Hello to all!!
I’m going to by a Susato Low whistle. (it will be my first!)
Which key should I get first?
Which is the lowest key you can get that you don’t have to use the other hand position?
Which key is used the most by players?
I want to take this time to say that this site is great & all of you have been of great help to me.
Thanks very much to all!!!
It may just be my stubby fingers, but an “A” is the lowest whistle I can play without using the “pipers grip”
I have an “F” susato, and rather like the tone, and it’s in tune (but my Alba “D” is lots better.
I cannot finger tip it (the susato), though 
Hi Treasach,
Anything below around F and I need to switch to piper fingering - though I have smallish hands. If you have larger hands, you could try a low D, but if you’re really worried about it, I would start with an F or G. Low D is the most prevalant.
On the other hand, piper fingering is not something to be scared of. Proficiency will come pretty quickly. I will sometimes even use it up into the Bb’s.
Have fun with your new whistle.
Erik
I have a Susato Low D and the Dixon Low D whistle/flute combo, but haven’t done too well with them. My Susato Low G is about as low as I can go, though I haven’t tried an F or E. My fingers are on the long side for a woman, but they’re thin and sometimes have a hard time covering the big holes on the lower whistles. I’ve heard other low Ds are better than Susato as far as fingering etc. but I’m sure others who have tried more low Ds can give you further advice. Enjoy!
If you cannot manage the low D then you might want to consider a low G. Much of Irish music is in the key of G although they do tend to hit the lower D note in a lot of them. You could always just play them on the G as if you had the low D and let the instrument transpose the music for you. Other than that, I really like the sound of a G.
I play my Dixon A as much as any of my lower whistles. When in a “low” mood I’ll usually play on the D for a bit, then move up and it’s generally to the A.
I’ve got skinny fingers and it did take some practice to learn just how to reach those holes AND cover the holes on the D but it can be done. I second the previous thought that piper’s grip is not some hard thing to learn. Heck, that’s the way I play all my whistles. Which, come to think of it, may be why I never thought of anything other than the low D as taking any extra thought or effort.(and that’s because of the skinny fingers)
I don’t understand why you decided it has to be a Susato.
Their low D seems to me as one of the most difficult to handle for a beginner.
If it’s a question of price, and it’s a low D you insist on, why don’t you get a Dixon, or a used recent Howard, or Kerry? Or save just a bit more, get an Alba, so easy to beginners.
Then is it wise to start from the low D, instead of working your way… down starting from an F?
Edited out - double post 
I agree with Zoob…the Susato Low D looks tacky and has that ermm Susato sound which is an acquired taste - unless the newer ones are better (sorry Susato fans) and would be about my last choice.
Dixon is much better if you want plastic IMHO. I don’t use piper’s fingering on any of my Low D’s (Copeland, Kerry Pro, Howard at the present time). You would need fairly wide fingers for a Howard but it’s good value.
Trisha
Dixon.
I think I’ve said enough.
I just received my Mack Hoover low D white cap aluminum. I had been playing (or trying to play) my Susato low D for months, without much success. I had almost given up hope that I could ever cleanly play a low D whistle. Thanks to some members on this board I was persuaded to get a Hoover low D, even though I wasn’t convinced that my abilities were good enough to warrant the expense of another low D whistle (BTW the Hoover is not much different in price than a Susato).
Mack Hoover is a genius, an artisan and an artist. The Hoover low D fingers and plays so easily, I think I could play a double jig on it (if I knew any). No more leaks, no more squeaking, no more jumping octaves. The bell note is easy to hit. I can’t say enough about how much this whistle has changed my perception of how easy a low D should be to play. (Thank you Brian).
My point is, if your are going to buy a low whistle, get a good one that is easy to play (and a Hoover is a great choice). It can make all the difference as to how you perceive low whistles in general, and whether you struggle with them, or enjoy them.
I have to agree. Go for a Hoover. Let Mack know what you’re looking for.
(Edited to correct the URL to Mack’s site.)
Hello to all!!
Thanks for all the help!
