I’ve been playing the tin whistle for approx. 10-11 years, I’m 21, and I’m planning to venture into the ‘high-end’ spectrum of whistle buying.
Now my main instruments have always been oboe and guitar, and I’ve been spending most of my instrument money on those things, but I’ve decided I could do with a nice, quality tin whistle as well. (pretty much since I can’t afford an uilleann pipe, but that’s another story.) So, having been consumed by guitar obsessing, I haven’t yet touched the deeper world of whistles.
To put it short: I like Planxty (among so many other bands). I like the tone of Liam’s whistle on the live DVD ‘Planxty live 2004’ and I would like something similar, 150$ (roundabout £80 for you Brits) is pretty much my top budget limit (struggling student…), being an oboe player I could do with a whistle with some amount of back pressure, it can’t be all to loud since I live in a student room with fairly thin walls. (But if the tone is great I could live with loudness.)
OK, I didn’t put it short, but to really put it short: you have 150$ to spend on whistle, what do you buy, and why? Oh, and I want a normal D one. (High?) And tuneable would be a plus, but isn’t necessary.
There are many threads on this, and you’ll get a wide variety of answers here.
But if your post suggests that you are wanting a high amount of back-pressure, then whistles you may be interested in (in that price range) are Overton and Kerry. Many people love the Burke, (which also costs $150), but they’re easier-blowing, and less like oboe than the first two.
I suggest you do some searching and browsing of old forum threads.
Burkes might not suit your backpressure needs, though. My jazz teacher,
who is primarily a Sax player, liked my Syns the most. My OBrien Traveler
also has some decent (not high) backpressure you can lean into.
I’ve had a glance through the high’end guide, and with the help of some other tips, I’m currently leaning towards a Burke or an Overton. (In addition to the Planxty 2004 thread, if anyone knows what he plays on As I roved out (Christy), also the first track, The Starting Gate), that’s a tone I really like. Argh I hate not being able to try whistles in person, since it’s such a ‘personal’ instrument.
Haha I know, which is why have a shelf full of them. So yeah, I’m basically leaning towards a Burke quite a lot…what’s the sound difference between brass and aluminium? Is the brass a bit more mellow?
He has a steady stream of quality used instruments in your price range (including Burke and Overton) and has been known to let them go out for a test drive from time to time. He would have to qualify that though.
If I had about $150 and no high end whistles - I’d have three choices.
Reyburn High D/C Set (US$140.00 + shipping)
Save a little more and get an Overton Tuneable High D (approx US$200 + shipping)
Freeman Tweaked full Bb to high G Generation 6 whistle set (approx US$160 + shipping)
The Reyburn is a great deal because you get two different keys at a great price. Plus Reyburn whistles are stunning.
The Overton is - well - it’s an Overton. They’re flat out wonderful if you can afford it.
The Freeman full set is not “high end,” but the versatility of the full set is great. And a Bb Gen is probably the sweetest whistle you’ll get at the price. These will be the quietest of the three choices.
(Phew, I finally shut up)
So yeah, I’m basically leaning towards a Burke quite a lot…what’s the sound difference between brass and aluminium? Is the brass a bit more mellow?