Hi chiffers, I’m interested in your recommendations for a particular sort of D whistle: basically a Generation or Feadóg type whistle on steroids.
Some background: I enjoy the traditional chiffy sound and response of my Feadógs, and they tend to be my preferred whistles at home for casual practice. But since my performance situations tend to be unamplified – sessions, small venues – I find that the Feadóg’s relatively quiet voice isn’t always up to the task of coping with larger groups or spaces.
In those settings, the Burke Aluminum D is my workhorse whistle, a wonderful all-round instrument in every way. For more volume, my Susato D does the trick, and plays well. But both sacrifice the more “traditional” sound for their own unique advantages.
So is there a D whistle out there that, if you close your eyes, sounds and plays just like a large-bore Feadóg or Generation, with lots of both chiff and volume? Cheap or expensive is irrelevant. I’m not collecting, just thinking of a working whistle that meets the criteria.
There is one big problem with what you are looking for. Most of the big volume whistles manage to achieve this volume because they sacrifice the chiff to get a more pure tone. This tone cuts through other instruments, which is primarily why it’s so easy to hear.
Look at the big players for loud whistles, Susato, Copelans, Chieftain, Burke..et al. What they mostly have in common is a very pure tone. Sindts are a little louder(than the aversge Gen), as are Black Diamonds, but they aren’t as loud as your Burke/Susato (they sacrifice some volume for the more chiffy sound).
I honestly think that if you really need that volume and want some chiff in your playing, a high D flute (piccalo?) would be the way to go. Otherwise, I guess that’s why some of us own about a score of D whistles.
Mr Burke and other pro whistlemaker members may make the modifications you need to get the sound you wish. It is in their best interest to create new models to serve their public.
I suggest a 1mm to 3mm reduction of the bore in the nodal area between the top tonehole and the voiceing window. This will improve low notes and increase backpressure at the window for greater loudness. The decrease of internal volume will raise the keynote, but a little tuning cures this.
This tweak is an easy “metal spinning” job on a metal tube whistle and can be done even on a simple lathe. For those with plastic or wooden whistles, a roll of paper expanded at the nodal location and “hot waxed” will work fine and it’s easily adjusted/removed.
I wonder if this isn’t a function of more air escaping that isn’t just driving the tone. I have noticed that some whistles hiss a lot more than others and it seems like that constant sound would affect how pure we thought the sound was.Hmmm.
Reyburns are loud and chiffy and have a fairly complex tone. They might be just what you’re looking for. At $140 for a D/C set - they’re a great value too.
First, thanks for all the thoughtful suggestions. Please keep them coming. And does anyone have experience with the Chieftain mezzo D or the new Dixon DX002?
Yes, that’s my observation, too. I’ve systematically measured my whistles with a decibel meter, and contrary to perception, the Feadóg is actually comparable to the Burke in volume. But subjectively, chiff doesn’t cut through like a purer, less complex tone. Hence the interest in a big chiffer.
Very interesting. I’ve done the paper tube modification with recorders before to tweak the tuning and/or tone. So there’s no reason not to try it with a whistle. I’ve also found that lumps or shapes of blue-tack putty inserted as chokes in the bore can produce interesting results. So I’ll definitely experiment with your suggestion.
Well, I’ve already promised Wynder at WhistleThis that I’d try to put up more clips in the coming weeks. But no guarantee of jazzed-up versions. I don’t want to get into trouble, you know.
Now - - - > Because it has such a large bore you will need to be pushing everything above high G into tune. It is possible - in fact, it feels quite natural when you are playing that loud.
Get the tunable one - this is necessary to balance your style since the tuning thing is going to be largely up to your ear. I.E you will be tuning to yourself rather than the other instruments.
Another thing you may do is to get a cheap Generation D and file the ramp to make the window 1 millimeter longer. try to keep the edge-angle as it was - you might also need to lower the ramp a bit using some sort of shim. This will make the whistle sharp so make sure you can move the head out to compensate. The air requirement will go up and the tuning will wander between the notes. You might destroy a couple of whistles doing this. Thomas H’s bore mods might help - bees wax is good - doesn’t need to be very tidy since all it is doing is making the waves move slower at the head of the tube - this will compress the tone-hole effects and make the higher notes drift-in to the bell - you may need to enlarge them from G-up but the second octave will still be a push to huff them into tune. You may be able to place some wax-blobs in the tube instead of enlarging the holes - get a bit of wax on a guitar string and push it in and out while watching your tuner - it’s an education. I have seen a gen perfected in this way - and looking in the tube was like looking under Stimpy’s chair (AKA the life-long booger collection). Careful not to make spit-wells or your tuning will change during the performance
If you’re looking for the chiffy sound the Chieftain nor the Dixon is a good choice. I had a chieftain high D. And indeed it’s too loud and with far too much backpressure. I sold it to Ian Turnbull and got a few whistles of his in return, the Impempe. I love the sound of it but it’s very round and complex, nothing like the gen. Dixon’s sound is not chiffy either.. Tweaking a gen is quite easy to do as is said, I did mine and it sure was an improvement.
A Syn is more then adequate for any session, the sindts i have heard before with great clarity, and a susato if you have the breath control
The best bang for the buck, a Syn, no question in my mind,
For what its worth
David
