I’m confused. Did DS ever make a whistle? The guy says:
“This latest low whistle replaces previous models and incorporates what Davy finds are the best attributes of the “all metal type” low whistle and the stability of Davys tunable plastic mouthpiece/hand made metal body
combination.” … (italics added)
Did I miss something? Whatever the case, I don’t want to be on the tour. I’ve lost all interest. Wait, that infers that I at one time had some interest and I never did… Oh well. Whatever.
At that price why bother? For a lot less money you can buy an Overton or an Alba, not only cheaper but a better whistle. For even less money you can buy a passle of other very good low Ds. Why bother? I for one would not take part in the purchase of an $80.00 whistle that sells for $250.00. Just my opinion which counts for little in the greater scheme of things.
BTW this may be a whistle that isn’t included in the statement in my signature line.
There’s a bakery in San Francisco’s Chinatown that specializes in “X-rated” fortune cookies.
My wife tried hard to convince me this was an obviously non-Chinese aberration, since the owners were (AIR) second or third generation Chinese Americans, and hence corrupted by American culture.
I told her “You say that like it’s a bad thing”. She hit me. But she was laughing when she did it.
Phil’s statement notwithstanding, I feel obliged to note that two out of three of the times I have gotten email from Davy Spillane, he has asserted that he has made his own pipes & whistles for 25 years. He asserts this strongly. And as recently as, oh, today.
I don’t doubt for a minute that Spillane has made whistles (I am also inclined to think that he has been playing an Overton). I remember talking to Joe & Antoinette McKenna. We were talking about low whistles (I had just bought McKenna’s Low Whistles CD), and Joe told me that he used ot build his own low whistles, getting tubing and so forth. “We all did it,” he said, meaning musicians at the time in the 70s and 80s.
Now, now, strictly speaking we don’t know how good this new DS whistle really is. For all we know, this could be the instrument to put all other whistlemakers out of business.
Here is an email I received from Davy Spillane on October 4, 2004. I sought and received his permission to post it here.
Hello Dale,
I am very concerned at false and misleading claims on your website that I
Have been playing an overton low whistle for the last 20 years. Regrettably this is not the first time this issue has had to be addressed.
I have made and played my own low whistles and uilleann pipes for 25 years+ and have used them exclusively on my recordings and other events ,riverdance etc.
These false claims by other makers are very serious, illegal and against
your own principals as posted on your web site forum charter.
In regard to the aluminium mouthpiece questions posted. I have discontinued my use of “all metal aluminium” mouthpiece on my own low
whistle on the advice of my doctor.
I really enjoy playing my new plastic top low whistle and naturally hope
others do as well.
I look forward hopefully, to the results of your personal “no agenda”
review party !
…These false claims by other makers are very serious, illegal and against
your own principals as posted on your web site forum charter…
Best wishes,
Davy Spillane
Wait - what charter??? And if it’s so serious and/or illegal etc. etc., why doesn’t our boy Davy or Talbert or whoever make it known more readily? Still - I’m not sure how or where the other rumors could have gotten started otherwise…most urban legends do have some basis in fact after all. :roll:
