I’ve recently noticed several people say that perhaps quality control at Generation has improved and that it is now possible to get a good Generation straight out of the box without tweaking. Can anyone put a date to this improvement, ie can anyone say, roughly, at which point shipments contained more good whistles?
Like most whistlers, I’m keen to have one or more good Generations, and I’d like to improve my chances by dipping only into likely looking batches.
I can’t put a date on it (who knows how long this whistle was on the shelf), but I bought a Gen C about a month ago that was wonderful right off the bat (and it’s a good thing because my efforts at tweaking have met with failure thus far)! I was so surprised. I don’t know if it’s perfectly in tune, but it’s certainly in tune with itself and lovely to play.
Susan
Thanks Susan, perhaps with a few more comments we’ll find a reliable date. I’m sure I’ve heard several reports along the lines of yours and, yes, I do know a few dealers who would tell me honestly when the last load came in. I’m not one for tweaking either; I have several unplayable Gens waiting for the moment of inspiration that never comes.
I would put the start of it at roughly a year ago; however, it is certainly still possible to pick up a horribly bad Gen.
For whatever it’s worth, though, the last several I have bought were just fine. As far as tuning, I only have a few whistles that show to be “in tune” by a digital tuner anyway–Serpent, Syn, Susato–and I don’t find Gens to be as a group any better or worse in tuning than any other brand.
–James
To those who have recent Generations: is the mouthpiece plastic exactly the same colour as your old ones? I bought a Gen nickel Eb 3-4 months ago and it is quite lovely. The blue is a bit lighter, and a tiny little bit translucent or whitish at the edges. My old ones are solid blue.
But maybe it is just better because it is an Eb.
Sonja
I bought an Eb generation in the past 5 months and the mouthpiece is a lighter blue.
I received several good ones from The Whistle Shop last month.
A guy in my dorm got a Generation in Ireland, I’m not sure when or where, but its pitch is nice and it doesn’t sound like it needs any tweaking whatsoever. Of course, I only heard a couple slidey scales played on it. But it wasn’t obviously out of tune like a Walton’s I recently bought.