I mostly play High D cheapies nowadays, so I decided to sell this lovely Silkstone Alloy D. This handmade whistle by Paul Hayward, England, is not mentioned much here these days, but a great instrument nonetheless. It has a pure, singing tone throughout the whole range and is very well balanced. The tuning slide has two O-rings which is great. Volume is strong due to the wider barrel and the large, comfortably chamfered holes. Breath requirements are low compared to the volume you get out of it, the whistle has solid backpressure. I have often played this whistle on stage and got complimented how lovely it sounds - it is a real crowd pleaser. Some years ago I have put a sound clip of it on Clips&Snips: http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Audio/jig/jigofclonmore.mp3
Last year I had the chance to test a wooden Boisvert whistle - that one is quite similar in sound, though of different material. New this one comes for around 120 Euros, I am considering 80 Euros obo. PM or email me if interested. Thanks.
I don’t know about you, but I have found that my silkstone alloy high D is very squeaky. It’s probably because I’ve been playing the 20-pound chieftain for too long. Nevertheless, there is little room for breath control variation. Otherwise, it does indeed have a really sweet, flute-like sound and is great for soloing. In my view, it’s a bit too quiet for sessions.
-My experience with a Silkstone alloy whistle echos Wanderer’s, i.e. loud, particularly in high octave. Mine is D+ with the lower C hole, not precisely the same as standard D but similar. I’ve heard a narrow bore alloy D from Silkstone is available which would likely be quieter than the standard bore. Though loud they sweeten and lose harshness when warmed up which doesn’t take
long.
Quiet & squeaky? Have a hard time thinking that would be the case.
I have a Silkstone Alloy D (that I never play anymore, due to only playing low whistle these days…) that plays very, very nice. Quite smooth (no squeaks) and plenty of volume, esp. in the second octave.
FWIW, my SS Alloy high D is “on hold” for my 5 month old son. Wife & I sat down with him in the floor last night, and daddy played his Silkstone Alloy Low D while the little man “played” (i.e. slobbered all over and tried to eat…) the high D. Not much duet playing (yet), but great pics for Grandma.
