hi there,
just got my new Dixon and love the sound, but I find that I need to crank open the tuning slide nearly a full centimeter to get it in tune. It seems odd and I was wondering if this is normal. Also I find I have to really push to get the second octave in tune, as it tends to be a bit flat.
any comments?
Jordan
Hi Jordan,
That’s about where mine tunes out at. It gives the ability to tune both sharp and flat. (I’m assuming that it was designed that way.)
As far as pushing the upper octave to get it in tune goes, mine doesn’t seem to be leaned on any more than any of my other whistles to keep it in tune…although sometimes it feels like it because there is more back pressure in a Dixon than many other whistles.
Give it some time to get used to. I love my Dixon D so much that I’m thinking about getting rid of my Sindt D and picking up some more Dixons.
I agree with you that it is odd to have to pull the tuning slide out so far to get the whistle in tune.
My brass slide Dixon has to be slid out slightly past a full centimeter to get it in tune, and the tuning slide isn’t very stable that far out.
It has a lovely tone though, and I still like it in spite of this flaw… and I think it is indeed a design flaw that I hope Tony corrects in future models.
I had a brass slide D arrive just today in a box o’ Dixons from Thom, and I immediately noticed that it sounded a tad higher than the non-tunable D I already had. When I compared them, I found the non-tunable was about a centimeter longer, and you do indeed have to pull that slide out that far to get the two into tune with each other.
I don’t have much to check tuning – just a cheap metronone that will generate A440 – but it seems the non-tunable is reasonably in tune. To get the tunable in tune with the non-tunable, I have to pull it out right to the top of the outer brass tube, so at least there’s a handy reference point. But raindog is right – it does want to crawl back in. If it becomes a problem, I’ll dig out the Teflon tape.
I don’t know why I bought the tunable one in addition to the one I already have, other than (1) It had a cool brass ring in the middle, and (2) It was a different whistle to play with. I don’t ever play with anyone, so I could probably just leave the slide all the way in, but it will probably make me nuts to play it with that way in because I can hear the difference.
Yep, mine goes out a centimetre too, with the added problem now of having worked a bit loose. It doesn’t affect the sound, but I am aware of slight movement when I play it; still a great whistle.
I just assumed the tuning slide was done that way so that you could sharpen, not just flatten, the key of the whistle.
Mine opens to about 8mm (ie, almost 1 cm), and the slide fits firmly with no hint of falling off or shifting at all.
Tuning - generally good except for G or A in the 2nd octave (a bit flat). Since it’s soft plastic, I did some surgery on the G or A hole. So like some of you, I did have minor tuning problems with this whistle.
I was quite happy to deal with it myself, but obviously that’s not a buyer’s obligation and one should not have to do that.
Ditto the 1cm to get it in tune, so It can me played a bit or flat as required. Mine has no trace of a wobble at this extension.
I haven’t noticed any tuning problems, but I have to admit I only play it occasionally. I actually have been playing my older plastic tuning slide D more.
I think mine is a very early one, it was in the first batch Steve Power got in stock at Shanna Quay (is that right Steve?), and one of a few whistles I bought in the Shop, so holds a special place in my collection - plus it’s the moste expensive soprano whistle I’ve got anyway.
I have both the Dixon High D Duo set and the tuning slide. For my money the better of the two is the whistle of the Duo set. The piccolo head is difficult and since they were not shipped together the were not a great fit (Piccolo head was out of stock when ordered)
The whistle is great it two parts fit in your pants pocket easily. I would say it the best of the medium or cheap whistles that I have played so far. I was playing it for several months until my Niece misplaced it. So now I will need to get another one.