Hello!
I’ve finally decided to buy my first Low D. I read a lot of topics here and I’ve decided to buy a Dixon whistle.
Then, I can’t make up my mind about the kind of whistle: polymer or alloy?
I’m quite ignorant about this argument, and I haven’t the opportunity to try these whistles, cause I’m italian and it’s not simple to find low whistles here!
My doubt is: These are two different materials that have pros and cons, different sound, ecc; or alloy it’s simply better than polymer? What are the pros and cons of the polymer compared with alloy?
In particular, the alloy Low D Dixon it’s better than the polymer one, or polymer can be preferred to alloy? It all comes down to personal taste?
Can you give me some explanations?
your English is more than fine! (what’s your native language, by the way?)
I don’t own a Dixon Low D, but I have an alloy Dixon high D (DX006 here: http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/catalogue/dixonshop.html), which I like a great deal, and I have a tuneable Dixon middle G in polymer (DX007) which I also like a great deal. The polymer one is completely different; woodier and breathier, but a very nice sound. I have tried the Dixon lows but don’t own either. Alloy and metal will have a different tone, both are really pleasant. If it were me, I would get the alloy; because low Ds can be quiet and I’m pretty sure the alloy sound would travel better. Both will sound nice. Could you try them anywhere?
I’m not an experienced whistler, so if anyone’s opinion contradicts me, I think you should listen to them instead.
In fact my problem is that I can’t try them, cause I’m italian… and low whistles are very difficult to find! Otherwise, I’m sure that I’ll istantly able to understand which model fits more to me.
The unique low D that I’ve tried is a Merlin nontunable model, in plastic. It’s quite unplayable, but I’ve understand that I like the sound that a polymer whistle produces. I’d rather a mellow-breathy sound than a shrill-coloured one; for example, I prefer my high Clarkes original than my generation. So I am wondering whether a polymer whistle is more fitting to me. But it has some inconvenient, like the volume and the air request (or its the same in the two models?).
In my opinion, it comes down to personal taste, mostly. Others may have differing opinions. Dixons are a good choice for a first low D. The alloy tube would be a bit more durable but that might not matter if you aren’t travelling around a lot with the whistle. The polymer whistle, on the other hand, may get you through airport security a little quicker. I’ve owned several of the Dixon polymer low D’s and haven’t yet found a need to buy the alloy model. But they are both decent whistles.
The polymer will almost certainly be breathier, both are likely to be mellow. In my experience, the polymer Dixon whistles feel as if they need more air. They sound “woodier”, less bell-like. It’s more expensive to make the alloy whistles, which is why they cost more; I would not say they are necessarily better. The Dixon middle G I have in polymer is a nice whistle and the one that I usually pick up to play, it has a really appealing sound.
If you are not sure, the tuneable polymer one is about £20 cheaper - around 20-something Euros, which is another reason to start there!
non parlo piu benissimo l’italiano; venti anni fa, si, ma ho dimenticato molto Pero se c’e qualcosa che trovarebbe piu facile di scribere in italiano, sono sicura che La capiro…
No disrespect to Tony Dixon but if you’re on the fence about a polymer whistle, I would buy one from Guido Gonzato. Dixon whistles, the low one’s anyway, are too quiet for me and difficult to play in some respects. Guido’s whistles will be louder, not as “breathy” and more balanced and will cost less.
I own a Dixon polymer low D which I like very much. Some people complain that the bell note and the E can be rather quiet, but I don’t find that myself. I also have a flute head for the tube, so one day perhaps I’ll learn to play flute too.
I’ve often wondered about buying a metal low whistle and noticed a Dixon alloy low D in a music shop a couple of weeks ago. The guy behind the counter let me try the whistle out, although it was rather difficult to hear myself over the guitar track that was playing in the background.
From my 30 seconds of playing the alloy whistle, I liked it, but I didn’t think it was sufficiently different to the polymer low D to justify buying a second low whistle. Much of the sound of a whistle is due to the fipple / whistle head and since the alloy version still has a polymer head, maybe that’s why there isn’t that much difference, at least to my ears on very limited experience.
Dixon whistles are good value for money, but perhaps you should also investigate Guido’s polymer whistles, particularly since they are closer to you.
Hello! Thanks everyone for the suggestions…
I didn’t know Guido’s whistles; now I’ve seen some videos, etc, and I can say that his whistles seems very good made!
About the Low, I prefer the Dixon, so I’ve decided to buy that.
But I want to try a GG whistle, I’ll probably order an high D, as soon as he can make them.
Pero se c’e qualcosa che trovarebbe piu facile di scribere in italiano, sono sicura che La capiro…