I just received my Dixon Low D and have a few challenges: - trouble finding Low D regularly - very low volume across the board - too easy to jump the octave - slow reactions to faster tempo.
Am I alone with this or do I have a “bad” whistle? I checked the bore and fipple area and all is clear.
Next!!
BillG
You are not alone. Mine is the same way.
John
I had never heard of Dixon before my trip to Ireland last April. I walked into a small music store in the middle of nowhere, looking for a whistle of any kind, since I had left mine home to avoid hassles at airport security. The guy had lots of whistles, all Dixons. I immediately fell in love with the high D and bought one on the spot. My first love is low whistles. The guy asked me if I wanted to try one of his low D Dixons and I jumped at the chance, sure that if I loved the high D this much, the low D would be heavenly. Much to my chagrin, I couldn’t get a note of any kind out of it. I tried and tried. I gave it back to him and to this day, I have owned low Ds by Copeland, Burke, Howard, Susato and Overton, but not Dixon. I have their low G, high B and of course the high D I got that day, and they are all fantastic, but I won’t bother with their low D.
To Blackhawk’s comment’s first:
Older Dixon’s had a different headjoint design that didn’t work so well, so Mr. Dixon Scrapped that and came up with something else, which works pretty well. I have no idea which model Darvis tried, but it could have been one of the older ones.
Another problem could have been a headjoint mismatched to the body, there’s been some discussion on that here in the past, and that’s something the retialer would have been responsible for.
Another possibility, if you truly couldn’t get a note Darvis, is that there wasn’t enough grease on the slide, and it was leaking.
Bill,
In all seriousness, is this your first Low D? The Dixon is pretty quiet, does have very low air requirements and needs very little air presssure, however the one I had responded fine. I mean it’s no Overton or Copeland, that’s for sure, but it’s an inexpensive Low whistle, and performs very well with that in mind.
Based on your description, I’d say there’s probably nothing wrong with the Dixon, it’s just not your style. Depending on your Budget, Try The Copeland, Overton, or if you have thick fingers and less money, the Howard Low D’s.
The Overton will give you plenty of warning before the octave jumps, and has the most volume across it’s range - Copelands tend to be a little quiet on the bottom end by comparison Copeland Low D’s are generally considered most “Flute Like” in tone, and are perhaps the most elegant looking whistles on the planet. They also produce excellent volume, but be ready to work your lungs on the fast tunes 
The Howard is perhaps the best sounding inexpensive Low D on the market, and as I recall, the tuning was quite good. It just has holes that are a bit too large and far apart for many beginners. If you have thick fingers, go for it!
At any rate, there’s no shame in returning the Dixon if it’s not what you’re looking for, I’d just say don’t expect a replacement to play much different.
Loren
Loren - and all - thanx for the replies. I also have and play a Burke AL Pro and a Burke composite Low D. Both are superb the AL being finer. I play a Dixon Bb which is super and I thought the Low D would be equally fine. Perhaps with some more time on the Dixon Low D I’ll improve on it.
BillG
Okay Bill that helps: I had a Burke AL Pro Low D (among otherthings) during the time I owned my Dixon. The Dixon was certainly much quieter and had a very fragile bell note compared with the Burke. Totally different sort of thing, I sort of view the Dixon as a “Narrow Bore Low D” if you know what I mean - Good for quite playing, and as a knock about, but not a serious instrument like the Burke.
Anyway, it sounds like the the Dixon received is about “Normal”.
Cheers,
Loren
I just got a Dixon Low D as my very first low whistle and I found that it takes a little practice and very little breath to get the low D. My biggest problem is getting the holes covered well enough to get a good tone. It’s not that they’re too big but I’m just not used to it – especially the reach to the bottom with the third finger.
And I love the fact that it’s quiet – I can practice more.
The only Dixon product that i have is my flute. And yes it is hard to play. As far as the problems that you have with playing, i think that everyone has those problems! Good Luck!!!
Judging from my own experience, the Dixon Low D requires an exact “touch” to get those low notes. Mine was not a whistle I could just pick up out of the box and take off on. It took me a few weeks to consistantly use the correct air pressure for the bottom notes, but after that it has not been any problem. I like mine a lot, just wish it was not so quiet.
I find I have to really go ‘low’ to get the D and E notes. Properly. As the Low Whistle Book says, “positively relax”.
It helps if you can control your mouth to blow as little air as possibl, don’t worry if it doesn’t sound like a note, slowly practice an even breath.
I often practice hitting the low D note, and slowly increasing the air to see the threshold of it before going to the next octave. Hope it helps.