I just bought a Howard Low D, and was very disapointed in the way it sounded. This was even in the notes that it was easy to play, so I don’t think it was just my being a raw beginner with low whistles.
I read a review on them, and the sound was called “reedy”. I would say that it sounded, as one whistle player commented somewhere, more like “blowing over a coke bottle”.
Is it just me, or is it the whistle? Should I just chuck the idea of playing the low whistle, and stick to normal sized whistles? Or should I look at other low whistles? I’ve heard that Cillian O’ Briain makes good low whistles. That’s jumping a bit in price, but perhaps that’s what’s needed.
Thanks for the suggestions–perhaps I’m not giving it enough time. I’ve heard it said that low whistles are a whole other type of animal, and not one easily tamed.
Hey, that’s a Howard, not a Hoover, right, or did i miss something?
I have a Howard. It’s not one of those whistles that you use to make long mournful sounds that remind people of Stonehenge in the myst, etc. The Howard is a pretty aggressive whistle, and one of the loudest low Ds. It’s good for playing fast music, and stands out ok in a session. It’s not easy to control either, it takes a lot of air, and has a tendency to squeak and rasp. For a low D that plays itself and purrs like a kitten, try a Burke.
Actually, I was looking for a low D that would sound like “one of those whistles that you use to make long mournful sounds that remind people of Stonehenge in the mist” (very nicely put, by the way).
For some reason, I thought the Howard would be that type of whistle…It’s obvious I didn’t do enough of my homework. Does the Burke give that melancholic haunting sound? Is that his aluminium whistle, or the wood and resin model?
Baen, the Aluminum Burke would probably be closer to the sound you’re looking for than the Howard. Alba is another possibility. Overton is probably the most famous low whistle.
A good place to find a lot of these whistles is http://www.thewhistleshop.com; there are good reviews there too. Another good option is to work directly with the maker; this way sometimes you can get the whistle customized for the kind of sound you want.
I play a Howard low C, not a low D, but if anything that should be worse, not better. The holes are large and therefore hard to seal—I think this must be your problem. My low C does sound reedy and not the way you describe your D. I wouldn’t say it’s easy to play well though; it takes a lot of work.
For a low D, value for money, an Overton is impossible to beat. My favourite low D is a Copeland but they are pricey. I have a Reyburn I like too, but it has offset holes which are a bit of a pain for me. Each of these has lovely complex overtones and each has its own personality. I don’t own a Burke low D but, based on the Burkes I do own and Burke low Ds I have heard, it would also be a very good choice.
Consider a Dixon low D. Not expensive, nice sound, easy to play (after a couple of months practice ), low breath requirement, eerh what else, ah yes easily jumps from C# XXXXXX to A XXXXXX, (sic) eg in Dark Island
I just visited my friends who have a “Celtic” shop. They had to Howards – low D and C – for sale.
I didn’t like their sounds (plural…), but after inspection, one detail struck me.
Both mouthpieces had totally rough casting marks, the kind you see on those batches of cheap tin-whistles when the manufacturer kept spitting out heads way past the acceptable wear of the dies.
So, it may be a deffective Howard might need just basic tweaking: cleaning up the windway exit, checking the blade is smooth.
2) Alternative head
I have a hunch that Howard and Kerry plastic heads are interchangeable, maybe with the help of a couple turns of Teflon plumbers’ tape.
The Kerry head was recently redesigned, and I found the new model an improvement. It sounds really close to an alloy head, and gives some back-pressure. Fitting it on the more resonant brass tube of the Howard may be interesting.
I understand Phil Hardy supplies these heads separately on request, as an upgrade for older Kerries. Also, it is cheaper than the separate Howard head.
I had one of the early Howard Low D whistles, which I gave away because the tone holes were too large for my fingers and I had trouble sealing. I guess it’s true however that the Howard has changed from what some have said here, because the tone of my Howard was beautiful and haunting; I just couldn’t get it easily enough. I have an O’Briain Low D and it has a wonderful sound but again the tone holes are somewhat large and it’s not one I’d recommend for a beginner; the O/Brain Low F on the other hand is easy to play.
