Hi there! I am a newbie to the Irish whistle, and am looking at getting a Dixon low D whistle. I see that a few come in a combo with a flute head, also- does anyone have one of these? I would like to know how they sound, if you use the flute head much, or is it just a gimmick? I am interested in learning flute and whistle, but started with the whistle first. I am hoping to hear from someone that has one of these whistle/flute combos, and can tell me more.
Thanks!
Don’t bother. It can serve for learning to form an embouchure, I suppose, but as the thing is necessarily out-of-tune with itself as a transverse flute (all-cylinder bore), it would also (unless you have cloth ears) teach you a habit of trying to compensate for the intonation and thus blow the second octave sharper (it is progressively flat as you go upwards) - which is exactly the opposite of what you need to do on any properly constructed flute (i.e. attend to not blowing sharp in the second 8ve), giving you a habit to unlearn/a double size hurdle to overcome if you later get a proper flute. If you want to try flute, get one of Doug Tipple’s.
Dixon’s now have a slightly tapered bore with both heads i think.
Not the worst thing in the world.
I have one that a friend gave me after finding it in a charity shop
Here is Calum playing one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkAzL4JosFM
Essentially though you’ll want a better flute soon.
If it’s just for a lark trying low whistle and have a non serious go at flute than it’s OK.
The slight taper helps.
If Dixon could get the taper more like a real flute taper and then make them in E, F, G, etc.
He’d really be on to something.
Not necessarily, Jem. Dixon makes a lot of low whistle/flute combinations. Some will have cylindrical bodies but two sets will have tapered bodies.
The latest all polymer Dixons actually have a tapered bore. The flute is the TB021D. The whistle is the TB012. I cannot find a stock number for the tapered body combo on Dixon’s web site, but I am sure they sell one. The whistle is pretty nice. I have not played the flute with the tapered bore body but I can say the latest heads with the lip plates are better and easier to learn on than older Dixon models. So look for the “TB” models if you go for one. I’d still suggest other flutes to begin on.
There is also a whistle/flute combination based on the Dixon three piece delrin flute ((DX030), which has a tapered bore as well. The flute is a fair beginner flute but is quiet having small holes and a small embouchure. It is a decent learning platform. Others may disagree with that view. The combo uses a particularly designed whistle head called the DX030WHD). The whistle is very quiet. It is not my favorite. But it will use the flute body with the smaller holes if stretch and size are an issue you are concerned with. These will be around $300 for a set. You can get a better flute for that amount.
The Dixon whistle/flute combinations with the aluminum body will suffer as Jem has described. They share a cylindrical body.
I have had several of the cylindrical Dixon polymer combos in various pitches including a couple low D combos. As Jem says, don’t bother with those. The whistle is decent and a good choice for a beginner. The flute will play as Jem described. There are better ways to get started on flute.
Hope that helps.
Ooops. Cross-posted with Patrick.
Feadoggie
I think the more expensive Dixon flute has a whistle head option as well which I have not tried.
So there is a full conical version with two heads.
I’ve not tried that Dixon model only the one Calum is playing in the clips above.
I would totally avoid the older cylindrical model.
Ive a Dixon cylindrical in D, its lovely to play and cheap (if £65 that i payed is cheap).
Well worth the money imo
Thank you all for the information! You’ve confirmed what I suspected- that, if I’m interested in playing both whistle and flute, I would be better off buying separate instruments. Doug Tipple’s site was interesting, but he hasn’t got much available right now- anyone else make that type of flute? The price is certainly right!
Don’t bother with anyone else at those prices. Order one of Doug’s flutes. Just because his website does not list any available now is not anything to be concerned about. I am sure he can make one for you quickly if you place an order. Get the lip plate and wedge though. Go for it. You won’t regret it.
Then the hard work begins.
Feadoggie
Doug Tipple makes a great flute.
His turn around time is usually pretty quick too.
I think that they can’t be beat for the price.
I’ve owned a couple.
Do they? I had the one-piece flute from that clip you linked as my first flute, I think it’s good enough as a gateway drug and still makes a nice camping flute for me. It’s cheap enough to get it additionally to a low whistle… but I haven’t seen it with a separate head yet.
Immediately, actually. 
I had both.
Mine is Cylindrical so I tweaked it to make the 2nd octave sharp and in tune.
The whistle is nice but the flute is a struggle for a beginner.
It’s embouchure hole is quite big making it hard for me to hit the second 8ve.
My first Tipple flute was bought out of frustration. It is second hand but it Rocked outside the box immediately.
It’s embochure is round where I was able to train my muscles.
After a year I played the Dixon and I can now access it’s second octave freely.
Regards,
Angel
Heehee. 
If you start with the two piece models the heads are available separately from Dixon and several retailers.
So … the lower priced ($120) all polymer tapered bore combo is called the TB022 set. It is the thin walled model similar to the one piece flute Calum played in the clip posted by dunnp. Again, it’ll amuse you for a while, makes a good camping flute, but you’ll want to move on t another flute before long. The whistle is the more useful of the two instruments. Looks like this.
The higher priced ($250-300) delrin combination designated DX031DUO looks like this. The flute is decent, a good learning platform and can serve as a backup flute in a pinch once you get a very good flute. I’ve got a couple of them and they travel well in a backpack. But with the whistle head it is kind of quite. You’d want another whistle before long.
