Hello,
a quick question. Currently, my favourite whistle is the Dixon Trad, but I’d like something more powerful. My “perfect” whistle would be a louder Dixon Trad, if it existed. Has anybody tried other Dixon brass whistles? Are they louder?
Thanks!
You want loud, Guido? Swayne. Hear mine, effortlessly audible over a dozen or so flutes, about 25 fiddles and 15 harps in Y Glerorfa - CD available here (Y Glerorfa/CLERA get a better cut from the sale if you buy it direct): http://www.clera.org/saesneg/events.php or here from the record company: http://www.sainwales.com/sain/product.aspx?productuid=251941&ClickProductOnPage=which also has an i-Tunes download link.
I play my Swayne boxwood whistle on tracks 1,3 (2nd time of slow tune - I switch to piccolo for the jigs), 4 & 13 (Flute, piccolo or pibgorn on other tracks.) There are a couple of other whistle players whose playing can be heard at other points in the album, but their instruments don’t have the same power…
P.S. I just checked i-Tunes and the tracks are mysteriously mis-numbered there… the relevant tracks as listed on i-Tunes are: 12, 9, 8 & 5 respectively to the proper track numbers above.
Thank you, Jem, but I realise I didn’t make my point clear. 
What I’m looking for is not just a louder instrument (I also own a Susato, or my own whistles that serve me well). I’d love to get a louder AND traditional sounding whistle. You know, I’ve fallen in love with the traditional sound typical of brass whistles. I’ve given up on Generations, as I never found one that played passably.
Since I like the sound of the Dixon Trad, I wonder if a brass whistle exists that is as sweet-sounding as the Trad but also louder.
Thanks! Guido
Hi Guido,
How about making your own brass / copper whistle? I’ve made a nice low whistle based on your excellent method (see the copper low whistle thread). I’m sure that you could make a great traditional sounding high whistle that way too.
My Burke DBSBT is a bit louder than the Trad and has the sweet brass tone, though very pure. It also has a stronger bell note and low end, can handle more push overall, and not nearly as “touchy” as the Trad.
Guido, as a fan of the Dixon Trad also, I’d say that Jerry Freeman’s latest Mellow Dog is the closest to a Dixon Trad on steroids that I have personally tried. It is moderately chirpy and very easy-playing, but it can take a lot more air than the Dixon, and it can be driven to about the same volume as a Burke session whistle.
Agreed. Forgot about the Mellow Dog. Actually I have an original Mellow D that the only tweak I did is filling the fipple cavity with sticky tack and it’s a fine whistle with good volume. Only complaint is the bell note is noticeably sharp relative to the rest of the scale so needs to be underblown.
MTGuru gave me the exact same advice when I posted something nearly identical to your post…I wanted a louder dixon trad.
I love my MellowDog - it’s not exactly the same as the trad soundwise…but I’ve not played anything closer. It’s a wonderful whistle.
Eric
So I’ll get a tweaked Mellow Dog! And in due time, I’ll try and make a brass whistle myself. Thanks for your suggestions!