Money is one of the points of thinking in which whistle that I buy.
I’m trying to keep the price down because I plan on buying another whistle of better quality later. (when I know what I am doing)
But it needs to be a whistle that I like to play, so I’ll play it.
My problem is that I have never seen a Low D whistle, (in person) much less played one.
I’ll check out the whistles that have been listed so far on the forum.
What I need to know is :
Is it better to start with a low D whistle?
Or start with a low F whistle then get a low D later (whistle of better quality)?
I’m going to order a whistle Friday.
I have 42 hours overtime on this check!!
So any help that you can give me I will be very thankful for!! 
The first whistle I ever bought a Colin Goldie Low D. I like it a lot. The stretch is decent, for me, and my wife REALLY likes the sound of it. She says it is sexy.
If money is the issue then yes, Dixon or Susato would be the way to go.
At our SF gathering recently John Palmer played his brown Susato low D. I was pleasantly surprised at the fairly pleasing sound considering all the bad press that aspect of the whistle has received. I did not play it or hold it (had a cold that day) but it did look to have a pretty big spread. I have heard the Dixon is more finger spread friendly.
Steven
Another reason to buy a Hoover, before he figures out he’s been selling his whistles for a lot less than they’re worth!
My main recommendation, though is take your time and be sure to contact the makers you’re interested in. Let them know specifically what you’re looking for, what you’re afraid of, etc. Buy directly from the makers, not from a store or eBay.
Is it better to start with a low D whistle?
Or start with a low F whistle then get a low D later (whistle of better quality)?
I started with a Susato low F then bought a Dixon low D. The finger stretch is not much different. After a few weeks I got the hang of the pipers grip and I hardly ever touch the Susato now. I love the low bell note on the Dixon. It is fairly quiet and takes very little breath. Couldn’t play anything fast on it, but then that would go for any low D I expect.
This topic has been done to death before of course. eg
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=14830&highlight=
Brian
I have a Dixon low D Duo, and like it well enough (easy to play, moderate hand stretch, quiet) but it’s almost too quiet for my taste, and the low D and E are noticably weak.
Nice for late-night playing, especially slow airs. Not really suited to even slow jigs or hornpipes, though. You can play it faster with the flute head, and it has a LOT more volume that way; perhaps because of this I almost never play it as a whistle any more, even though I’m a more skilled whistler than flutist.
But I play my Serpent Low F all the time. Takes a minute or two to warm up, but then it’s stable all night. Solid bell note, lovely voice, very even volume across two octaves. And as easy to play high-whistle style as using piper’s grip (I have medium-size male hands). Had a chance to do a direct comparison with a couple of Overton Low F whistles a couple of weeks back (SF get-together) and thought that it stood up pretty well to that competition (that is, I wanted one of EACH 
instead of a trade).
But the trade-off is cost - a Serpent costs twice what a Susato or Dixon does. (If only about half the cost of an Overton). I think a good whistle like an Overton, Burke, or Serpent is well worth it if you’re serious (or just need some volume). If you don’t need the volume, the Dixons are decent whistles (and I’d choose a low Dixon over a low Susato).
Don: Are you referring to a Low D re the Alba whistle? How easy is it to finger (piper, that is) in terms of hole size, and is clogging much of an issue. I’m asking because I have loads of ongoing trouble with my bony fingers and my Overton, which also is very given to moisture problems.
The Alba Low “D” has a reasonable reach (using the pipers grip) and an absolutely fantastic tone.
If you want to hear an Alba low whistle played quickly try this link
http://www.tinwhistler.com/misc/samples/alba_beer.mpg
Its the Wandering whistler playing a short clip on the Alba Low D tour.
Not only does Greg play a mean tune, he also did a good review of this whistle in this link:
http://www.gaeliccrossings.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=564
Other impressions of the Alba Low D are here:
http://www.gaeliccrossings.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=584
It has a beautiful tone. Plus it’s a delightful instrument. It even makes me sound pretty good. And I have no problems with moisture
Overton moisture problem: warm the whistle well and blow as hard as you can without losing the tone.