Just in the past couple of days, I’ve picked up and thoroughly enjoyed the tin whistle. Being a 10 year sax player, I picked it up fairly quickly (fingerings are almost identical on a D whistle). I bought a Clarke Celtic Whistle, which is just a fancified SweeTone, as I found out. However, my problem with it is that it requires a ton of control to play the lower register. Is this me or is it the whistle? I’ve been looking for a more well-rounded whistle that plays evenly across the whole range. Any suggestions? I was looking at the Susatos. Thanks for the help!
my favourite was the generation ‘D’ but it’s 10 years since I played one and I think I was lucky and got a good one.
I’ve got a sweet one and I think they are magic, but not good for playing in public. Not loud enough. Not tried any plastic yet, maybe because we were forced to play the recorder at school!
OO! I also had another question…being a fairly long-time musician, I’m pretty picky about my instruments…even beginning one I like to have a really nice sounding instrument that I won’t have to upgrade as time goes on (however with most instruments, this is financially impossible for a poor college student ). Would it be feasible to go for a higher end whistle? I don’t really have any aspirations to play professionally, but I would want one that sounds nice. Any suggestions for those? I know Patrick O’Riordan lives very near me, but I kinda doubt I could get any of his whistles any time soon hehe. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Bug
[ This Message was edited by: Akuma12 on 2002-04-18 18:03 ]
Welcome! I don’t have any high-end whistles yet, but I have heard really great things about Michael Burke’s whistles and that you can’t really go wrong with them. That’s the one high-end whistle I would get, if I could afford one.
As regards the cheap ones, I have several. I do have a Sweetone and I didn’t like it very much at first, but it has grown on me a lot. It is very easy to play now and I love the sweet sound of the second octave. As far as the problem you are having with controlling the bottom octave, I think it might be you–since the Sweetone I have doesn’t have this problem at all and I haven’t heard of anyone else’s who does, and also since it took me MONTHS to learn to control my breath to get even sound out of whistles. Of course since you are used to playing the saxophone you might not have that problem, but I would try the Sweetone for a while more or pick it up again and play it later after a break from it.
Other good cheap whistles to try: the black (nickel) Feadog I have found to be very good. Also, the Walton’s Little Black D (aluminum) gets good reviews from a lot of people. My husband has one (his only whistle) and says he has no need for any other. He loves it.
PS I hate Susatos. I haven’t tried the new VSB one, but as far as the others go, I would advise you not to get one. Mine is hard to control and almost impossible to play the second half of the second octave without terrible squeaks and screams coming from the whistle–sounds like someone is torturing it.
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[ This Message was edited by: Cees on 2002-04-18 18:15 ]
Hi and Welcome! I started on a Celtic the same as you and didn’t have any problem with breath on the first octave. I have played flute for many many years though and was never able to play sax because I didn’t have enough pressure with breath. I would stick to the Clarke for a while till you get use to it.
I also have a set of Susatos (Kildares) now and I love them! They sound great and I don’t have any problems with the upper octave. I find they are even worse for breath though…on my Bb I actually don’t close my lips around it and let some air out beside the fipple as I play in the lower octave otherwise I can’t get it at all. (Some of the more experienced whistlers might laugh at that! )
I also have a Hoover low G which is great too if you want a quieter whistle.
By the way, everyone says how loud the Susatos are but I can’t get enough volume out of them to compete with the 2 electric guitars, one acoustic, an electric bass and the drums who play along with me!!!
In response to your second post, if you really want a whistle that’s a lot less temperamental, I would suggest a medium-high end whistle. I agree with Cees that a Burke is a great choice, and I own several. The wide bore brass has a sound that’s not unlike the Gen/Clare/etc. sound, but a number of features that I consider much preferable. The tuning is dead-on through 2+ octaves, the breath requirement is moderate; it’s very forgiving of breath control (ie, the octave transitions are easy), the volume is pretty even across the octaves. Water Weasels are another wonderful whistle, a little less expensive, but possibly not for everybody – they’re pretty loud, especially in the second octave. The Burke is about $100 (and usually in stock at Sound of the Sea), and the Weasel is about 70 (Glenn always has a few in stock).
