Hi, i’m interested in taking a small step up from the Clarke and Generation that i’ve been using and was wondering one if any could direct me to a review, or offer me a little insight, on the Dixon Trad high d. Is it much of a step up fromt he Generation and clark, or basically the same category as these two?
While you’re at it, could you also dig up a thread on the Elfsong “Manufactured series”? These look nice. Like a regular Elfsong, with the colorful copper bodies, but with a plastic mouthpiece and a more attractive price.
I think that Dixon is a very nice instrument and it definitely is a step further.
There´s nothing I disliked about my Dixon (but as I´ll say further, it´s not a perfect whistle).
Sound is good, I´d say medium mellow - not too sharp, not too sweet (but not undefined). It´s not overly loud though, I think it´s a little quieter than most whistles. Where it excels is octave balance - some whistles sound good in first octave, but too loud/too badly in second and vice versa…Dixons don´t have such problems in my experience. 3rd octave is doable, but only D and E sound like notes (and it´s not too comfortable)
Responsivity is very good (since I play an Overton now, I won´t say perfect - but when I had Dixon, I thought it was perfect).
Craftmanship is really good for that price.
Overall, I think the main power of this instrument is versatility - it´s got no weakness, it´s easy to manipulate etc.
And I said that Dixon is not a perfect whistle. Except obvious “there´s no perfect thing”, I think there are better instruments.
What I would probably do, would be to do two steps forward instead of one, and buy so called “high end” whistle. With guitars, you pay 7000 euros for top instruments. Top whistles are rather cheap, compared to other instrument.
Many people have their favourites - my favourite is Colin Goldie and his Overtons. He´s a great craftsman - and he makes the whistle completely custom made, so you ask him for a sound, power of backpressure and almost any characteristic…he makes it for you. For a good price.
To sum it up - Dixon is a good whistle; but if you add some euros and buy an Overton, you have a whistle for a lifetime (or Burke, or Copeland, these are very good whistles too).
Thanks for the quick responses 
I’m pretty new, still, and have the ability to be flighty when it comes to things, so i told myself when i started playing back in april that i i wouldnt buy a high end whistle until i had 25 tunes at least up to tempo and memorized completely in my repertoire.
Im still a bit away from that goal, and though i think i am really hooked on the whistle and believe i will stick with it, i still want to reach that goal of 25 songs and the sure knowledge that this wont just be another fling that i wont stick with.
I think i’ll reach that goal sometime in october or november, just in time for my birthday, at which time i’ll give myself, if my calculations are correct, the present of a nice high end whistle.
Hi Trix, I agree with Pyroh’s description. The Dixon Trad a nice, easy-playing whistle, more “beginner friendly” than a Generation-type, similar volume, and a good value for the price. I’d add the caveat that the tone is a bit on the pure side with little chiff - which to my ear gives it a certain lack of character. For that reason I still prefer the Feadóg in that category of whistle. Lots of chiff and character, and more consistent than the Generation. I’ve yet to find a Feadóg that didn’t play and sound well as-is, or with a putty tweak.
I bought my brass Trad from Hobgoblin USA in Minnesota. Good price and excellent, fast service.
Another option you may consider is a tweaked whistle from Jerry Freeman or Cillian O’Briain. A refinement in sound and playability from the basic Gen or Clarke, at a very modest price.
As for the Goldie Overton high D … My medium-blower, only a few weeks old, is fast becoming my very favorite “fancy” whistle. A wonderful instrument with a rich and complex tone, some chiff, and a huge range of dynamic expressiveness. But - big caveat - it’s by far the most demanding whistle I’ve ever played in terms of breath control and support, embouchure control, and careful fingering. It’s also somewhat prone to clogging. Definitely not a beginner’s instrument. Also, the last I heard, there’s a waiting list of 6+ months for an Overton high D ordered to spec directly from Colin.
I’d judge the Copeland high D somwhat similarly as a fine but demanding whistle, though for different reasons and details.
I’d also caution against thinking “vertically” about whistles and prices. That is, ignoring price, there’s a range of whistles out there with different materials, tone, chiff, volume, playing characteristics, etc. For reasons of historical accident and market forces, these whistles happen to span a surprising range of prices. But “horizontally” speaking, they’re all just whistles! Find one that meets your needs and expectations in terms of its characteristics and (very importantly) how you plan to use it, and if possible, deal with the cost, for better or worse, as a separate issue.
In those terms, what you’re looking for is not a “step up” per se, but simply an additional whistle with different characteristics from what you have. There’s nothing wrong with that. Personally, the fact that my two best, favorite whistles happen to cost $7 and $200 is irrelevant to both myself and the listener when I assault them with a tune. It either sounds good or it doesn’t (hopefully the former!).
That said, I think the Burke high D is an excellent all-around whistle, especially for a beginner. Maybe the easiest-playing, most forgiving whistle ever made. Very consistent, perfect intonation, medium-loud, and a nice fat tone. On the pure side with little chiff, which may adversely affect your technical development - in a way, it’s too easy. But the trade-off is still very attractive. A great session whistle, mid-priced in the market range, and readily available with no waiting list.
Sorry for the long-winded post, and good luck with your choice!
I’m a big fan of the Dixon Trad. The only reason I bought a Burke was because I felt I was being drowned out in sessions (well, when I wasn’t playing my low whistles that is!).
Having said that, I probably give the Trad more of my attention at home. It’s easy to over-blow, but wonderful to play. I’ve just ordered one of the new soprano Dixons which, I have been told, is much louder. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for all your responses
On the contrary, I appreciate the information. It was very helpful and insightful, thanks!
Here’s my review comparing with some others:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=43647
I really like mine–it’s the whistle I probably play more than any other. Fun to play, no frustrating quirks. If you’re after a relatively pure sound, it’s a great buy for the money.
Tom
p.s. I’ve been told my number ratings are on the harsh side, so take them for what they’re worth–5 is average, not bad.
I suggest you stick to your 25 tunes goal. I have discovered the more I play the better my el-cheapo whistle has become.
I’ve played Burkes (although not owned one - so that’s a big old caveat), and I really liked them. That said, I didn’t like it any better than my Dixon trad. For comparison, the other whistles I currently own are a Cillian O’Briain tweaked feadog, clarke original, and a Claire 2 piece with a Hoover whitecap (lovely whistle - nice switch up compared to the Dixon trad).
I’ve simply never found a whistle I enjoy playing in session as much as the Dixon trad. When playing in a large/loud session, you do feel it’s getting drown out, but when I gave the dixon trad to another whistler I realized it’s not being drown out to everyone else - it’s loud enough for two boxes (one of which is a piano box), 3 fiddles, two flutes, 3 guitars, a mandolin, tenor banjo and a pair of bodhrans…if it can handle that well, it’s loud enough for me. Perspective is very relative when playing whistle.
In addition, I like the thickness of the tube - like a burke, it feels like you’re holding a real instrument…not some skinny tube.
That’s my $.02 worth.
Eric
Thanks for the responses