I just got my Overton Low C today and I absolutely love it to bits, tho frankly I was astounded at the sheer size of it when I opened it.
Like with my Shaw Low D, I use the piping finger placement to cover all the holes, but the problem seems to be on my top hand: if i use the joint or second pads of my fingers (as opposed to the first pads) it seems impossible to cover the holes reliably. However, if I DO use the first pads, the pain I get in my fingers and wrist quickly becomes distracting. In both cases (but especially the latter) the ornamentation suffers, becoming sluggish and difficult because of the finger stretch.
Is this something that will improve with time and practice, or are my hands simply too small?
If any big whistle players have tips on this matter I would be very grateful.
Johnnyboi, I can relate to this. Some of the “big boys” can be hard to handle. I have owned a couple low C whistles and they can take some time to become comfortable. My first suggestion is to relax … and keep playing the Overton. When things feel tight put the low C down and play another whistle. Try it again later that day or the next day. Over time your hands will become accustomed to the stretch, the discomfort will decrease and the speed and accuracy will increase. It may take a few weeks or more to sort things out. The sound these whistles make is worth the effort.
I said I have owned two low C’s. I don’t have big hands. I now play a Burke low C and it works well for me. Prior to the Burke I owned a low C from Tony Dixon. I tried to play that whistle for more than a year and really could not handle it except for slow airs. The left hand stretch on that whistle was too much for me to play comfortably. It just didn’t fit me.
There are not a lot of low C (or low low B or A’s) out in the world to expect that you can “try before you buy”. I don’t expect to see any at sessions or workshops. I only use my low C for bass harmonies on my own personal recordings. So I think it is one of those things where you pay your money and you take your chances. If it doesn’t work out for you, sell it and try one from another maker.
I have only played one low C. It was an Alba that was on tour. It was easier for me to play than any of the low Ds I have tried. It had a deep booming sound.
I play a chieftain low C, Overton bass Bb, and Overton bass A. Try using the first pad of each ring finger. Now rotate your hands till your fingers or at about a 45 degree angle to the floor, and put your next two fingers down on the holes. They will touch somewhere on the second pad or maybe the third pad. It may touch on the creases between the pads.
Keep your first pad of your ring finger on the same spot and use that to pivot your hand till you find a spot for the other two.
you definetly have to use a pipers grip---------i have average size hands , my wife always crackin jokes , saying “my hands are bigger”- ---- she’s a croation grape squisher---- --------the stretch does not seem to bother me--------------------------------------------
I AM SELLING ONE RIGHT NOW ON EBAY------PERFECT CONDITION---------------haunting sounds---------PERFECT TUNING ALL THE WAY INTO THE THIRD OCTAVE
I have a tenor r____er that has a huge stretch, it’s alot bigger than my overton low D. It’s bell note is the same C that your Low C whistle plays. It was really difficult for my fingers at first, but now it is no problem. It just takes practice.
Hey thanks for the replies folks. It is encouraging to hear I will probably get used to it. I did afterall consider my low D difficult when I first picked it up, and now it’s nothing compared to this..
cavefish if you’d posted your message a day earlier you’d have found a buyer right here, and I would have saved a fair bit .. ah well… such is life.
---- she’s a croation grape squisher---- 
--------the stretch does not seem to bother me--------------------------------------------
