I now have – gasp! – six whistles. Three conical (Clarke Original D, Clarke Celtic D, Clarke Sweetone C) and three cylindrical (Walton’s Little Black D, Generation C, Generation Bb). Noob or not, I can definitely tell that there’s quite radical differences in tone between these whistles. The Clarkes all sound kind of nasal – the Sweetone/Celtic in particular – while the Walton’s and the Gens have a more full and open sound.
I’m wondering if this nasal sound is typical for Clarkes or if it’s something all conical whistles have in common? It would be useful to know, as I really like the sound of my cylindrical whistles more.
As a rough rule of thumb, I’d say the head/fipple contributes maybe 2/3 of the overall tone and timbre, and the tube maybe 1/3 - especially responsiveness, chiff, and (of course) intonation. The head acts as a harmonic noise generator that is then filtered and shaped by the tube and its resonances. So, for example, a Clarke head on a cylindrical tube would probably still sound mostly like a Clarke, but with a slighty different coloration.
I agree about the Hudson Winds. Perhaps a more concentrated, focused, or centered sound, but certainly not nasal. As a very happy owner of one, I have to say it is one of the clearest and purest whistles I have the privilege to play.
