I recently went through with a transaction with Jerry Freeman. After everything that occurred, I can honestly say I’m not looking to purchase anything from anyone else. Jerry was extremely kind about everything, and the process was quick and easy.
I am in no way affiliated with him, but as an extremely satisfied customer, I wanted to post this in case if anyone was looking for someone who is reliable, understanding, and a great all around person.
I’d like to thank Jerry Freeman and I’d highly suggest anyone to him any day of the week.
It seems from all the info I’ve read that the folks who make and sell whistles are good/great to do business with.
Mr. Freeman was very kind to give me helpful advice via PM.
What I especially like about Freeman’s tweaked whistle is that for a lower price point the rank beginner can have complete conficence in the instrument.
Not always so with the inexpensive off the shelf whistles, maybe excepting the Clarke Sweetone.
And Freeman impoves these gems too.
Knowing that if I have a problem that it’s me and not the whistle is very helpful.
I’ve been playing my Freeman Mellow Dogs for a week now and I can’t tell you how much I love them.
As a side note the Mellow Dog is the only whistle I have that I can half hole C natural.
Agreed. And it’s worth making topics like this to let people getting started know a Freeman whistle is an excellent 1st or 50th choice.
Even after all the high end whistles I’ve bought, my mellow dog is my favorite high D, and will never be sold.
Watch out if he can find a cheap low whistle to tweak…
I think Jerry and his whistles are terrific; and I was an early doubter, turning my nose up at this “tweaking business” mostly because i’ve had tremendous good luck with cheapies through the years; well, I now happily own a mellow dog set and a blackbird. However, in my experience over the last two decades or so, Jerry is one of a sea of wonderful makers, players, collectors, enthusiasts and teachers that I’ve met. From my early experience with Bill Ochs who has profoundly influenced and taught me in this area more than anyone else, through talking to and dealing with people like the Sweets, Glen Schultz, Michael Copeland, Chris Abell, Pat O’Riordan, Paul Busman, Michael Burke, Erle Bartlett, Colin Goldie, Sandy Jasper, Gene Milligan, Stacey O’Gorman, Dave Parkhurst, and others who I’ve had the good fortune to meet here - Jim Durdin, Tom Dowling, Peter Laban and a host of others. Oh and lest we forget, Dale and MT Guru. I’ve not encountered a single rotten egg.
Generally, I always say that in any profession or given group there’s a small % of exceptional ones at the top, a small % of beasties at the bottom, and a varied continuum of those just trying to get by in the middle. My personal experience in this community reflects about a 90% cream of the crop. So yes, kudos to Jerry, but not because he stands but because he exemplifies.
(Yes, I do seem to have a bit of excess air today, which I’ve shared with you all.)
I’ve purchased a Jerry Freeman tweaked D Mellow Dog and D Sweetone. Compared to the stock Walton, Feadog D, and Clarke that I have, these whistles play so much better, and I love their tone. One thing I’ve noticed is that the Sweetone has wonderful tone in the lower octave, but the Mellow Dog seems to play better in the upper octave. Either way, both whistles play far better than the untweaked whistles, and I’m very happy to own them!
I’m late to this thread but I’m gonna add my two cents anyway. Every time I wanted to try a new key up through A, I’d get one from Jerry first. I think I have every whistle Jerry makes or tweaks. Often I find that even after investing in a more expensive whistle, I’ll come back to the Jerry whistle to work out a new passage. And this might raise some hackles but I defy anyone to find a better Bb than the nickel Gen that Jerry crafts. Characteristics of different makers whistles make them more suitable for a particular tune or song or personal preference may dictate a specific whistle but that Bb is special. So is Jerry.
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