I have five high D whistles, two of which were delivered today. The two newcomers were an untweaked Feadog, and a Dixon tunable polymer. The Feadog was about $8; the Dixon was $30. I had heard some recordings made with the Dixon, so I was hoping for a nice sweet mellow sound. I wasn’t disappointed…in the low octave. The Dixon produces a lovely, rich sound, reminiscent of a wooden whistle, or what I imagine one sounds like.
But in the 2nd octave, the sound is anything but mellow, rich, or lovely. It’s hoarse and screechy. I spent a couple of hours with it today, just playing whole notes, trying to find the sweet spot, but it just doesn’t seem to be there. What’s worse, the tendency of the E’ to break (which I did read something about) is so strong that tonguing that particular note, but only that note, almost can’t fail to break it.
Meanwhile, the generic Feadog plays great. It has a nice full sound, and good clarity in the 2nd octave. I tried it with the Walton Little Black’s mouthpiece but in the end decided it sounded better with the stock mouthpiece. The Feadog is currently my most playable whistle. The Little Black is close behind it, but has a much thinner sound.
So, I’ll be returning the Dixon. Maybe I just don’t have the skill to play it properly, but I’m pretty sure I can find something else to spend $30 on.
Interesting thread. I agree that when paying a lot more for a whistle (in comparison to the Walton/Feadog/Generation price range), one of the things you’re paying for is the right not to have to worry about a stinker. Whether it’s handmade or mass-produced, the cost of quality control is, or should be, part of what kicks the price up.
My purchase of this Dixon polymer is a bit different. At $30, it’s hardly a high-end whistle…but still 3x the low-end whistles. I wouldn’t say it’s defective, either. I can get the notes out, and they sound in tune. But the quality of the sound is poor, as I described, and the E’ is far too fragile. I could get used to the fragile E’, no doubt, but I have no desire to do so. And the poor quality of the sound in the 2nd octave gives me no reason to try. I have no doubt that a better player could get a better sound with this whistle, but that’s going to be true of any whistle, including the cheapies.
I think it could be a long time before I drop $190 on a whistle. I guess a good player can make a mediocre whistle sound good. I doubt whether a good whistle can make a mediocre player sound good.
I have a few dixons in the polymer, i experience the same problem and the higher pitched the whistle, the worse the problem gets. As far as Burkes, i don’t have any, and wouldn’t be opposed to it but i got a few Overtons a little while back and well, frankly, I just don’t see a desire to look for anything else at the moment
I’ve played many Burkes and have only played one I would consider a good whistle and know quite a few others who own or have tried Burkes and are unhappy with them.
Debbie Quigley (a far better whistle player than many who post here) played her Sindt rather than the Burke she was given as a christmas present, last time I saw her.
I think anyone who declares any one whistle to be “the best” is wrong.
But don’t forget Cranberry’s dog, as a professional musician, went through a lengthy process before he arrived at a whistle that met his very high professional standards. Don’t dismiss him too soon.
That’s what they all say, but you’re obviously in denial, Bloo. Leading the rakish life of a Burke-free whistle bachelor. Jumping from whistle to whistle with no real commitment - tonight a Sindt, tomorrow an Overton, maybe a pretty red-topped Generation or two on the side. Seeking oh-so-sweet whistle pleasures in seedy pubs and private rooms with whistles of the evening.
Then one day you’ll see her across a crowded room. Sleek, shiny, shapely and svelte. Her long, elegant tuning collar glistening in the candlelight. Her toneholes inviting the caress of your fingertips. Her black-tipped windway begging you to just put your lips together and blow. Her smooth, silky voice whispering “play me”. And before you know it, you’ll be chiff over fipple in love with the Burke of your dreams.
MTGuru, you should probably win some kind of prize for that post, I really enjoyed that, hahaha. making a point is one thing…taking the time to make it like that is commendable
I have a Dixon soprano D non-tunable and a Dixon soprano D tunable. They both have a very fragile E.
Perhaps it’s me (I am a beginner) but if I try to play the E with a bit more than a very very light breath, it goes immediately to the upper octave.