Feadoggie
Angel, that might be exceptional and pertinant to you alone, IMO.
You’re experience differs from a lot of what I have seen over the years. Generally a larger embouchure hole should provide a broader working edge and make it easier to produce a tone, a bigger sweet spot, so to speak. The smaller blow hole should require more focus and and be less forgiving to a developing embouchure. At least that’s my take on it. But it is true that if you come to terms with a smaller hole then it makes playing other flutes a bit easier since you 've done the hard work already
I will admit that I like the idea of starting students out on smaller embouchure hole (like on the Dixon DX031 flute head) since it forces them to focus and develop the lips early on. Maybe that is what you went through?
I think Doug may have redone his blow hole design since you got your Tipple. The hole is larger now and more oval shaped in the manner of a more conventional Irish flute. I’ve had both Tipple embouchure versions and the newer one sounds better in my book and is a bit easier to play. The older, round hole models were still quite playable.
Feadoggie
I bought something called “The Dixon Duo” some years back. I don’t recall the low whistle part as being a total fail, but the flute … misery. Leaky, out of tune with itself, just terrible to play. It came in handy for propping up the car’s trunk lid, but that’s about it.
Ah, I see they’ve added cork to the tenons. In fact, they’v added tenons. I bet that helps a lot. Mine was just a cylindrical tube of featherweight plastic with two heads and some gold tape around the crown. Cheap and not-at-all cheerful.
As was noted above, Dixon has made some progress on these instruments over time. Those of us that had the original “duo” would surely agree with your assessment - although my trunk lid is too heavy for it too have been used safely as a prop.
The Dixon thin walled poly instruments have been redone two or three times since those days. The tuning slide was sleeved to minimize the bore disruption which caused some of the tuning issues. Then the tenon and mortise sides of the joint were reversed (I use those terms loosely). O-rings were also added to solve some leaking. A lip plate was added along the line to increase the chimney depth of the embouchure hole. And finally the body was tapered to some degree. So these ain’t exactly the Dixon “duo” of old. The newer version of the thin walled poly "combo"is the one shown here.
The photo showing the proper corked tenons are of a different “duo/combo” based on the Dixon delrin 3 piece flute which is more of a proper flute than the less expensive thin walled poly flutes. The flute has been around for some 15 years or more and shared dimensions with the older Dixon wooden flutes. It is the top of the Dixon line, I suppose. The big difference in this “duo” is that it was based on a fairly well tried flute design and not on a whistle. As you might expect, the whistle is the weaker half of this marriage.
Feadoggie
Feadoggie- I’m glad you mentioned ordering from Doug Tipple- I am definitely interested in his flutes. It looks like, on his website, that you can’t order a flute that he doesn’t already have in stock, so I’m glad that’s just a misunderstanding. I haven’t found the ‘place an order’ link yet.
I am looking for a budget flute, since there’s a real chance I might not be able to master the embouchure… had that bite me in the @ss before. Regarding openings (round vs oval) Doug has an interesting article about the pros and cons of both. He does recommend the round opening- but not with the lip plate. He says the oval works better with the lip plate. Thanks again, everyone, for the great info!
Lisa
Doug Tipple has new black three piece d flutes in inventory.
How do I know? I just emailed him to buy another.
BTW, I have owned one Dixon alto g flute which wasn’t bad.
I just like Tipples better.
LMGrimsley, you want the lip plate. Trust me. The wedge is now standard equipment, I see.
You can order a flute by emailing Doug. dougsflutes at gmail.com
Yeah, the current Dixon poly flutes have some charm. I’ve had flute heads on high D and C, as well as Bb, A, G, low D and C. The Dixon low F flute I have presently is my only F flute and I enjoy it. They’ve improved a bit. But the Tipple is the way to go.
Feadoggie
I started out on a Dixon polymer flute/whistle combo (the new one with the tapered bore) a couple of years ago. I found it a great starter instrument as I wasn’t sure I’d be able to blow the flute head properly, so the whistle head was a backup and allowed me to concentrate on just learning the fingering. After a couple of months I realized I liked the flute sound much more and I basically stopped playing the whistle head.
Then after around a year I started playing with other musicians and became aware of two issues with the Dixon - firstly the C natural was really weak sounding, much lower volume than all other notes. Secondly, the reach to the D hole is very far compared to other flutes.
So I upgraded to a Doug Tipple. I got the oval embouchure with the lip plate. The Tipple sounded FAR better - much richer tone, greater volume and the smoother holes are easier to slide off and tap. The closer D hole made the reach much easier - so less hand strain, however the smaller embouchure hole made hitting the second octave very difficult for me, probably as I’d been playing very sloppily with the Dixon and just blasting harder to get the high notes. With the Tipple I have to concentrate on narrowing the airstream and increasing the speed, and even a year later I still find it hard to play notes above high G clearly and without squeaking. However I am getting better, and I only play the Tipple now. I occasional take out the Dixon, but I generally leave the whistle head on it now as I like the Tipple flute sound so much more.
I liked the Tipple so much I 3D printed some accessories for it…
My advice: if you can already play the flute, get a Tipple. If you’re not sure then the Dixon whistle/flute combo is a cheap and safe way to start - but be prepared to upgrade when you get better.