As for your first question, it could very well be the whistle. I’ve had this problem with a couple of whistles recently – it was fixable in one and wasn’t in the other. Check the mouthpiece for any stray pieces of plastic, etc.
I have had a celtic sweetone for about two years and it has become one of my favorites for playing at the pub with a fiddle player and guitar player.I find it one of the easiest inexpensive whistles to control between octaves and the easiest to play in the second octave,especially on fast songs.
I would suggest that it is you right now. Perhaps you sax experience causes you to blow too hard on the sweetone.Practice starting the belltone (first D) by just exhaling into the whistle and slowly increasing the pressure until you get a even, good tone.Then work your way up the scale. You should find that you do not have to increase pressure noticably.
Once you master the first octave,start with the belltone again then increase pressure until it jumps up the octave. Go back and forth with the D until you are comfortable then go to the E and do the same, and so on. Don’t dispare, it will come to you.
I second(or third) the vote for a Burke brass. I have a C and it too is a charm to control and to play in the second octave.
Good luck, and keep whistling.
Burke is always a good choice. I play Burkes and Hoovers. Both have what you seem to be looking for. The Hoovers are less expensive, and if you opt for the CPVC variety, they are significantly less costly. The whistles of both makers represent money well spent.
Good luck in your choice. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
Cheers.
Byll
[ This Message was edited by: Byll on 2002-04-19 08:16 ]
Here’s the best part - even an expensive whistle is cheaper than a cheap sax. That said, the best whistles generally have a waiting list of months or more. You’d be well served by a mid-range whistle, many of them well under $100 and available off the shelf.
I personally love both Hoovers (metal) and Silkstones (PVC). Dixon is even less expensive, barely more than a cheapie. You might have a look at The Whistle Shop (online) for both a wide selection and good prices.
Nothing salves a weary soul like a cheap whistle.
[ This Message was edited by: Chuck_Clark on 2002-04-19 09:46 ]
I’d just like to second the Dixon Tunable regular-d whistle as a beginning whistle. It will server you well for 25-30 dollars. It is one of my primary practice whistles even though I own a several regular-d whistles in the 80-150 dollar range. Easy to play, less volume difference across octaves, seldom if ever clogs, durable, and not subject to weather variations.
I haven’t tried Tony Dixon’s new tunable with the brass fitting, I’m talking about his older model.
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Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-04-19 11:42 ]
Well, my Guiness LBW (Walton) has all but cured my WhOA - I am still looking forward to my KerryPro Low D/Kerry Songbird High D, but I am really not whistle-shopping anymore. I wrote a review recently about the whistle, you might want to take a look at that.
One thing I forgot to mention in the review is that this whistle has an exceptionally beautiful first octave D, E, and F# - its whole range is nice, but these three notes are spectacular.
Since it’s a cheapie (about $10) maybe I just lucked out, but I strongly suggest you give it a try.
Wow! Thanks for all the responses! I’ve been practicing a little this morning, just doing breathing exercises and whatnot, and it’s been helping me gauge just how much air is needed. I’m also teaching my girlfriend how to read music on this little beauty, so I justified buying another whistle with “Well, to teach her I need to be able to play along” I know, shady, but hey, it eased my conscience. I went ahead and bought the Dixon High D with the brass tuning slide..I’ll let you all know how it is Should be here Monday or Tuesday of next week. Again, thank you all so much for your support!
I’ve played clarinet (& occasional sax), and had problems at first blowing too hard for the whistle. It just doesn’t require as much lung power. It needed a more delicate control.
Another problem I had was needing oxygen long before I ran out of breath…sort of take a single deep breath, play an entire tune, then pass out.
You’ll adapt quickly enough, but you might also want to look into an Overton, or one of the other whistles that require more breath power. What might be too much breath for some users might be perfect for you.
). Would it be feasible to go for a higher end whistle? I don’t really have any aspirations to play professionally, but I would want one that sounds nice. Any suggestions for those? I know Patrick O’Riordan lives very near me, but I kinda doubt I could get any of his whistles any time soon hehe. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!