I just got back a high-end whistle whistle which I had revoiced to move into the top of the upper register a bit easier. The problem is, it is even harder to play than it was before. I will probably see it can be restored to it’s orginal tunning or put it up for sale real cheap. However, I am curious. Did it made much sense to ask to have a standard design altered in the first place? Has anyone had much luck with this?
I have never had a whistle revoiced, partly because the only ones I’ve thought of having it done on have had some very good characteristics with a flaw or two. For example, my Copeland low D is a little touchy on the bell note, but otherwise is damn near the perfect low-D. I do have one new whistle that I’m discussing with the maker.
I had a whistle (Thin Weasel Bb) fixed recently. It had a cracked fipple block when I got it, and it had a few personality defects – wasn’t as loud and open as other Weasels, more backpressure than I wanted, not the character that I expect from Glenn’s work. Then I dropped it. He fixed the bend from the dropping, replaced the fipple block, and it’s exactly what I was looking for. So, in the fixing process it was effectively revoiced very nicely.
I sent my first Copeland D back to be revoiced to play a bit easier on the highest few notes of the 2nd octave. It came back and was exactly the way I asked…“a bit easier.”
However, I later ordered another Copeland D and asked (when placing the order) that it be made to play easier in the 2nd octave, thinking I’d get something similar to what I got above. That was not the case…I ended up with a whistle that favored the 2nd octave too much. The tone was muffled and the lower octave was too weak.
So, I guess my suggestion would be to have the maker make the whistle as they normally do and then have it revoiced/adjusted to your liking in small increments when possible. This is probably easier with metal than wood.
-Brett
I sent n a Copeland low D brass to get a dent taken out. (Weekender’s livingroom furniture attacked it when I wasn’t looking.) I wrote and asked while they had it, could the air requirements be reduced if it didn’t reduce the sound volume or change the tone. I got it back with reduced air requirements and a slightly stronger tone which I’m delighted with.
Tony
And no dents.
i believe your intitled to another one of his whistles without charge. after explaning the state of the whistle i would ask this in all politeness.
after all, were only human and make mistakes
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough about what I wanted when I sent the whistle in but I think Chas is right in thinking that it is probably better to live with a flaw or two than risk losing the qualities you like in a whistle. I hope I will be able to get it fixed.
I purchased a high end whistle that could not be brought up to concert pitch and was also badly out of tune with itself. I sent it back three times and it was never fixed nor was I offered a replacement without a substantial wait. I finally gave up, sent it back and got a refund of my money (after much wasted time and dashed expectations).
Jon Michaels
I purchased a high end whistle that could not be brought up to concert pitch and was also badly out of tune with itself. I sent it back three times and it was never fixed nor was I offered a replacement without a substantial wait. I finally gave up, sent it back and got a refund of my money (after much wasted time and dashed expectations).
Jon Michaels
Umm, perhaps you should consider that career change we were talking about Tony 
Would you like that number for Dent Wizard now? 
Loren
Sorry, Loren. If you want someone to get that large dent out of your head from when you were dropped as a baby, a Dent Wizard specialist is not the right man for the job. What you need is a carpenter. 
(All the sensitive types are thinking, "Man, that was cold, and everybody knows it.)
Nah, no use man - Termites have already eaten anything that was useful inside 
Loren