It finally arrived, UPS was having a “Senior Moment” while delievering this. After playing the Dixon High D for so long, this thing felt like a cannon, Being a long time smoker, I was really wondering about the wind requirements for this thing. It came in two pieces, I slapped it together (Or so I thought)And blew a G note, Uh oh, It was F#
Hmmm. I again CLOSELY looked at the Head.
Ohhh Yeah, There’s a small line engraved on it, Moved it to the line and blew again. Hmmm Sharp, But not too shabby, Moved it approx. 3mm up and did it again. Dead on.
In fact it was dead on throughout the entire 2 octave range. I started messing with this thing and found out two things, The size of it was making me think that the wind requirements were going to be large, Not so
Just about what my Dixon D has. And second.
There are notes that the Human ear was never intended to hear. Playing the Two Airs I know by heart, I found that even playing off key this thing sounded good (I used a D fingering), I also found that I dont need the Pipers Grip, And I cant clog this thing.
(I tried). All in all, Its a great Low Whistle for beginners. Now alls I have to do is transpose all my stuff over to G
no need to transpose, surely - just play it as if it were a D whistle and there you are playing in G! Ta daa!
Sounds like a lovely choice for a first low whistle, and for those whose hands don’t quite make the stretch so easy.
One day I might read something negative about Dixon whistles on this board, but it hasn’t happened yet. Everyone who has one seems to like them. I have the high and Low D and they are both oojah-cum-spiff too. And Tony is a delight to do business with.
On 2002-03-05 03:42, Graphics Guy wrote:
And I cant clog this thing.(I tried).
Hmm interesting. I also purchased a Dixon Low G awhile back but I can’t seem to keep it from clogging. I really like the tone, breath requirements, and finger stretch but I can’t seem to aviod it from clogging after a couple minutes of play time. I even tried putting dry soap in the mouthpiece but as soon as it wore off (yuck!) the mouthpiece started clogging again. Any suggestions?
Dale’s antidote is to swab the windway with a mixture of dishwashing liquid (I think Dale has mentioned Dr. Bonner’s soap as a less nasty-tasting alternative) and water and let it dry.
Mack Hoover recommends running a small strip of dryer sheet through the windway.
I’ve also heard that using Jet-Dry in the windway helps.
Try warming up the mouthpiece in your hand before you play.
If all else fails, drink some tea or wine to reduce the amount of moisture in your mouth (it’s the tannic acid, I think).
On 2002-03-05 10:52, Stonewall wrote:
Hmm interesting. I also purchased a Dixon Low G awhile back but I can’t seem to keep it from clogging. I really like the tone, breath requirements, and finger stretch but I can’t seem to aviod it from clogging after a couple minutes of play time. I even tried putting dry soap in the mouthpiece but as soon as it wore off (yuck!) the mouthpiece started clogging again. Any suggestions?
It sounds like theres only a couple of options: it’s either the whistle, or it’s you.
I have a low D Dixon, great whistle, and I can’t clog it to save my life. I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone else having this problem either. Could be a defective whistle - you could try asking Tony for his advice.
The other option (and I am honestly not trying to be funny) is it could be you - you’re not, errrr…, drooling into it are you? I mean, they’re nice to play, I wouldn’t blame you for salivating into it?
Jokes aside, is it just this one whistle which is giving you problems (if you have other G’s or low D’s would tend to point to the whistle) or is this common to other lower whistles you have?
Hmmm You know ?..I never once thought that drinking coffee or tea drys out your mouth
could be right, I’m a coffee drinker, By that I mean, You can find me with a cup near me or in my hand every waking moment,maybe thats why my whistle wont clog. This Low G is the old style with the big weaponish looking bulge, and its fairly sensitive to position but once you set it , it stays put
So..You use the same fingering, that you would use
for a D whistle ? Even though the notes produced are vastly different ?
Cool This is gonna be fun.
Try the “JetDry on the blade” trick Doc
Paint both sides of the blade, the face of the fipple block, and the lower portion of the windway, You could use a 00 art brush for this. I’m not saying this would work for you. Also try the coffee/tea thing, Dont drink so much that you’ll become jittery
though. I was just trying to be funny with the “Senior Moment” thing. However I was serious when I told them that if my whistle wasnt here on monday, they would pay the replacement, by Tuesday, Or they would be talking to my lawyer on Wednesday.
On 2002-03-05 11:19, Vinny wrote:
I have 6 suggestions for you.
Thanks, I’ll try them out and let you know if it helps.
On 2002-03-05 12:25, DrRichard wrote:
The other option (and I am honestly not trying to be funny) is it could be you - you’re not, errrr…, drooling into it are you? I mean, they’re nice to play, I wouldn’t blame you for salivating into it?
While I sometimes drool (especially when I suck on lemons), I don’t do it any more than normal. Actually the Low G is the lowest whistle I have because of my small finger stretch. I don’t have clogging problems with my other whistles (which range from high G to Bb). I’m going to give the techniques ya’ll mentioned a try to see if they help. If not I may have to write Tony Dixon again (I mentioned it to him when I first got the whistle).
Stonewall
[ This Message was edited by: Stonewall on 2002-03-06 12:12 ]
The clogging could be due to an anomalous whistle. I have Dixons in D, C, Bb, G and A. Had no problems with any until I bought the C. It was overly sensitive to breath pressure and clogged very easily, unlike the others. I emailed Tony, and had no problems exchanging the bad one for a great one.
On 2002-03-05 16:12, Graphics Guy wrote:
So..You use the same fingering, that you would use
for a D whistle ? Even though the notes produced are vastly different ?
Cool This is gonna be fun.
Yup, the same fingering. If you know a tune…say “Inisheer”, for example, since I think you said you know that one…you play it on your low G exactly like it was your high D, and it will work just fine–same tune and fingering, just automatically transposed for you to the key of G.
On 2002-03-06 01:14, tuaz wrote:
I have Dixons in D, C, Bb, G and A. Had no problems with any until I bought the C. It was overly sensitive to breath pressure and clogged very easily, unlike the others
Thanks Tuaz, I think you nailed it. Your description perfectly describes the problems I’m having with my G. I’ve just emailed Tony, so hopefully we can work something out.
On 2002-03-05 15:50, thesackrat wrote:
Just wondering what a “senior moment” is.
AKA CRS – forgetting, doing something stupid you wouldn’t have done when younger, etc.
Re the clogging thing. The only whistle I have this problem with is a Thin Weasel D. I’ve treated it with Jet-Dry to no avail. And it clogs so fast that it must be spit, not condensation. Often after clearing it out, it won’t clog again.
My theory is that it’s due to the mouthpiece being strongly curved. I spend a lot of time playing Burkes and a Clare, so I’m used to more gently curved mouthpieces. So I’ve developed some habit that puts a par of my lip too close to the windway or something. OTOH, I also play Water Weasels a lot, which have the same shaped mouthpiece as TW’s, and I’ve seldom had the clogging problem with them.
I just bought a Dixon Low D and seem to have problems losing the E and sometimes the D when I play(they’re always weak.) Even when I think I have all of the holes covered. I cleaned the windway with paper and things improved abit.
I’m a beginner, I’m sure that’s part of the problem. Suggestions are very welcome.
Actually the Low G is the lowest whistle I have because of my small finger stretch. I don’t have clogging problems with my other whistles (which range from high G to Bb). I’m going to give the techniques ya’ll mentioned a try to see if they help. If not I may have to write Tony Dixon again (I mentioned it to him when I first got the whistle).