The Gen Eb is the smallest of the Gens I can finger…so are there any higher pitched whistles in other makes that sound well balanced thro’ both octaves without scaring the mice AND have sensibly spaced fingerholes oh AND aren’t crazy money. Or should I stick to lower Es and Fs?
Trisha
It’s expensive but…The Abell Eb and F whistles are easy to finger (unless you have rather fat fingers) and sound fantastic: The Eb works with the D headjoint and is a little firecracker, a perfect session whistle. The Abell F whistle has it’s own headjoint and sounds fantastic: Not shrill or piercing, and it plays like a dream 
It’s one of the few whistles I still HAVE to own some day. Now, if I could just pry that Cocus D whistle with the Gold Band and Tuning slides from Chris’ hands I’d be all set…
Loren
I have to agree with Loren about Abell F and Eb whistles. Seriously expensive but very, very good. I have a Generation F which I simply don’t play and haven’t much interest in tweaking since I got the Abells. Shrill is putting it mildly.
I suspect, but haven’t checked, that Michael Burke makes high Es and Fs. I would expect these to be very good whistles. Same goes for Elfsongs. These are whistles I haven’t heard, let alone played, but I mention them because they would be good whistles in all likelihood and much more affordable than Abells. But, you’ll have to check to see that they are available in these keys.
Glenn Schultz makes a Water Weasel E that has a very comfortable spacing. Plus it’s one of the best-sounding and -playing whistles out there. I think they’re about $70, so not cheap but not outrageous either.
I love Glenn, but I have to be honest and say that, having owned one of the High E WW’s, it was a real earsplitter - I could NOT play that thing up in the second octave indoors without hurting my ears -This from a guy who generally likes whistles with a bit of volume…
Loren
Sometimes we just have to wait - a loooong time - for what’s worth having. Maybe my playing will be able (pun dreadful) to do it justice by then. In the meantime, any heads up on a Burke high E/F?
Trisha
I have a brass ProSession E from Mike. Its a beautiful whistle and very much in tune. I play in a band that does a lot of Scots type tunes in A Major so I use it as a “D playing in G” to get around half-holing.
My only qualifier is that I wish I had ordered an aluminum because my band is loud. There is a very noticeable volume drop-off when I go from my AlPro D to the Brass E. I am guessing that the Al is brighter. I have thought about ordering an Al and selling it but have not gotten ‘roun’ to it. For a solo whistle in E though, I love it!!
I have a hiG on special order from Mike in Al. I will report its nature if anybody is interested when I get it.
I would like an F but only for Whoa. I have yet to need one in either of the groups I play in.
My Burke brass pro high E is one of my favorite whistles.
If you’re interested, my recording of David de la Barre’s ‘Planxty Dale Wisely’ was done with it.
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=180753&T=4502
The Gen Eb is the smallest of the Gens I can finger…so are there any higher pitched whistles in other makes that sound well balanced thro’ both octaves without scaring the mice AND have sensibly spaced fingerholes oh AND aren’t crazy money. Or should I stick to lower Es and Fs?
I habe a wide bore Elfsong E that was given to me I love…because it’s wider it’s not peircing at all, the sound is heaven, but I think it might be one of a kind because they’re not listed on Sandy’s site. I have a Gen F on order. If the holes on high whistles are too close for you, I bet a maker somewhere could experinmenmt with hole spacing if you ask them…
[quote=“The Weekenders”]My only qualifier is that I wish I had ordered an aluminum because my band is loud. There is a very noticeable volume drop-off when I go from my AlPro D to the Brass E. I am guessing that the Al is brighter.
What a helpful bunch, and I loved the recording Gary…even if it was to a background of Waterson Carthy played full belt by my 9 and 11 year old daughters…
So…does anyone have an opinion of the Aluminium E over the Brass? Or in any near-key?
Thanks folks…I hear another whistle coming..
Trisha
Actually, I own your old one – a win-win deal. Yeah, it’s loud, but I don’t find it shrill, which is what bugs me in whistles. I think there’s also something about the key of E that resonates in me.
Cool man, I’m glad it worked out so well for you.
Honestly, after selling off some 200 whistles, I couldn’t for the life of me recall what I sold to who 
Loren