Copper vs Brass Preference?

Whistle
1

I was interested to see that in a recent thread,

(http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?=33350&sid=c07b05aabe864163afe994ffc232660e)

brass was prefered over aluminum. I wonder now what the prevailing opinion would be for Copper vs Brass whistles. Let’s confine the opinion to soprano whistles.

Thanks,
Oreo

2

I do not prefer either. They both leave a nasty taste in my mouth and smell on my fingers. Coatings wear off, but nickle plated would be better.

3

If I had to choose between copper and brass, I’d choose copper. Brass smells so sour to me but a lot of people don’t notice the smell at all.

That said, plastic, nickel, or wood is my favorite whistle material.

4

Brass first for me. There seems to be a slight difference in sound. Copper is ok (my water runs through enough copper pipes that I don’t really notice the taste), but I think brass sounds a little better in my opinion.

Of course, I like both more than Al (don’t make me try to spell it).

5

I much prefer brass to copper. Between brass and aluminum it doesn’t matter. I have never noticed any taste or smell associated with either brass or aluminum. I do get an unpleasant sensation with copper. I also like the nickel plated brass tubes. I have never been convinced one way or another that there is a difference in sound between the materials. I think head design is more important than materials.

Ron

6

Brass, I hate the way copper looks when it tarnishes.

7

Add another vote to the brass over copper list. Brass (for me) has no ‘taste’ – copper leaves a distasteful flavor on my lips. Copper seems to have a warmer tone than brass, possibly because it’s generally heavier. That would usually give it my vote – but I can’t get pass the taste.

Judy

8

If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the brass. Normally I would go with aluminum, plastic , or nickel plated brass.

9

From the point of view of a whistle maker, I prefer copper, for two reasons:

  1. Copper has no lead content, whereas even the brass used in plumbing fixtures can have up to 8 or 10%.

  2. As mentioned already, copper being softer and heavier, gives a mellower tone to a whistle.

10

I prefer Copper AND Brass …the tune that is.

Clark