Now, first off, I know that there is bound to be some variation in tone quality, of Clarke Origs, however, has anyone noticed that the Clarke Orig Unpainted seems to be breathier than the Clarke Orig in the Black and Gold Livery??
Nope… but I do love Clarke originals!!
Chris
Yes’i like Clarkes as well,they make a nice change from the more common ‘Generation’ type cylindrical bore whistle.Apart from their lovely sound(i like a bit of chiff),is the fact that for about £5 stirling, you can have a musical instrument with roots back to 1843, together with all the history/mystique attached to it over the years.
Yep, I love my Clarkes as well. I have three, and they are laughingly called Fred, Bob, and George… 
Clarkes do have a beautiful tone, don’t they? 
~Quellecristwen/Heather
I have an unpainted Clarke original,
which is very pure for a Clarke–
it sounds so nice it compares favorably
with high end whistles. When they
are good, Clarkes are amazing.
I agree w/you there, Jim.
I haven’t noticed any breathiness difference.
I would really love mine if it took a little less air.
That’s what I hear most people say…
It doesn’t bother me at all b/c I have played Saxophone for 6 yrs (and am still playing), and that takes a LOT of air… lol
On 2002-11-13 09:33, Michael Sullivan wrote:
I would really love mine if it took a little less air.
Try narrowing the windway. A firm squeeze with your thumb to flatten the dome shape should work wonders. Check that you haven’t forced the metal away from the sides of the wooden block, and if so, squeeze there or give it a whack with a light hammer.
I’ll try that . . . and hope I don’t mess anything up. Thanks.
I filled the gaps (left and right and bellow the fipple block) with wax, can smear it right in from a burning candle, seals very well.
Oh, and I dip the fipple everynow and then in olive oil. goes well with a basil-tomato-mozarella salad..
Amar
[ This Message was edited by: amar on 2002-11-14 10:38 ]
My first clarke just came in at the music store… OOooo… Yeah the breath requirements where a little higher, but the sound… fantastic.
Btw amar, if you use mineral oil on the fipple block it wont get icky like olive or vegitable oil.
I have a warm fuzzy place in my heart for my old painted C clark. It got caught in a car door late one night, and still plays great, even after the emergency whistlectomy
I once had a beautiful Clarke
Got bent by a door, in the dark
But now it sounds finer
It plays in G minor
And chirps like a high-flying lark
B.
Gawd that’s beautiful, Boyd!
Why thankyou
Boyd, that brought tears to my eyes…
On 2002-11-16 12:35, jeffmiester wrote:
Btw amar, if you use mineral oil on the fipple block it wont get icky like olive or vegitable oil.
I take it this is to keep the breath moisture from ruining the fipple block? And if so, does it work? I’m curious what the long term life of a wooden fippled Clarke is. Do any of you know? Among you, what’s the oldest Clarke that still has the original wooden fipple?
Wow, interesting question! I wonder if anyone knows… It’d sure be cool to find out!
On 2002-11-21 03:55, blackhawk wrote:
what’s the oldest Clarke that still has the original wooden fipple?
The problem is, if the Clarke is one of many whistles, how much has it been played? A friend of mine had a Clarke she took backpacking round the world, and eventually the block fell out, but she admits it could have been glued back in place easily. Also, some people play “moister” than others.
My Clarke D is barely more than a year old, but there are probably Clarkes out there which have had more play in a week than mine has in a year.
We really need to ask people who play only their Clarke, of which there are a few on this board, if they have ever had to replace their whistle due to wear and tear (other than terminal car door incidents).
Generation style whistles can easily last 20 years of regular playing. After a while, though, the plastic of the head can become very brittle, and prone to cracks and dings.
I noticed a while ago that the Feadog III heads are made of a different texture of plastic, and wondered if these might be longer lived.