History of Kerry Pro whistles

Whistle
1

Hello friends,

I’ve got a question: do you know when Phil Hardy began to made the Kerry Pro models?

FYI, I’ve bought one second hand some time ago, an excellent tunable Low F which belonged to the great player Fraser Fifield, and Fraser told me he bought it in 2001 directly to Phil.

This low whistle has no serial number or engravings, only the F indicating the key.

I made some researchs (in particular here), and I discovered that in 2001, there were already Kerry Pro whistles in circulation. I know also Phil had health problems at that time, so he had to stop making handmade whistles. But did Phil made Kerry Pro whistles before 2001?

I precise that my goal isn’t to create a controversial topic (Kerry Pro vs Goldie’s Overton etc etc etc): I owned an Overton Low F made for me by Colin in 2001, which was really fantastic. But unfortunately, I had to sold it recently to a C&F member because of big money trouble…

Whatever, the Kerry Pro Low F I’ve got is really impressive, and I understand why fraser Fifield played it so often! It’s pretty loud, with backpressure and with a sort of “dirty” sound. A very funky whistle, which is perfect for the music I play.

So, to sum, my question is: when the Kerry Pro line started to be made by Phil Hardy? Has the design or the sound evolved with years? And finally, what do you think of those low whistles?

Thanks in advance for your replies. :wink:

2

I have a brand new Kerry Pro Low D with two bodies (alum. and brass) that I purchased about 4 months ago, and I think it is a fantastic instrument. The two bodies give the whistle a distinctly different character. The instrument is well made, and the quality of customer service during the purchase process was excellent. :smiley:

As far as your other questions, maybe you could contact Phil directly?

3

Phil emailed me, but strangely enough, je wrote me that he began to make the Kerry Pro in 2006-2007. :astonished:

But there are posts on C&F about Kerry Pro whistles in 2001:

http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/search.php?keywords="kerry+pro"&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=a&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

And Phil wrote the 21st of november 2001 on C&F he suffered the RSI in 2001 as well, and because of this syndrom, he couldn’t made Kerry Pro whistles anymore:

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/absolutely-devastated/1624/1

So concerning the Kerry Pro whistles, it seems Phil made some earlier than 2006, at least in 2001 (and maybe before!).

What do you think?

4

Phil Hardy gave me the explanation: he began to make the KPros whistles in 1996-1997, not in 2006-2007.

So the (great) tunable low F I bought from Fraser Fifield is well a Kerry Pro.

Thanks Phil! :smiley: :wink:

Phil told me also he’s going to launch a new model very soon, but I’ll let him talk about that. :wink:

5

A new model of what?
wiz

6

Of low whistles if I’ve well understood, called Kerry Optima. I don’t know more about that: I asked some pics and sound samples to Phil of this new line, I wait for his reply. :wink:

7

According to Phil Hardy himself: "We have a new whistle based on the Kpro coming out in the spring, I have a prototype which is amazing, we are going to call it the Kerry Optima. This whistle is set to revolutionize the whistle market". :astonished: