I’ve played flute for a long time. I’ve been frustrated with my inability to play the whistle. Turns out it might have been more the Waltons I’ve been frustrated with. I just received a Dixon Trad D from a forum member. It blows sweet and true. Much more in tune than the Waltons. The upper register just sings out with very little effort. I’m having so much fun!
Deb
Nice aren’t they. I love the sweet top end they have. I play mine an awful lot.
I love my Dixon Trad 
I like the Dixon Trad a bunch and its not very loud but as of this writing its right up there with my Jerry freeman whistles that have been tweaked…the Tony Dixon Trad needs no tweaking it is a great little whistle JMHO
www.tuxedomusic.com
That raises an interesting point / question. Jerry, have you tried tweaking a Dixon, or would you agree with Mickey that it needs no tweaking. Might a good whistle test be “does this whistle need a Freeman tweak?” Ok, I can imagine that Jerry might not want / need to tweak the less popular / ubiquitous whistles, but it has got me thinking…
I have one too. They’re real nice, aren’t they — I love mine.
According to this guy’s review, the Dixon seems to have some intonation problems. Has anyone else had this problem, or was this just a manufacturing fluke? Note that this review was of a tunable polymer soprano D.
I’ve got two Dixon high D whistles, a nickel trad and one of the tuneable polymer whistles (the one with the brass slide). The intonation is really decent on with the trad, but a little idiosyncratic on the plastic whistle when you get up into the second octave. It’s not terrible, but I do find myself having to compensate for it, whereas the trad is just a dream to play. I’ve am strongly considering getting the E flat and E as well. I wish he made a C trad!
My Dixon (polymer soprano D) has the same tuning issues described in the review.
I was waiting for someone to bring this subject up… here goes: The Tony Dixon Trad Brass “D” IS the only whistle I own that is A-440 on every damn note up and down the whistle…the truth! Right out of its plastic case it was that way. Maybe, I got a good one? Maybe other owners will chime in here. Edit: I have a Dixon Polymer DX012 Low “D” whistle that is not in-tune up and down the whistle but it sounds very good.
http://www.tuxedomusic.com
This deserves another
I am also impressed by the intonation of this whistle. I have a good ear, and can adjust accordingly, but not to the extent that the Walton seemed to require. The Dixon Trad will be much more fun to play with a group. I’m really loving it!
Deb
the only whistle I own that is A-440 on every damn note up and down the whistle…
Is it a one note whistle?
all joking aside - I am assuming that by this comment that you are saying that when played into a tuner of some sort the tuner indicates close to 0 cents error for all the notes.
Perhaps, just maybe, some whistles are not intended to produce equal tempered scales - a just third is about 14 cents flat for example.
I have a Low D aluminium tuneable Dixon and I really love it. The sound is so nice with the perfect mixture of mellow and air, more mellow. I really lieke it plus it sounds loud and colorfull and responses very good. The only thing is that takes so much air from me. Very often I run out of air. Maybe with a little more practice. I am doing my own whistle.
short answer is Yes. As far as one note well, at least when I play that one note its in-tune…LOL
www.tuxedomusic.com
I had my Dixon Trad D for a while, and it has been my favorite whistle, but it seems i have had got the flawed one.
The mouthpiece is made of a hollow cylinder with a plug (to avoid the famous “casting flaws” of the other manufacturers) but, unfortunately, mine is offset by a bit (in terms that the plug is a bit eschew regarding the blade). It is a bit of bad luck, but i don’t think it’s crucial.
For me, the crucial problem is clogging.
I bet it’s because the windway has sharp lateral edge, as water droplets form quicker and thicker there. Sometimes i cannot even go through even one tune without de-clogging it.
Oh, and not to mention the silent output. Don’t try to play it at a session.
Otherwise it is the best one out there.
Have you tried using some detergent in the windway. I do mine every few months. It prevents clogging. Have a look here for one solution.
Oh, and not to mention the silent output. Don’t try to play it at a session.
Depends on how noisy th esession is. I usually have no problems playing mine in a session.
…and that’s what whistling is all about!
Well, I am certainly no professional in playing a whistle, but one thing that has helped me tremendously is my singing background. Learning breath control in singing has helped me a lot in playing wind instruments, primarily the tin whistle. Maybe picking up some breathing techniques for singing will help you in playing your instruments, even the low whistles.
Good luck!
Kristen