I’m not EXACTLY new to whistling. I first got into it back in 2005, when I joined this forum, did it for a couple years and then kind of dropped out.
As for my skill level it depends on how you define that sort of thing. I’m pretty good at the slow stuff like The Minstrel Boy; the Skye Boat song; Loch Lomond and so forth. I would actually describe my musical abilities more like that of a technician rather than an artist.
So that is why I ask basic questions like this. To get the opinion of people who have had more practical experience in any given area.
That and I know if I have the question there’s probably a dozen or more people out there that have the same question and are just too shy to ask it for fear of sounding dumb.
And lastly because any recent material on the subject is scant or dated by several years. So a fresh take is always appreciated.
Anyway I have pretty much settled on acquiring a Dixon Trad as my next whistle and, as the title says, I would like to know what anyone who has had experience with either or both thinks of the brass and/or the nickel? Why would you recommend it or why would you recommend one or the other?
I know they have an overall good reputation (except for one guy on this forum that said he tried the Trad D and put it down and never look back cuz it sucked. That’s paraphrase, but that was the tone of his post) that’s why it’s going to be my next whistle. I’m just trying to be less willy-nilly about my acquisitions than I was before so that’s why I’m looking for your help in deciding on which one.
I have two Trad Brass whistles, in G & A, (they were my step up whistles, from Generations, Feadog, Walton, & a Dixon one piece ABS).
I first bought the brass because I liked the feel & tone, from playing my other whistles, & I got a ‘G’ because I thought that would be an easier player than a low D, (as a newbie), but then I came across my pre used ‘A’, & am liking it better, size wise.
To me, they have a very nice tone, & seem to be fairly easy to play in the second octave.
I also quite liked the mellower tone of my aluminium Waltons (& ABS Dixon), so ordered a Dixon aluminium tunable, in ‘A’, to try out.
(I’m pretty sure that I won’t be disappointed when it arrives.)
Between the Trad D brass and nickel, I prefer the nickel’s voice and appearance.
I once bought spare heads from Dixon. They come in pairs. Mated with my Trad nickel, each head played slightly different. All played well, however. Between the Trad (nickel and brass) and the alloy tunable, I prefer the Trad.
Trad brass or Trad nickel. Tough choice. For me, it depends on the tune being played. For slower tunes, I prefer the nickel. For more up-tempo tunes, I prefer the brass. To my ear, the nickel has a smoother, fuller tone. The brass is a bit brasher. (Almost said “brassier.”)
To be safe, I think you should get both. Long live WHOAD.
Thanks Jiminos, I’ve seen the one with the guy in the green playing it, but I had not seen the other one.
I just wonder if they’ve made any modifications to it or changed the production process and the last 10 years or so that’s changed how it sounds.
And I mostly do the slow stuff. So maybe the nickel would be something for me to lean toward.
I know, just get both, right? That’s what I’m trying NOT to do this time 'round. LOL
I don’t think the design has changed. It’s a great whistle and has been from the gate.
I was an early user, got one as soon as they came on the market. Eventually sold it to someone on the forum who strongly felt the earlier ones were quite different and more to his liking. For discussion see here
It wasn’t really a correction, or even my opinion. I just noted at least someone thought they had changed.
I would add they are perhaps not as consistent from one example to the next. When I bought mine I tried five before I found one that made me think I should perhaps buy it to give it a further whirl.
Thanks for the link, that is interesting. Particularly one of the things I was wondering about when I find information or videos on them that is 8 or 10 years old and why I brought the subject up now.
And if anybody is wondering, yes, I know it’s not like agonizing over the purchase of a $240 + Burke penny whistle.
But I’m asking to not only to help others out, but also trying to avoid, as much as is reasonable, having anything in my collection I’m going to end up totally disliking, as I did before, while also not ending up with some 13 odd whistles.
Do you happen to have another Dixon polymer to compare it to like a 001 or the 004?
I have the 001 and did a review of it here. I really like the sound quality, just not the feel due to It’s very lite build. It’s a barrel is only about 1 mm thick. But that’s not really a big deal breaker for me, since it sounds nice. It just feels very toy-like. And I imagine these 004 would be built very close to the 001, only the tunable version.
So if I were to pay twice as much for the 005 that you are recommending, Id kind of like to know that it’s a little bit of a “beefier” instrument build-wise. Hopefully something closer to a 2 mm barrel thickness
And if anybody cares, I have an email into Dixon music, which anybody else could have done before now, regarding if there were indeed any particular changes to the Trad, in particular its fipple, in the last few years.
I can only speak for the 005 because that is the only Dixon polymer I own. It is thin and light, but it plays beautifully, albeit not different from the earlier models. I think I paid more for a better tuning slide and brass bits. Aesthetically, I prefer the 005. The light weight and feel do not bother me because my polymer Nightingale felt the same. In fact, the 005 tube seems to feel about the same as the Susato Oriole. I read on this forum a while back that Burke composite was super light as well. Also, my top high D is a Burke brass NB which is hefty so the contrast with the 005 is pleasant in favor of the Dixon. So ultimately,I enjoy the sound and construction of the 005.
Yeah, I have the old, now long since discontinued, Susato Dublin High D. The Dxion DX001 has a thinner barrel, probably by about .75 mm, although I just eyeballed it and used tape measure for both of them no calipers, and the Susato just feels “heavier”, or rather more sturdy.
When I do plan to get is a Chris Wall, and then that will be my third “plastic” one. So I might hold it there for those.
I may get a Freeman Mellow Dog and, if I can ever get the debate about the Dixon Trad settled, one of those.
Then I’m going to call it a day for a bit until I save up my for a Killarney. And that will definitely be it for a bit.
Or who knows. Maybe I’ll just say screw the rest and go for a Killarney, because I haven’t heard ANY9NE say anything bad about those.
I am in the minority regarding the Killarney. It is a fine whistle, and I enjoy listening to others playing it, but when I play it, it sounds like the RPM is too high, similar to driving a revved up four cilinder. I much prefer the Dixon and Mellow Dog.
