I’m always talking about how much I both love and hate my Gen Bb.. I love the “brassy” warm tone, but it’s a pain in the butt when it comes to trying to play anything longer than the A part of a tune. I’ve experimented with other whistles heads on it, but none of them fit quite right. What are some heads that would fit and improve this whistle? It’d have to be something that is sold seperately, of course. 
Thanks!
I’ve heard Sweetone/Meg C heads fit Generation Bb, but I’ve never tried it. You can’t usually buy Meg heads seperately, but the whole whistle is only $3.
I’ve tried both a Sweetone and a Meg head.. they’re identical as far as I can tell (though the Meg produces a breathier sound). They’re too large. Thanks anyway though! Anyone else?
I’m sorry nobody has answered with any other heads…
If the distance between whistle head and body isn’t too wide, you might be able to wrap some string around the barrel the way you do on other instruments like clarinets where the cork has become loose, and then slide the head down onto the string. That’s what I’d do, move it around a lot for exact tuning, if that matters to your playing.
Cranberry
The gap that Sara mentions is too narrow even for thread, much less string.
Sara
Sweetone C heads are slightly too large but are the best fit anyone’s yet found. What you need to do is pick up a roll of teflon tape at the plumbing department of your local home improvement or hardware store. The tape is non-adhesive and VERY thin. You simply take a turn or two about the top of the Gen Bb tube and then put the Sweetone C head on it. If it’s still too loose, use a bit more. You can achieve the same end by coating the upper end of the tube with a thick layer of beeswax or paraffin, but the tape is cheaper and less work.
What happens, though, is that instead of the brassy Gen sound you get one that is much more Sweetone-like. For those of us who like Sweetones, this isn’t a big deal, but those who don’t have reported going back to the Gen head by preference.
Chuck, I’ve though about doing that, but:
What happens, though, is that instead of the brassy Gen sound you get one that is much more Sweetone-like. For those of us who like Sweetones, this isn’t a big deal, but those who don’t have reported going back to the Gen head by preference.
Exactly. I like my Sweetone, but as a Sweetone. I’d really like to keep the Generationy sound to it. Hmm.. I guess I’ll just have to keep experimenting!
What problems are you having after the A part? Is it the higher notes you usually have in the B part? Is it taking too much air?
What I find with Generation whistles is that they take more breath control to hit the notes right.
That’s part of why some prefer them to higher end, more tonally tempered whistles. With the added breath control comes more tonal control to really add more color to your playing.
Cheers,
Aaron
I have a Gen Bb with a Sweetone C head..The head is attached to a copper coupler and the body is wrapped with teflon tape. It plays well,however, gone is the generation warm(brassy) tone. Also, the lower octave is a tad bit weak.
My solution was to send for a new Gen Bb in both nickel and brass from the Whistle Shop..
What problems are you having after the A part? Is it the higher notes you usually have in the B part? Is it taking too much air?
Yes. The second octave on it sounds, to put it bluntly, horrible. Shrill, forced, and much too breathy. Thanks for the input all.
Sounds like the head. My brass Gen Bb sounds great in the upper octave and it is untweaked (I bought it in a music store in Glasgow 7 years ago). I think it would be worth trying some other Gen Bb whistles.
Cheers,
Aaron