I am a fairly new whistle player , I also play the alto saxophone. The whistle I have been using is very cheep and belongs to the person who I have been getting a few lessons from. Now I have decided to get myself a whistle, and I would like to find a good one that is of good quality, but not too expensive. I am looking for a good one in about the range of $20-70. If anyone can, please inform me of a good, quality whistle in this price range, or a very good inexpensive one. THANK YOU!
Water Weasel - $70 exactly plus shipping. Glenn’s a dream to work with and when I got mine he had them in stock. He sent it for me to try and then I sent him the dollars. You can find his contact info on this web site under “High End Whistles” By the way they play real good, very responsive, good volume, with the right amount of chiff. It’s cool they’re made from PVC too.
I have no hesitation in recommending for your consideration the newly available Copperhead, designed and made by Gary Humphrey. At $55, the price falls inside your budget range, and you won’t find a better whistle for the money. This is a hot favourite of mine right now! Contact Gary by e-mail at raindog1970@hotmail.com, and he will make the whistle to suit your own playing preferences. Discuss it with Gary if you aren’t sure exactly what you want. He’s a great guy, and he’s got a real winner with his whistle design - just be aware though that the head is made of copper, and if you find the smell and taste of it unpleasant then you probably should look at something else…but you won’t find anything that plays like a Copperhead for under $55.
Look into an Eyer whistle. All aluminum, tunable. They look a lot like an Overton but with their own sound. Good tone and volume and well within your price range. He’s a member here, just do a search for john Eyer.
I’d suggest a Dixon, or a Susato… however, if you’re going to get a Susato, you’d better be an agressive player. They’re pretty loud, and you really have to be gutsy to play one well.
wow, there seem to be a whole lot of Sax players that turn whistlers out there, eh?
I wonder if there’s a statistic that “so many Sax players turn to whistle per year” or something of the like… hmm… Maybe that could be a scientific study for the Journal of the International Academy of Fipple and Flageolet Surgeons…
It would be interesting to find out…
runs off to draw up prelim exam. papers as well as find her other scientific study that she was working on last summer…
in that price range, toward the top end, the best that i have experience with is the water weasel. i just find the susato regular bore obnoxious at the top of its range, so i’d be reluctant to spend money on a VSB without hearing it first–although it would certainly fall within your price range. dixon has a nice sound and feel and is very reasonably priced, but there really does seem to be a problem with the high register tending sharp. i believe the water weasel is pretty consistent; my one complaint is its C natural, which i find only satisfactory as oxxooo–not flexible enough. if you save for a few more months, maybe you could pop for a burke. they sound good to me, and no one seems to have anything bad to say about them. they’re still cheaper than most high enders.
I’d be willing to be that it’s because we all ran into the volume problem at some point in our lives–you just can’t play a sax in an apartment or with sleeping kids/spouse/etc. !! Not to mention that the switch is very natural considering the fingerings.
, I also play the alto saxophone. The whistle I have been using is very cheep and belongs to the person who I have been getting a few lessons from. Now I have decided to get myself a whistle, and I would like to find a good one that is of good quality, but not too expensive. I am looking for a good one in about the range of $20-70. If anyone can, please inform me of a good, quality whistle in this price range, or a very good inexpensive one. THANK YOU! 