Freeman Tweaked MellowDog

After all is said and done in regards to WHOA I feel that one whistle is all I need. I’ve sold my Sindts and Humphreys, and canceled my orders I think for the money there is none better whistle than these. But for purposes of playing as a amatuer I can’t see any reason to have any other whistle than a Freeman Tweaked MellowDog. In fact my WHOA extends to two D’s and a C, One D and the C at my computer station and one D at my drawing table. Now I’ve just got to fit the money in to buy the extra D and C. These whistles really play well. I know there’s much debate over wether one needs to spend a lot of money on expensive whistles. That all the great players played Gens and did just fine. I also realize our own Peter Laban can really make a Gen sing. But for my big hands the larger tube diameter of the MellowDog suits me to a “T”. To my ear they sound pure and sweet just like I like them. But the real point is to play what you like and progress at playing the whistle. SO wether it be one whistle or a whole bag just play.

yessirreebob

I agree. The Mellow Dog could easily be the only whistle a player might ever ever need. It is a fantastic whistle at a low price IMHO.

I have to add my agreement. I’ve really enjoyed my MellowDog.

By the way, Jerry - How’s about that list of all the keys of all the whistles you are currently tweaking and their prices that you said you’d put together? The Undisputedtm will probably not allow you to post it here, but a PM would be nice . . .

I haven’t forgotten. I’m in the midst of completing batches of a few different whistles. As soon as they’re ready, I’ll post an announcement.

Best wishes,
Jerry

I seem to remember something about a new whistle (not a tweak) from Mr. Freeman. Rumor?

Whatever it may be, I hope it plays a lot like a MellowDog.

No, it’s not a rumor. It will be a couple of months, or maybe more, depending on how technical aspects fall into place. The whistle will be modelled on the tweaked Mellow Dog, so it should be very similar, if not identical. In the meantime, I’ll continue to provide tweaked Mellow Dogs as always.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Must say that I love my mellow dog!! It’s the only whistle that I’ve played since I got it (which was about three/four weeks ago). Nice work Jerry!! :smiley:

Jumping on the old band wagon. Mine is with me at all times.

I have a couple of questions about the Mellow Dog, and this seems an appropriate thread for them.

Is it OK to clean it with soapy water? I haven’t had a tweaked whistle before. Will warm soapy water or isopropyl alcohol have any negative effects on the cavity-filler or re-built ramp and its glue?

Does the plastic head hold up OK over time switching between the D-body and a C-body?

Thanks,
Jason

It’s OK to use soapy water.

Don’t use alcohol inside the mouthpiece. Alcohol won’t hurt the soundblade laminations, which are done with epoxy. However, the fill under the windway is done with a claylike material that is soft when new and then becomes leathery over time. The material filling under the windway can be softened/dissolved by alcohol. Also, you don’t want to poke anything into the filling under the windway, as it can dent.

The whistlehead will hold up over time switching back and forth between D and C tubes. I round over the square edge on the Mellow D tubes I use on my tweaked Mellow Dogs so they won’t score the inside of the whistlehead socket. The C tubes are already machined at the factory so they won’t score inside the mouthpiece.

Best wishes,
Jerry

The Mellow Dog is the one whistle I will never…ever…sell. They may have to bury me with that thing someday. No way they’ll pry it loose from my hands.

Would someone mind posting a clip of a nicely played mellow dog? Although I’ve heard tons about them I’ve never actually heard one played.
Much thanks.

Find several here, posted by Wanderer, plus a good review.
http://www.tinwhistler.com/music/reviews/srcreview.asp?keyword=mellowdog

This is one of the sampleson Jerry’s eBay listings.

Carol

Jerry is the new whistle going to replace the Mellow Dog or are you going to offer both? The new whistle sounds like it could be a winner if it’s like the Mellow Dog. Any details? Fipple material? I assume the tube is going to be brass? We have to plan ahead you know.

:smiley:

The new whistle will replace the tweaked Mellow Dog. I’ve had to limit to only a few, the places where tweaked Mellow Dogs are available because I can only make a limited number of them.

My intention is to make the whistle that is now the tweaked Mellow Dog in a new version faithful to the design in every detail, that can be made in batches of five or ten thousand and distributed everywhere whistles are sold worldwide.

I’ve made a study of mass production methods for this, and I’m certain I can hold the same level of precision craftsmanship through batches of thousands that I presently hold through batches limited to 30 at a time that I produce by hand.

The new whistle will have a brass tube and an injection molded mouthpiece, very similar to the materials the tweaked Mellow Dog uses now.

Best wishes,
Jerry

My, that was beautiful. Thanks.

Wow, Jerry! That’s going to be very interesting to watch for.
I also suspect a run on the Original MellowDog market, soon.
I just (finally) bought one…

…Just ordered a tweaked Mellow Dog from Jerry’s eBay listing.
!!! You never know !!!

Bernez