Good Sub for a O'Riordan

Whistle
1

Well the last two times I tried to lay my hands on a O’Riordan D and C I have fallen short.

What is a good sub for this whistle. I am looking for something that sounds sweet and mellow. What is the word out there on what sounds similar to a O’Riordan?

2

There is no substitute for an O’Riordan whistle. Some may prefer another maker, but in the end, there is no substitute. Two O’Riordan D/C sets are available at this time from Doc Jones. One has an Eb thrown in, for good measure… They are not inexpensive.

If you are interested:

https://www.irishflutestore.com/newsite/products.php?pw=1


The best to you in your search.
Byll

3

If you haven’t already done so, I would try an O’Riordan prior to paying the kind of prices people are asking for them. Validate for yourself that they are indeed “sweet and mellow”.

4

Killaloe,

I have a D/C set of O’riordan traveler whistles that I bought from Pat after a 5 year waite. IMHO they are not sweet and mellow but crisp and bright. Some people may say that they are sweet because of the expressive singing quality that they have. Sweet with alot of brightness would be my choice of words.

I have played and owned alot of whistle makes. Burke, Weasal, Abell, Overton, Alba, Busman, Sindt, Humphrey,Rose, Copeland.

The O’riordan is not my favorite whistle and is rarely played. It’s not just how the O’riordan sounds but how does it feel and how does it play? There is really nothing out there that is similiar. If you said sweet and mellow I would probably say a burke brass session but if you want somthing that is sweet with a crisper top end I would say the Busman. The Rose is actually the closest to an O’Riordan in that it is clear and bright with very little back pressure. The rose has small tone holes and is subject to squeeking if you blow to hard so I wouldn’t say that it plays or feels like and O’riordan.

Hope this helps,

Nate

5

Thanks Nate

I have on Order a OZ whistle.

I have head a number of O’Riordan in recordings. I guess sweet and mellow is not the right description. Bright and woodsy? lol

I think its the allure of having a whistle that is hard to get. Boy do I have Whoa BAD!!!

6

OZ whistles seem to be in high demand right now! I have never played one but if it lives up to the reviews I have read you should have a top notch whistle. (one of the best!)

A Busman whistle is the closest fit to for “woodsy and bright”. Although woodsy is a subjective term. Wooden whistles don’t really sound that woodsy to me. They have a different feel and sound than a metal whistle but I wouldn’t call it woodsy.

I tried a wooden whistle by Tommy that was sweet and mellow. The new wooden whistle by Anderson is pretty sweet and mellow. It has the sweetest second octave I have ever played but the first octave is a little week.

Nate

7

Just chiming in because i have the whistles being mentioned.

  • Agreed that the D/C O’Riordan Travelers are crisp and bright as opposed to sweet and mellow; however, a note: the Bflat/A/G of this series are heavenly sweet and mellow yet strong of tone - they are my favorites of all whistles in those respective keys. The D/C set is really fine but does not distinguish itself so much from lots of other makes IMO.

  • The OZ whistle I have is terrific; it’s delrin with silver fittings and probably not a bad “substitute” for the O’Riordan Traveler.

  • I know I’m repeating myself, but at reasonable cost, you can’t go wrong with the likes of a Sindt or Burke, either of which would probably allow you to play them in a reasonably “sweet and mellow” manner.

Enjoy.

Philo