I bought a Dixon One-piece polymer High D, and like it fairly well, in fact, better than before after buying other inexpensive models. I do not yet have the money for a high-end whistle, like a Burke (which I intend to buy someday). I am, however, looking into purchasing a Dixon whistle with a metal body, and am interested in how the different models stack up. There is the Trad (brass or nickel), the Aluminum Tunable, and the Brass Tunable with Tuning slide.
The main drawback to the one-piece polymer model for me is that the D note in the second octave is bit ‘edged’ (feels ‘sharper’ - and not in the usual musical sense of sharp) in a way I don’t care for.
I also am hoping that one of the whistles has a more pure tone in the second octave than the High D polymer one-piece. The one-piece had a sweet tone, but was not very pure.
Do any of the Dixon metal-bodied models match what I’m looking for, and how do they stack up in general? Any information would be much appreciated.
I have a Trad D which is very nice. It has a sweet sound in both octaves. I also have Dixon’s polymer with the tuning slide and it’s nice, too. I think the Trad is a bit sweeter sounding, though; and maybe a little bit cheaper. I got them both through Whistle and Drum.
I have the Dixon tunable aluminum. I don’t know how to describe the sound. It’s mellow and not too loud. It’s got that tubey sound like most low whistles, but it’s not the tubiest tubey sound I’ve heard. It does not play well outside in a slight breeze. I’m surprised how slight a breeze it takes. I wonder if I could shield the windway with a piece of cardstock rubberbanded to it?
I have a lot of Dixon whistles. I really like his work, especially for the price.
one-piece polymer - I agree with you. It’s a little edgy in the 2nd octave. But, it’s not at all plastic-y or squeaky like a Susato. I keep this one in my backpack or car.
tunable polymer w/ brass slide - This one is a nice plastic whistle for a great price. It can still be edgy, but it’s better than the one-piece, and I can get some expressiveness from it.
brass trad - This one is spot-on trad. It’s not edgy but not too mellow either. At US $25, I would call it the pro cheap whistle. It’s tunable, too. If you’re strapped for cash but want a whistle that’s a step above, get this one.
aluminum (new design) - This one is great. I had a chance to try the old model, and I have to say I like the body design of that one better, but this one has the same quality of sound. The tone is very pure, and I can be more expressive with it than I can with the trad. If you have the money, get this one.
low D aluminum (new design) - I have the one one-piece low D polymer to compare with. If you want a starter low whistle, get that one. If you want a really good low D, get this one. It has a wonderful haunting sound. I dare say that if it had an aluminum head, it would sound like a Kerry Pro or an Overton.
I have to agree that were I capable of bringing out the full potential of mine it would indeed have that wonderful haunting sound of the best low whistle playing. I’m not there yet. But the whistle would be if it had a different owner.
Howdy!
This is a tuff decision. I have planned to buy a Dixon trad, but I can’t decide which one. I have only little experience on whistles and there are nothing but basic cheap whistles in the shops here in Finland. I do have a Freeman’s Mellow Dog D, which is brass. I like it a lot, but I wouldn’t like to buy another somewhat similar sounding. I have also nickel Generations which I like. How does the Dixon nickel trads sound compared to G’s? Also, my favorite at the moment is an aluminium one I made myself Should I get an aluminium Dixon? Then I’d have another aluminium, but brobably much better than my self made one.
Where does this lead? For twenty years I managed with Generation C and Eb, now I have bought and made 15 whistles in two months. None of them are expensive, though.
At the classic motorcyle circuits we have a saying: “The winner is the one who has collected biggest amount of stuff (motorcycle corpses, engines, rusty piles of junk etc.) when the time comes.”
Thanks for the information, guys, especially to Thornton Rose for the detailed info. An aluminum tunable C is on its way to me. I took the C over the D because I wanted another key. I hope this won’t affect the comparisons too much.
Should I get an aluminium Dixon? Then I’d have another aluminium, but brobably much better than my self made one.