Well, the flute up on eBay The Rugmerchant sold for my asking price. The WHOA is grabbing me again. I’m a sick human being.
I checked earlier threads about Grinter whistles. I even phoned Paul Groff about a week and a half ago because the last info that Dale had is several years old. Paul was under the impression that Grinter was out of the whistle business. Someone noted here–and Paul admitted–that he takes a significant markup on Grinter stuff, and that I might do well to call or write to Grinter myself.
I did. And he answered within a day or two. He’s not out of the whistle business by a long shot. He makes them in just about all known keys, 3 to 4 months from order to delivery. He wasn’t precise about the types of wood he uses.
I’m not going to sound like Kevin Crawford unless a transmigration of souls occurs and I become Kevin Crawford–but I want a wooden whistle.
I’ve got four Burke whistles, so the main keys are covered. I want a decent B-flat, and it’s just time to expand the horizons a bit. I’ve got two Generation B-flats and they’re dogs. I refuse to play doctor with a piece of sandpaper, sutures, and chloroform. Copelands sound spectacular but they’re not wood.
Which leaves Grinter and the Thin Weasel. Which leaves one about $100 less than the other. The latter is the pricier by far.
Has anyone out there in WhistleLand experienced both whistles and can they comment on the relative merits? I know where the Thin Weasel in B-flat can be had yesterday. I’m willing to wait on a Grinter but I want some sense that I’m about to have something akin to a religious experience.
What say you?
[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-09-20 21:07 ]
Michael still makes whistles. E-mail him (check his webpage for the address) to get on the list.
Best,
Chris
I’m hoping to have my first Grinter in a couple of weeks, at which point I will have Grinter and TW both in D. I will certainly offer my comments on the board.
One thing I can say is don’t judge Glenn’s wooden whistles by his PVC ones. The D’s are not different in type, just degree, but the C’s are entirely different beasts (I really dunno about the Bb). The bore of the TW C is probably 1/8-1/4 inch larger than the WW C. It gives the wooden whistle an air of authority and general bigness that the PVC just plain doesn’t have. Of course the wooden Bb isn’t going to be less of a whistle than the PVC, which is already pretty damn nice.
Ken,
Check your messages
I recently acquired both a TW and a Grinter Bflat. Both Michael and Glenn happened to have them in the making when I called so neither wait was long. Michael made me one in red lancewood to match the D and Low F I already had. Glenn sent me one in Honduran rosewood. I think I posted something akin to a comparison some time ago.
Both are superb and differences in tone are subtle and best left to personal taste. Craftsmanship of both is excellent also.
Here are the design differences.
TW has a wider bore.
TW has a wooden fipple housed within a stainless steel mouthpiece. Grinter has a wooden fipple pinned within a lancewood mouthpiece.
The TW has a somewhat longer top shaft although the whistles are equal length.
The tuning slide on the Grinter has a slightly better fit.
The ferrules on the Grinter are brass and are wider, have cut rings and are prettier than the stainless steel ferrules on the TW.
The top two finger holes on the Grinter are set a bit closer together as are the fourth and fifth holes. The Grinter finger holes are noticeably smaller than the TW holes, although shape and finish is the same.
The arc of the blow holes is about the same, and that of the TW is somewhat wider.
They both sound terrific and play easily across both octaves.
Also I’m not sure why you’re not considering an Abell blackwood Bflat which is my favorite of these three fine whistles. Gee, did I just make this more difficult? Abell’s a 3-month wait. Fittings are sterling silver with some etching; has a sort of squat mouthpiece with a highly arced less wide blow hole. Finger holes are mostly just like the Grinter. WHen you get used to the mouthpiece, it’s the best IMHO. Very flutey and with more chiff than the other two.
You simply can’t go wrong with any of these.
Good luck and enjoy.
Regards, Philo