Hi!
Not that anyone would ever miss me, but I have been playing more whistle the last few days instead of making my usual frequent visits to the board.
I received a Low D last week made by Phil Hardy. Now remember I don’t really know diddly yet about playing a tinwhistle, but I do have an ear for good sound.
I became interested in the tinwhistle after hearing a couple of slow aires. My first whistle purchase was a Walton Guinness D. I got the D because of the recommendation to shy away from the low whistles until I get experience with the smaller whistles in higher keys.
Now let me tell you I really, really, really, like this Low D! After about five minutes of getting used to the finger placement (I have small hands too) I started with some scales. Wow! The sound of that whistle is just beautiful to me.
Remember though, I like aires. The haunting low breathy sound just flows out of that whistle. I never thought that I could get a whistle to sound like that. It’s just like with anything else–ya have to have the right tool for the job.
Also, I’m an artist and the craftsmanship of the whistle is beautiful. The top part is brass and the lower part is aluminum. A round barrel structure of aluminum is fixed to the brass upper part which is part of the tuning assembly. The fipple plug is also aluminum.
The tuning slide is tight but not binding. I’ve been playing the thing practically non-stop for days without any care at all. I thought maybe any condensation would have caused the tuning slide to bind, but I just tried it and it’s fine.
The whistle plays cold too. My Guinness D wont give me the low note until it is warm. And I mean cold too because I keep the whistle close to a window and it is still winter here.
If someone who is a beginner and is concerned about all of the stuff they have read about low whistles but still yearns for one I’d say go for it! Well at least a Phil Hardy whistle–I can’t say anything about the others because I don’t own any.
If there are even better whistles out there then they must be phenomenal because the Kerry whistle I have is fantastic!
The notes flow through two octaves without a problem for me (a beginner) at all. I also thought that a Low D would take a huge set of lungs to play. The Kerry Whistle only takes the slightest amount of breath in the first octave and only a little more in the second. I still have problems with my lungs and I can sustain a note in a piece I made up myself as long with the Low D as I can with my Guinness D. Oh yeah, the shift up in octaves is a hell of a lot cleaner than that cheapy whistle.
Maybe it is an apples to oranges comparison since the two whistles are worlds apart, but I think it is helpful for other beginners to know that when they make the jump from a cheapy to a pro whistle there is a grand difference. And I reiterate I only know the Walton Guinness D and my new buddy the Low D made by Phil Hardy.
I’ve been showing the whistle around to other artists and craftsman and they are impressed with the workmanship. Now these guys and gals make their living knowing and producing art. They all agree that the craftsmanship would be accepted by most any jury as good enough to be accepted for showing. Wow, whistles may soon gain fine art status. We actually looked at the whistle if it were a work of art being selected for showing.
Now that I have the sound that I particularly like I am encouraged to practice more. That’s a good thing right? 
If the other keys are as good as this Low D then I think I will retire my Guinness and get a D made by Mr. Hardy.
One last thing, I don’t know the tubing thickness of the D whistles made by Phil Hardy, but if they are the same thickness as my Low D I think they would survive much more harsh treatment than my very fragile Guinness. My Low D is big enough and sturdy enough to knock the crap out of someone if I ever needed to use a whistle as a weapon. NWA members take note. 
I’m sure this post might get some responses of things I didn’t include or don’t know enough about to discuss fully, but remember that I am a beginner who was frustrated with my cheapy D and am really happy with my Low D.
If ya like aires then the Low D made by Phil Hardy worked for me maybe you too.
Sorry, who was it made your whistle? Didn’t quite catch the name…
Also, these “aires” you keep talking about. Did you get them from Mel Baye’s 100 Beste Slowe Aires for the Tinne Whistle? And di you purchase them from Ye Olde Whistle Shoppe?
Seriously, though, good that you’re having such fun with your new purchase. I wish you many hours of further enjoyment.
Steve
Cody - That’s a Kerry Pro, right? I just got a Kerry Low D (not a pro) and was pleasantly surprised by that as well. Now you’ve got me thirsting again… Philo
I guess this is another example of ‘listen to what everyone has to say, then do what your heart tells you is right’. Glad your enjoying your low D. I’m another small handed whistler, and while I can’t keep up on jigs and reels, I’ve pleased and surprised myself in session during waltzes and airs on the low D.
I still think the advice is sound, though. If you’ve never played a whistle, a low D is a bit much. You have to learn fingering, breath control, maybe even reading music, as well as how to close those holes cleanly and quickly.