I was going through the “Low Whistle Book” I got for Christmas, and there’s a picture of Jon Swayne’s whistles including a beautiful low D. According to the C&F entry, the Low D’s are almost $500.00! That’s Copeland price ranges, but they look well made with tuning slides. Has anybody tried one, and how do they stack up to others in that tax-bracket (Abells, Copelands, Grinters)?
Thanks,
-Bob
I have had a Low D Swaine for 5 years in ebony.Email me at phil@kerrywhistles.demon.co.uk for a summary.
Phil.
I have a high D. It was the first non-cheap whistle I bought. He’s been making them for ages - I first saw one back in about 1982.
I’ve answered questions about it before - try a search of the archives (old board). It’s extremely well made, has a good tone. Boxwood, which ages nicely. Brass tuning slide is very nice.
I got Jon to tone mine down a bit to make the top A and B easier to hit - they’re a bit savage the way he sets them up. Doing this caused a slight loss of volume in the very strong bottom end.
Tone is very nice, woody without being recorderish. I don’t know how they compare with the other ones you mention, not having tried any except Abells very briefly. Based on this, I’d say they’re much louder than your average Abell, unless you ask Jon to revoice one in the way I did - essential if you want to play Irish music IMO.
Whistles are a bit of a sideline for Jon Swayne. You should see the bagpipes he makes - they are truly things of beauty.
Of course I’d advise you not to go spending $500 on something you haven’t tried, unless you are in a different tax bracket from the rest of us. Jon often visits the North Hero (VT) pipers’ gathering at the end of August, where he has a few whistles available to try.