Scales on my first two completed Irish low whistles.
The first is a copper whistle in D.
DWhistle01a.mp3
The second is a new whistle in C. It is made of aluminum tubing, with an oak fingerboard. It’s a little too big for me to play, but I intended it as a gift for a friend, who is taller than me, with longer arms, and longer fingers.
I’m learning more with each whistle I make.
Here’s a picture of my second whistle…
Neat fingerboard. I’ve never seen anything like that. Does it serve any purpose other than aesthetics?
The tubing I used was dented up where the fingerboard is. I cut the dented metal away and replaced it with an oak fingerboard. The joys of using found materials.
Very nice whistle! You have considerable talent! If you will allow(?),…Increasing the thickness of the wood at the lower end will let you move hole 6 higher up and move hole 5 lower down for comfort. extending the wood strip up over the voicing will also provide a deeper window for improved acoustic resonance too.
Please consider making whistles for a living. You have the talent to compete with “The Big Boys”. Maybe sell “batches” of completed instruments on E-bay?
If you will allow(?),…Increasing the thickness of the wood at the lower end will let you move hole 6 higher up and move hole 5 lower down for comfort. extending the wood strip up over the voicing will also provide a deeper window for improved acoustic resonance too.
Really? I’ll give it a try. Thanks.
A number of Native American flutemakers use this sort of technique for various reasons. It can cover a multitude of sins from damage to the original tube to holes drilled in the wrong place, but also can allow the maker to vary the thickness of the fingerboard and adjust hole location and size accordingly. Besides, it looks cool…
Best wishes.
Steve
I’m a rank beginner at making whistles, but I’m finding it fascinating. I have a lot of learning and practice before I would consider offering mine for sale to the general public. Thanks for the kind comments, though.