Hello all!
I just joined after lurking for a few years.
My new Killarney whistle in brass is lovely. I love its tone, and it is great to play–for about 10 minutes. Then the windway starts clogging quite a bit. I have not experienced this significantly with my Susato, Clarkes, or “low-tech” homemade whistles. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have advice on how to mitigate it? Thanks!
Cool metal condenses fairly easily. I warm mine before playing, and even then it gathers condensation. Something you just need to learn to deal with.
Plastic whistles don’t condense so quickly. Some curve wind ways seem to do better as well.
Thanks for the reply! It’s good to hear that it’s fairly standard. All my whistles before this have had plastic mouthpieces instead of partially metal. I guess I’ll just get good at clearing it out!
I have some nickel Killarney whistles and one brass one. The brass one is by a long way the best whistle I have ever played, at least for me. I don’t have a problem with clogging at all, so it’s difficult to advise. I would think that tstermitz’s advice to warm the whistle before playing is going to be helpful at the very least. I’m surprised it doesn’t completely cure the issue for tstermitz, but try it and it may work for you.
I wonder if you are used to whistles that take a lot more air than the Killarney? Susatos and Clarkes do and, in my experience, so do any of the home made whistles I’ve played. If this is the case, then maybe it’s a question of getting used to blowing a lot more gently than you’re used to.
Dip it in some soapy water, wipe off the outside, then let the soap dry on inside of the head. You may need to do this every couple of months, but it’ll keep the clogging at bay. (And also warm up the head before playing.)
I have been warming up the head before playing, and it definitely helps for a time
And yes, I am used to whistles that take a lot more air. I also started out on flute so I am used to a lot more air in general… I’m slowly getting used to it. Good to know that it may get better as I do! Also I have been loving the sound of it–I can see why it’s your favorite.
And thanks for the advice about soapy water. I’ll go try it right now.
Thanks all!
This may be opposite. I wonder that OP may be blowing too gently.
I have a brass body Killarney D and have no clogging problem.
However, I notice that area around window becomes wet during playing and sometimes water is coming out at the head-body joint part.
It seems that during playing condensation is pushed out from a windway to lateral edges of window or down to a cavity underneath wind-blade if you are blowing robustly.