I’m thinking about getting a High F whistle for non-traditional stuff like jazz and blues. Anyone have experience with these little beasties? I’m particularly interested in finger spread (is it cramped?) and tone (is it shrill?). The model I’m considering is the Susato VS bore two piece.
I haven’t played the Susato high F but I like the Susato line. i have owned Kildares up to the high E. They are usually well designed well made and have good intonation.
High F’s were discussed a couple weeks back in this thread.
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/wtb-order-filled-thanks-everyone/67889/1
I would recommend starting with a Generation F. I like the one I have. As for finger spread or lack thereof, I can play the high F Gen but the high G Gen is a bit tight for me. I have smallish hands and fingers for a man.
Hope that helps.
Feadoggie
Thanks for the link. Interesting thread. I have a Generation high G that’s not a bad player, decent tone, not too screechy, but it’s a little cramped for my average sized hands. The Susato F should be a little more comfortable. Eyeballing my Gen. and Susato high Ds side by side it appears that the Suzie has somewhat larger tone holes. If this is also true of the high Fs then I’d go with the Suzie as I think larger tone holes are easier to half hole. Plus I’m fond of Susatos in general and am starting to assemble a pretty good stable of them.
Hi there,
As you can see from the thread that Feadoggie threw up for you, I do have some recent experience with the high F whistle. So far, I have the Susato (VS 2-piece bore) and a tweaked Gen from Jerry. (I’m still waiting on the Abell to arrive.) The Susato, in terms of finger spacing, is more comfortable to play than the Gen. Susato, in my opinion, makes a very decent little whistle - easy to play, perfectly in tune. The volume tends to be very assertive which I think can be a big concern depending on what you are planning to do with the Susato, particularly a high F or G. In my case, I was using it to accompany a vocalist, and as I suspected, it was way too overpowering. The vocalist “hands down” preferred the Gen as did I. Susato definitely has it’s place in Whisledom. Although I don’t “love” the tone as much as I do that of some of the wooden whistles, Burkes, etc., occasionally I find a tune or vocal where the tone is exactly what I’m looking for. They are inexpensive, readily available, and are reliable.
By the way I’ll briefly mention here that I also love the Blackbird C whistle that I got from Jerry.
I also received my Oz C in the mail today and have been wrestling with putting it down. It is flipping PERFECT - I’m tellin’ ya! I’m putting together a review to include pics and a sound clip. I’ll try to have that up in a few days - gotta work it around rehearsals, work, family, school, and the upcoming Christmas holiday. Holy Cow - I just stressed myself out!!
I have an Impempe high F. Very loud whistle, impressive too. It’s fs.
Whistlegal–from the way you describe it the Susato sounds like it should fill the bill. I plan on using the high F in jazz or blues contexts where it would be hard to have too much volume, especially if playing with drums and amplified instruments. Might try some busking too at some point. The novelty of hearing someone playing Charlie Parker tunes on the pennywhistle might generate a little cash. So the Suzie should at the least be a good place to start. And if I end up liking high F whistle I might at some point upgrade to a Burke or Chris Abell.
Hmmm… well, Gens were good enough for Coltrane. 
Feadoggie
I have a Generation high F and it surprised in two ways - finger cramp is perfectly manageable and it sounds really good.
Philo
Hmmm… well, Gens were good enough for Coltrane. 
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Surprised this didn’t show up in the thread on favorite recordings… 
Best wishes.
Steve
Trane on the penny whistle? Is this for real? I searched around and found some info on this that had a phone number of a company named Gambol that put out the recording. But when I called the number it turned out to be non-working. I wonder what gives. Could this be a spoof or hoax or something?
Not real. A well-worn hoax. Take it from another fall-guy. 
Yeah, I thought I smelled a rat. Too bad. Trane playing penny whistle would be pretty cool.
Yes, it would be cool. When you mentioned jazz on the whistle I couldn’t resist. Here’s where the “whistle tapes” thing originated (on April 1, 2003).
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=11505
Feadoggie
Yes that’s the site where I found the phone number for “Gambol”. I thought it suspicious that they didn’t have a website. But the article looked legit. Even listed the personell (Philly Joe Jones, Wilbur Ware, etc.). Somebody went to alot of trouble to play this trick.
You should dig up WIllard Cele’s “Pennywhistle Boogie” circa 1951…