i was thinking of getting the kildare set or possibly a dixon. i love my clarke but i have recently started playing with other people so i need a whistle that is louder but with a nice sweet tone. anyone have any suggestions?
for loudness, of course there is the susato. but personnally, I prefer the silkstone Alloy
I got mine from the whistleshop
Otter
I suggest an Abell or a Thin Weasel. Both these whistles have a cylindrical bore for greater loudness but they also have a wooden body that helps to mellow the tone.
Of course there are other whistle brands of this type if you dislike the types I suggested.
Conical bore whistles,like the Clarke,have better octave matching at the cost of loudness. This is compensated for by a larger window but the tone is still muted compared to a Generation or Susato cylindrical bore.
People are suggesting expensive whistles but a Dixon should be fine. I play mine at sessions and it has plenty of volume.
Well, I’ll suggest the Copeland as a lovely alternative to the Clarke. I learned on a Clarke, and I still play it all the time, but when I play with other people, I often play my Copeland brass D. And, although quite an investment, I think its worth every penny…the tone is rich and full, but still cuts through in a session. And its conical bore feels similar to the Clarke, although it is heavier. Just my thoughts…
…marilyn…
I, too, love the Clarke that I “share” with my son, but I would second avanutria’s recommendation for the Dixon if cost is a concern ~ I really like my tunable, and it is loud and clear.
I sure LOVE the Burkes I have, though… I probably play them more than anything!
Mary
This might save you some money - are you quite sure you need to be louder?
Often in sessions you can’t hear yourself very well but you’d be very surprised at how well your whistle is projecting across the room.
If the other people are complaining they can’t hear you that’s another matter, of course, but in general I think loud whistles are a bit of mixed blessing.
Here’s a good tip for instant “foldback” - wear a broad-brimmed hat. You’ll suddenly hear yourself loud and clear.
[ This Message was edited by: StevieJ on 2002-04-23 14:37 ]
the other players can hear the second octave no problem, but no one can hear me in the first.
I love the purity of my Clarke and find that my Dixon Bb (only Dixon I own) does have a nice combination of sweetness and volume. I agree that you’d probably find the Dixon D a good bet. The Burke would be a sure thing, but the price is, well, a factor.
Foldback?! 
Stevie, you certainly have a way with words…even if you have to invent them.
Jef
On 2002-04-23 16:01, Jeferson wrote:
Foldback?! >
Foldback is what comes out of your on-stage monitors. This is a handy thing to know so you don’t appear uncool when the soundman starts talking about it at your first gig with a sound system. Also a very useful word to drop when you want to come on like a pro muso and impress the impressionable at parties.
On 2002-04-23 14:36, StevieJ wrote:
Here’s a good tip for instant “foldback” - wear a broad-brimmed hat. You’ll suddenly hear yourself loud and clear.
Ha! And I thought you were hiding your receding hairline in those pictures. Whaddayaknow, you learn something new every day… 
If you want a lot more volume, The Kildare model Susato small bore D would be the way to go. If you want something more inbetween, the very small bore (sopranino) version of the Susato D would be a good choice. Not as loud as the small bore, but still significantly louder than the Clarke. Both are inexpensive and readily available, as you probably know already.
Another suggestion for an inexpensive whistle - try an Oak. It’s just a bit louder, but the tone has far less breath than the Clark, so it cuts through without sounding loud. It’s the one I choose for playing in a group - of course, I haven’t shaken loose the bucks for a Burke or a Sindt yet!
Thin Weasel (lotsa body, looks soooo cool) or Copeland. You’ll have those accordion and fiddle players cringing in a corner where they belong.
The Dixon is a good choice, or for a few dollars more you could get a Parkhurst. They’re the most Clarke-like of the bunch. Sindt is a good choice - a much cleaner sound, but very compatible for playing with other instruments.