Well, I’ve had my Dixon trad D now for a good hour since I’ve been home from work, and so far all I can say is - wow - it’s just what I was looking for in a whistle.
I’m not a high end kind of guy, and this whistle fits that trad/gen/feadog whistle genre. However, I like it better. I like the tone, the mild upper octave, the fact that it’s not supper loud yet loud enough for me.
I was surprised at the bore diameter. I can slip my Clare and O’Briain tweaked Feadog barrel into the Dixon’s barrel (not at the same time, though… ).
Anyway to sum things up. I’m happy. As a flute player who tends to play whistle as a change of pace, I couldn’t ask for more.
I’m not a fan of nickel whistles. Not that I think they sound any different, but I like the used brass look.
Guidus - I did read that thread, and found it very helpful. While Peter might have gone off it because of a lack of “sweetness”, I find it’s sweeter sounding than either my Clare or my O’Briain tweaked Feadog - the two other whistles I had been using at session. Unfortunately, I don’t have my Oak anymore, so I can’t compare the Dixon to it but I recall liking the Oak but felt it was shriller than my O’Briain in the upper octave (and I find the Dixon has a nicer upper octave than my O’Briain).
As for volume, well, I play in a session with both a piano accordion and a button box, and I can tell you I can hear a person playing a sweetone across the room with 12 other folks playing as well (mix of fiddles, flutes, etc.). I think the fear a whistle isn’t heard is more subjective to the player than reality. When I leave the room to run to the bathroom in the pub (up a flight of stairs and as far from the session room as possible), the whistle is the instrument I hear most clearly. So basically, I’m OK with not having the “loudest” whistle because I firmly believe it’ll be loud enough for everyone else.
It’s a fine whistle, I find a new whistle always takes your fancy but after a while you notice other things: always farts before she goes to sleep, grumpy in the morning, likes dogs, watches television programmes you can’t stand, that sort of stuff.
I find there’s a bit of an edge on the Dixon that started irritating me after a while. It’s still a nice whistle at a decent price.
I got a new whistle a couple of months ago. Sleeps fartlessly. Wakes up like sunshine. Rubs me dogs when I’m weary. Leaves the remote to me. Dances like Salome when I play. And she can SING!
You’re definitely right about the honeymoon period with a new instrument. I’m hoping the shine doesn’t wear off too much, but that clip sounds mighty fine to me.
I am really happy with my Dixon “Trad”. Now a nickle one? But, I agree with liking the brass look and tone. What I would like to know, is Dixon planning on a C whistle in either? I have not bought a C yet and would like to match something I have and like.
How’s the tuning on them? I have D and C Dixon plastic/aluminium whistles, and while I like them very much, I find the tuning a wee bit less precise than on my Feadogs.
They both have a slighly flat C# and F# - much like my M&E R&R flute…so it sounds normal to me and they’re not very flat (well within the range that you correct while playing any whistle). The Cnat at OXX OOO is dead on, and the upper octave B and A are right in tune despite the whistle being cylindrical.
So, I only have an O’Briain tweaked Feadog, and while I haven’t used a tuner with it recently…I do think the C# and F# were more in tune (although the high B takes more push to get it in tune than the Dixon).
Well, mine just came in. The tone is wonderful. Really pure, especially compared to my Feadog. And it plays wonderfully. Either it’s just my technique improving or it is actually easier to play because I finally managed to do a roll somewhat properly. I love it.
I bought one of these gems and I think its quite nice for the price. I did experience some clogging, but all in all a nice little instrument. The voice is not as loud and bright as my Sindt.
Cheers
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