. Just saying what I heard on the press release. Phil must be pretty proud of it if he is willing to send it on a tour. Must be good!
Can’t waite!
Thanks to Retired and Phil Hardy!!
Well Phil gives the Low D (with maple head) I haven’t made for years a plug. Too bad he hasn’t seen my latest… he’d be singing a different tune.
Yep, I’d take either of them in preference to the Chieftain!
Think Phil’s somewhat manipulatively blowing/describing the Reyburn (which I’ve not tried) and MK (which I have) for the V4-favourable impression he wants to give, and have to say I just can’t support his assessment of the MK there from the ones I’ve tried/heard!
Say what you will, but until you’ve played a whistle for yourself, you really don’t know how you will relate to it. It’s also difficult to tell what tone it will have (to your ears), either.
It does seem from his video though, that Phil has made a new version of his low whistle that has easier access to the upper register (at a lower volume level), and requires less breath to play. I don’t know if it’s for me either, but that’s why I signed up for the tour-to find out. It sure sounds pretty nice with Phil playing it!
Is Phil making a sales pitch for his new whistle? Sure he is-it’s his dime; he’s not Consumer Reports-so he’s advertising a product he’s invested in, just like most business people would, who have the ability to do advertising-and he does. What you take away from it is up to you.
I find him entertaining and instructive, and even if he is a bit slanted to his own benefit, I’ve learned some good things along the way from watching and hearing him play in his videos-and I’m grateful for it. And for the whistles of his that I have enjoyed too.
After watching that video, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I have a Optima right now, but this sounds like exactly what I want in a whistle. I’ve learned much over the short time I’ve been playing… I have better volume control, I’ve learned that I can bring the volume of the upper octave down a bit, and raise the volume of the lower octave, and I’ve been working on half-holing to get in extra notes that I want. Some of those notes just sound awful though, and I wouldn’t want to play them but in passing.
I think maybe this can help with a few of the issues I’ve been struggling with, with the scalloped holes and ‘restricted’ wind way, however that is done. How long before the tour officially begins? I need to get in as much practice as possible now to take full advantage.
I think that Mr Reyburn and Mr Duggan have missed the point Phil is trying to make. From what I understand from the video, he states quite clearly that both Reyburn and MK whistles are good whistles yet they lack a certain amount of response which does come across in the video. I have not played a Reyburn but have an MK which, I have to agree, does lack subtlety in tone and is very loud. I would not use this whistle in the house after dark for fear of having a knock at the door from unhappy neighbours.
wiz
I don’t think I’ve missed anything.
From what I understand from the video, he states quite clearly that both Reyburn and MK whistles are good whistles
Yep, I understand that too.
yet they lack a certain amount of response which does come across in the video.
But I’m suggesting he’s (at least partly) making them play like that for his own purposes.
I have not played a Reyburn
Me neither.
but have an MK which, I have to agree, does lack subtlety in tone and is very loud.
But I’ve tried the MK and, having also just spent a weekend in the company of folk playing (amongst other things) three different MKs at varying dynamic levels, find myself struggling to reconcile that assessment with my own.
So afraid I remain deeply suspicious of the comparisons Phil’s presenting there. If others prefer to get excited about his uniquely mellifluous, easy-play low Ds (something last seen with the Optima?), so be it and let’s hope you get what you want!
I think Phil does make a good video, he’s in the business of selling whistles.
He uses the small church for his recordings which give a lot of natural reverb,
I’d much prefer he stuck to his studio and lose the reverb.
I hope the V4 is better than the V3, yes personal experience, tried two. Stuck with my NR.
I agree with others who say he’s playing the whistles to the V4’s advantage
but disagree with the MK’s poor or should I say easy to over blow bottom D.
My Mk is probably not the whistle for playing late in the evening at home
but like last night when I was with our band consisting of three melodeons
a fiddle and a drum I needed something with a bit of guts.
Horses for courses.
It’ll be interesting to hear an unbiased view.
Well, those of us on the tour will get a first hand account of what it can do. We’ll have to wait and see!
Well, I’ve joined the tour for the V4 just out of curiosity. I have owned all the other low whistles Phil has made at one time or another (sold or traded them all way except for the Gold), and I have both a new MK (my third try) and a maple head/brass older Reyburn as shown in Phil’s video. I agree with the general assessment that the MK tends to be loud and has a less than desirable bell note. Although my new one has a better bell note it’s still not a Goldie or Burke in that respect. I’m keeping it though. I also agree that the maple head Reyburn is not as responsive as it could be yet offers a really nice bell note, although the new Reyburn’s seem to be excellent according to those I’ve spoken to who are playing them now. I’ll be in Ronaldo’s shop in December so I’ll have a first hand opportunity to play with a few and choose a really nice one hopefully.
However, I don’t consider those playability issues to be weaknesses as much as idiosyncrasies. Every whistle I own has idiosyncrasies. So what? Yes, even my beloved brass head/silver body Sindt D has a couple of issues, though it is far and away my favorite (and I bought it when they were a bargain). Unless there are serious tuning or other issues that can’t be corrected by breath or fingering, I find that the whistles I’ve kept all offer one or more benefits over the others, which makes them more interesting on suited particularly to certain tunes or styles. To me that’s valuable.
So, I’ll try Phil’s V4 low D on the tour and provide the best review I can muster afterward. Let the tour begin!
ecohawk
Well the whistles have arrived and I’ll be sending them out on Monday to the first two members - there are so many people signed up that it’s been decided to split the two so each member will only have to wait half as long. Phil has asked that you do not take the whistles apart - tuning them in the normal way- no problem. Please send the whistle along to the next member within 5 days after receiving it - As of now, the last member will be receiving it in about 3 month - thanks in advance for your cooperation - Enjoy.
Is the tour still open?
You’re in.