Many say the Overton has that ‘stonehenge’ sound you’re looking for, but for me that sound is achieved most readily and completely in Copelands. You will get varying opinions on this. I haven’t yet tried the Burke Viper low D or the new Elfsong Low D or an Alba Low D. Maybe you should consider an easier “low” whistle key first, like G?
I do agree with the “give it time” idea–this is not a whistle you’ll be good at playing in only a few months. Then again, I think that’s true of any low whistle.
The reach is pretty impressive on the right hand; I can play my Susato low D without piper fingering, but the Howard requires it.
I do like the Howard and enjoy playing it. When I get home tonight I’ll try to record a slow piece and a fast piece on it and post them here.
I have a Howard low D for trade if anyone’s interested. I bought the thing 16 years ago but it is never used as the holes are huge and I have great difficulty forming a consistant air seal.
From what I’ve gleaned on this board it would seem the old Howard has larger holes and a greater stretch than most other low D’s, however I don’t believe most of them were available back in 1987 - unfortunately.
I’d be interested in any sweet/mellow/quiet whistle in Bflat, C or low G.
A chrome Howard was my fist low D which I purchased off of Ebay. As I noodled around a bit trying to get used to the different grip I really was impressed by the resonant low notes but was startled by the completely different tone of the upper octave. It takes a bit of a push to make the jump but the darn thing sounded like I had just swapped whistles at the high D. Looking for a reason, the only noticable flaw in the whistle was in the plastic fipple…the windway is noticably skewed to the blade so it looks as if the fipple is twisted a bit. Chalked this one up to “Buyer Beware”. I always figured I’d try to steam the plastic and try a bit of Kentucky Windage adjustment to the mouthpiece to straighten things out a bit since the plastic seems much more pliable than the Generation style.
I asked for help/advice on buying my first Low D whistle some weeks ago, and was advised that a Dixon was the best choice. I have not been disappointed. The tone is mellow and chocolately, easy to play using piper’s fingering, with low breath requirements, and three octaves easily reached. I am a beginner, but have had nothing but very positive experiences with the Dixon. Thank you to all those who replied to me, you were totally correct in your advice, and I can only suggest the same to you, if you want a good experience with a Low D whistle.
Howards have improved considerably in the
last few years, there is a
new whistle head which makes the second octave
more accessible. I’ve measured the distance
between holes and they’re closer together
than on other low Ds I’ve measured.
Maybe the size of the holes will be a
problem for some.
The Dixon is a very nice low D, too.
It depends on how much you like
the sound of PVC in a low D.
Every Dixon I’ve ever seen/heard/tried seemed widely variable in tone and playability. I never cared for their sound myself…always seemed weak and unfocused - regardless of the key. The Howard low D I recently received plays beautifully by contrast, as have every other Howard low D or C I’ve tried.
The tone is different from any other low whistle I’ve played and for my money it doesn’t get any better (that I have found to date anyway). As far as that sort of haunting tone that reminds you of mist covered vales and riverdance and all that, the Howard is the only whistle I’ve played which I would say come even close to that tone - certainly much more than any Overton, Chieftain, Kerry, Copeland, etc. etc. I’ve played.
If this is your first low whistle, give it some time. It takes a while to figure out the quirks of both the fingering and the breath requirements.
The one Whistle that I haven’t heard anyone talk about for a Low D is Susato. Because price was a bit of a concern for me, Susato’s seemed like a good option. I have really enjoyed playing it an find the action and tone just fine - I have long fingers and play it either piper fingering or fingertip style.
(for my regular D I play a wooden O’Riordan and LOVE it).
Am I correct in assuming that most people wouldn’t consider playing one in a session because it’s plastic? Or is there another reason no one has mentioned Sssato?
), low breath requirement, eerh what else, ah yes easily jumps from C# XXXXXX to A XXXXXX, (sic) eg in Dark Island