Converting Generation Bb to B

[tommykleen]

Is there a simple hack for upscaling (if you will) a Bb whistle to play in B?

Thanks,
tommykleen

[NicoMoreno]

Yes, Bill Haneman wrote about it in the uilleann pipe forum, and I did it twice (to the two B whistles I had in tow in October).

You hack off the top of the tube, about an inch (although do it in smaller increments or if you have a B whistle handy to compare, estimate how much to take off that way), then about a centimeter (or less even) off the bottom to bring the bell note into pitch. The rest of the scale somehow falls nicely into tune with no additional work.

Nicest whistles I own, in many ways.

[Feadoggie]

@pancelticpiper on April 12

I have made a Generation B from a B flat, and a Generation C sharp from a C.
In both cases, I not only had to chop the top and the bottom, but also enlarge the two lowest tone holes. The fourth degree on Generations tends to sharpness anyway, so it’s only the two lowest holes that are affected.

This is how I went about it:

1. chop the top until the upper hand notes are in tune to the new target key.
2. chop the bottom until “middle D” (of course the actual note won’t be D) is in tune to the new target key.
3. you will now find that the notes which emit from the two lowest holes are now flat, especially in the second octave. Carve these out to pitch.

The Generation B and C# whistles I made play great.

I also made a Generation low A.

Here’s a photo of all my Generations.
From left to right:
low A
B flat (this whistle sucks)
B (with “inspected by no 9” sticker)
C (with thread binding around cracked top, a fantastic whistle)
C sharp
D
E flat (horrid)
F (execrable)

Note the amount of carving required on the two lowest holes on the B and C sharp. Note also that the “F hole” had to be carved on the C and D as well.

Hope that helps.

[tommykleen]

A good tool to do the hacking? Pipe cutter? Hacksaw?

t

[NicoMoreno]

As the wise men say: Whatever floats your boat, bakes your cake, or pops your balloon.

I used a pipe cutter, although the first cut I mangled and so had to finish the execution with a hacksaw.

[Jerry_Freeman]

I made a prototype tweaked Bnat Generation, and it came out very well. After Christmas, I’ll get back to work and put together a production tweaked Bnat Generation.

I accidentally tossed the prototype into a box of whistles I sent to Paddy Maloney, and I may not be able to retrieve it. If I have to start from scratch and create another prototype, it’ll take a bit longer, but I promise I’ll get it done.

Best wishes,
Jerry

[NicoMoreno]

I think I’d be a bit surprised if you could improve these whistles! The two I made are very nice and sweet, indeed. Perhaps I lucked out on the source Bbs, but since they were bought ~1 year apart and in different countries, without any testing of boxes of whistles, I think they must represent a good sample.