Love my Jerry Freeman Tweaked Shaw (in high D!!!). It’s not a beginner’s whistle, but it sure does grow on me the more I play it. I’m even getting more control over the upper register, thanks be to God!!??! Thank you Jerry Freeman. And thanks to the Original Clarke in D with the hideously tacky gold diamonds (I believe that’s the technical term I’m searching for). After I thumb-tweaked it, it’s even better and more fun.
Seriously, these are real musical instruments, and the challenge for me is to sound really good, like some of the pros, on an instrument that costs less than $50.00.
Who else loves conical whistles??? Let’s hear it for the conicals!!! (Is there an Irish family by the name of Conical??)
All raise glasses high to the el-cheap-o, bank breaking, hideousely tacky, custom built and mass produced, tweaked and re-tweaked, often immitated but never intimidated, classic, conical bored pennywhistle!
As a Low Whistle player, I yearn for an el cheapo conical whistle (or ANY cheapo Low) that would be as worthy as the plethora of cool high-pitched whistles that seem to be available. I once tried a couple of Shaw Lows, and, only having one set of lungs, I sent 'em back.
Guess I’ll have to suffer along with my Copeland Low D, and watch you high-pitched folk have all the easy-on-the-money fun!
I have the black one. It’s my one and only whistle so far, but I can’t say I’m in a huge hurry for more. I’d eventually like to try some whistles with less of a breathy sound, for for now the Sweetone gets 2 thumbs up from me!
I am a cheap conical whistle freak myself. My most-played is a Clarke original in D, black, and the tacky gold diamonds have simply worn away with use. It has a highly-technical thumb-mash tweak on the windway. Gawd, I love the sound. Heartbreakingly sweet in the upper octave of all things!
I also have an anonymously-tweaked Shaw A that I like, though the finger spacing is a bit odd - ring finger on the right hand has to reach proportionately far.
The Irish family in reference is the McConical clan, I’m certain…
Chiffers and Fipplers-I agree with the above Sweetone fan. I own a Dixon, a Clark classic black with the wooden plug, a Feadog, and a Shaw. I had to pull the Sweetone mouthpice out a bit to get it into standard pitch for how I play and now it’s just a gem. It never clogs, its in tune, both octaves sound great, I can lean into it some without fear of squawks. It has that breathy quality I like, but doesn’t overdo it. I also like the volume. The Dixon was a bit too quiet and the Shaw hurt my ears. I bought the black color but also own a silver one. They’re very consistent. I figure if Copeland designed the mouthpiece and the tube is a fairly easy thing to make consistently you end up with something that is a really really good value.
Pat
Am I being pedantic but isn’t the Clark Original the raw tin one and not the black one with the gold diamonds or are they really one and the same.
Never did like the painted one but I learned on the Original ( a tin one) and I love it. I still play it especially in quiet sessions and when I am learining a new tune as it it very forgiving.
If I recall it cost me about 8 punt in the pre euro days of Ireland
Gets my vote, ( after my own whistles of course! )
My tweaking efforts over the years have resulted in the destruction of several Clarke Originals. I then got one that was pre-tweaked at the Whistle Shop. That didn’t stop me messing with it, though. After nearly destroying it I set about to un-do my handiwork and by pure luck it ended up sounding great. It’s the best whistle I own for accuracy on second octave C nat. I’ll be playing it on stage tonight for at least 2 tunes that involve that elusive note.
Until an accordionist walked in drunk and loud, having just left an Oktoberfest gig and saying that O’Carolan wrote the best version of “Ziggy Zaggy Ziggy Zaggy Hoy Hoy Hoy”, and that he’d play it for us with his Oktoberfest band, and then ordering a round of Ayinger, but the bartender in the pub said he wasn’t sure if that was a beer or a kind of car tire and everything sort of hit the wall.
I have a Jerry Freeman tweaked. I also bought a wooden whistle (Sweetone) It is beautiful. F# hole is too small to half-hour though. I have 2 ordered that he tweaked. Probably will get an Alto A next. I bought a Wild Irish in C recently too. It’s my early Christmas gift. Whistles are like chips, can’t have just one! I am obsessed with them!
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