I am very interested in the new Tully Double Whistle. I have tried to lend my whistle to playing music from the Appalachians where I grew up. The sound of the drone sounded like a double-stop approach where two strings are usually played together in Appalachian fiddle music. I listened to sound clip again and again. This was it. This whistle could create the "high lonesome’ sound of mountain music.
I own a Tully C. I think a great deal of his work. Unfortunately, I do not have the $300 for this whistle. However, I am very interested in attempting to make one myself. I am seeking any input from makers on the aspects of creating such a whistle.
mysusato
Try using a cheap plastic slide whistle as a drone. Because the slide whistle is a closed bore,it will take more breath pressure to “flip”(if it flips at all)allowing you to use the second octave on your melody pipe. The slide will help a great deal to “tune” it to 5ths 3rds sub-octaves etc. of any key whistle you own.(one octave lower is a good choice)
tip 1: It helps to have the mouthpiece of the slide/drone whistle in the corner of your mouth. Less breath pressure there.
Tip 2: Maybe use 2 slide/drone whistles tuned to a 5th and 3rd of the melody pipes key? 
Thomas Hastay.
[ This Message was edited by: Thomas-Hastay on 2002-02-20 19:42 ]
Hi My,
I agree with Thomas - the key is to control the flip. I do it at the fipple level, as I’m setting it in position. The idea is to make it a ‘harder’ blower so that as you blow into the second octave on the melody the first stays put. But I also like it to flip at some point, so it is a delicate balance.
When playing you can use your tongue as well as the position of the whistle in your mouth to focus the air where you want it to go, thus controling the octave even more.
Another important factor is the feel of the mouthpiece and it’s ability to not leak air. This is pretty tricky with 2 round objects glued together. My suggestion would be to make your’s from wood (unless you are good with solder or pvc cement). Take (2) 2" x .5" pieces of wood and router out two channels on each. Then glue the pieces back together. You’ve got the start of your whistle(s).
Happy creating,
Erik
Song of the Sea carries an “uillean” whistle chanter in “A” (for practice prior to getting real pipes). It comes with an optional slide whistle drone, and they’ve got some soundbites. http://www.songsea.com/uwc.htm