… but right is right. in another thread, i had begun to express doubts in some advice and opinion rendered by MTGuru and Peeplj with regard to Susato Whistles. I had described a problem I was having with a particular phrase. Both suggested that the problem may well not lie with the whistle. I doubted because… frankly.. because I don’t like to admit things like “it might be me.” I allowed my ego to get in the way of good advice.
After getting off the phone with the Susato folks and getting off work, I came home re-read what MTGuru and PeeplJ had posted… i carefully read every word that James had written in “Taming the Dreaded Susato Beast.” … and then I stopped thinking I knew how to play a whistle, and did what James said to do… and what MTGuru said to do… guess what… six hours later, the notes began “popping in” just like they said… another two hours and they were popping in cleanly and predictably, just as MTGuru, Peeplj and the folks at Susato said… so… now i am doing the only responsible and honest thing to do…
MTGuru, Peeplj… please accept my humblest apologies. i can be a bit of an ass at times. i was this time. i promise to listen in the future. i am sorry.
be well,
jim
ps… James, i agree with you… i don’t think the Susato is a good whistle for an absolute beginner, either. Being one, i understand now.
I had read the ongoing discourse, but did not join in. The world would be a better place if others were to react as you have done, under similar circumstances. I salute you.
I agree with the responses. Admitting you were wrong is a sign of strength, not weakness.
And anyway, you tested your beliefs to the full, and forced others to defend theirs; no mud was slung, no injuries were sustained, and we all (or at least I, not sure I can speak for the rest of C&F) found the debate educational and entertaining.
No-one lost, we all won.
I wish some political leaders could do (have done) the same
I see no need for apologies either. It’s in the nature of taking free advice from nameless, disembodied entities on an internet board.
Also human nature. When someone offers me unsolicited criticism or advice in public, I grumble and scowl. Then go home and, in private, carefully dissect my playing for evidence of the flaw. Sometimes an offhand comment by another musician has been the key to reaching the next plateau.
It’s good you don’t have to send the whistle back for inspection. But FWIW, my occasional dealings directly with Susato have always been A+. Mike Kelischek and his dad George have been gracious and generous with their time, information, assistance, and even material.
Yes, the comment about whistle head variability was probably mine. I’ve played a half dozen or more Susato S-bore heads, and only one was what I’d call a problem. The rest differ slightly in timbre and feel to the extent that it seems worthwhile mixing and matching the heads with different pitched tone bodies to find combinations that are most pleasing.
