Chieftain V3 Low D out of pitch/tune ?

Whistle
1

I finally received from Hobgoblin Music USA my new Chieftain Low D (non tunable). I like it and I like the sound (fabulous) and the look, but I immediately noticed that it is tuned lower compared to my other D whistles and to my two guitars. I double checked with an electronic tuner, and it is pitched to 425 instead of 440.
I also watched videos of the same whistle in the Kerry web site and on youtube, and I definitely believe that my V3 is not pitched to 440, but quite lower compared to the V3 that I saw in the video clips. I also have The Low Whistle Book and CD and, while I can easily follow the audio clips with my other whistles and be perfectly in tune with the CD, when I play my Chieftain along with the CD I immediately realize that I am a half note down. I also tried to blow it harder, or softer, but I think that the issue is still there.
Second (minor) issue: it clogs quite easily.
Is there any owner of a Chieftain V3 that can advise ? Thanks !

Thanks !

Gerardo Pavone

2

I don’t think you are the first to mention tuning issues with Chieftains, although they usually get talked about behind the scenes. I would try exchanging it; write to Phil Hardy about it.

3

I love my Chieftains (have them in A, G and E) but I would never consider buying a non-tuneable version… of any whistle really.

Since I enjoy playing with others more than playing alone, tuneability is critical.

4

I’ve got a low D V3 non-tunable, but its perfectly @ concert pitch.

I’d contact Hobgoblin and get it exchanged. They’re very good here in the UK.

BS

5

I wrote to Phil Hardy at Kerry whistles and he very kindly replied that all Chieftain Low Ds are slightly flat when they are not warmed up.
Because they are in alloy, they will go to pitch after a few minutes of playing.
I tried it, and the tuning improved, even if id did not reach 100 % the perfect concert pitch. I wonder if other owners of Low whistles in alloy have the same issue with tuning/warming up of their instruments ?
Thanks

6

Yes, it is a classic problem, particularly whistles with the thick walled aluminum tubes. If you do a search you might see how often it comes up.

Feadoggie

7

Hello,

If it’s really not in tune you should exchange it, I’ve had good expiriences returning instruments with hobgoblin-USA.

8

Thank you Bill, Brittany from Hobgoblin kindly offered to replace it.
She will have a new one available this Saturday but she wants first to double check its tuning before shipping it. They really have a great customer service and I recommend this store to anyone.
In his e-mail to me, Phil Hardy says that all Chieftain V3 ar identical and no one has ever been returned because of tuning problems. This confuses me, because on the other hand I heard in this forum about random tuning problems with Chierftain whistles. Who knows who is right ?

9

I have a non-tunable Chieftain A with a similar problem. It’s 20 cents flat, and no amount of warming up fixes that. Just the risk you run when buying a non-tunable manufactured whistle, I guess.

10

I would take that with a grain of salt. If you ask around a bit, I think you will find (as I have) that there are people who have returned Chieftains because of tuning problems, and that they were told by Phil Hardy that no one had ever returned a Chieftain because of tuning problems. This is second hand, of course, since I never owned a Chieftain, and people may have been lying to me. And I don’t know how many, either. I haven’t heard about V3s specifically, so this may be outdated. Phil Hardy used to claim that he checked each whistle by hand before it went out. But I suggest you ask around.