Just bought a clarke after many years of not playing this type of whistle. There’s something I can’t get over in the sound. I’m curious what else is out there in a similar style. looking for conical, quiet, somewhat breathy, just better made or maybe sturdier. Who’s making conical whistles? besides copeland, ralph sweet.
any info? Shaw’s?
thanks Patrick
I love the sound too. But I think you can’t do any better than Clarke if that’s the sound you want-- at least in my limited experience. I haven’t found anything that sounds more “Clarke-y” than a Clarke. I think the wooden fipple has a lot to do with it. Shaws also have wooden fipples (and their own charm) but you have to toot them a lot harder, and that changes the character of one’ playing.
The Clarke is my favorite sound too! The only one I have found to be similar is the Shaw’s, but I still like the Clarke better. At least you can get the Shaw’s in other keys than C & D. Here’s a link the their web page.. http://www.daveshaw.co.uk/html/shaw__whistles.html
They ship them out in these great cardboard tubes!
Cheryl
<>< praise Him from Whom all blessings flow ><>
[ This Message was edited by: one-tin-soldier on 2002-09-27 20:34 ]
The Shaw D has a luscious tone, warmer and fuller than the Clarke, but it’s very unpleasant to play because of the breath requirement, particularly in the second octave. I got rid of mine.
I also love the Clarke whistles. I started on a Clarke C.
Thom Larsen’s tweaked Clarke gets great reviews and I keep wanting to get one, but I have not actually tried it. Slightly quieter and lower breath requirements seem to be the main advantages. It isn’t any beefier, so if you really want a sturdy whistle, you’ll have to keep looking.
The Sweetone by Clarke is a really nice whistle, too. I can’t quite say I prefer it over the classic Clarke, but I like it a lot. Still, it does not sound like the classic. I have a Shaw in D and one in Bb. Both are great, sturdy, pretty whistles. Both are also windsuckers. Some folks on the board have managed to reduce the wind requirements on Shaws through creative filling of the windway. I have not tried it, but may do so soon.
If what you want is just more of a Clarke, buy two. 
-Patrick