Anyone out there have a Low C gathering dust in a drawer? I’m not too particular about the brand although I’m looking for a professional-grade instrument. I can purchase one outright or do a swap for some good soprano whistles. I tend to favour Copelands but he doesn’t make one in Low C. Give me a shout off-board at [saoirse@net-lynx.com] or a PM. I’m based in the eastern U.S. so keep that in mind as far as payment is concerned.
If any of you Low C owners would care to comment on the relative merits of your particular whistle, I would appreciate the feedback.
The only low C whistle that I have any experience of playing is my tunable Alba.
It is made of aluminium,and it’s very robust knurled tuning slide looks a bit ‘industrial’,but hey,it’s a GREAT instrument to play with a very easy finger stretch and the hole sizes are very forgiving.They sell for around £90,so are very affordable too.
I think that they are worthy of consideration.
I keep on thinking about getting an Alba low Bb sometime!
Howard also makes a nice low C whistle. It’s a stretch as any low C will be but certainly not unmanageable. Amazing tone - very different from any other low whistles I’ve heard.
Alba definately. I play mine with fingertips no problem, and my fingers are pretty average length. The new one is a Q1, but plays great quietly at home AND loud fighting off the harmony players… I play mine in session in preference to a high C most of the time a C is called for. And I play Copeland Low D for preference too.
Alba low C (just the same as above). I like my “broken arrow” Alba Low D, but I just love this C.
Now, of Howard’s low whistles, the C sounds IMHO the best, the D seeming definitely overbore (and I didn’t have a chance to try out the rare low Eb…).
Anyway, I’ll vote Alba, for this hand-made and voiced instrument is about the same price as the stamped-out, plastic-head Howard.
:roll: Whot? I says nothin’! I once met an octopus with less stretch…
Well, I don’t have exactly average fingers for a guy. Short and skinny, with chaffed skin. Still fingering the Alba easy, and easier than several quite commendable low D’s I tried out.
Why don’t you go by the KISS method, and buy it direct from the manufacturer? www.albawhistles.co.uk
Low C : £ 80.-
Same, tunable : £ 90.-
Or www.bigwhistle.co.uk
Alba Low C : £ 80.-
Same, tunable : £ 90.-
The same retailer sells the Howard Low D (no trace of the C in his catalog) at a competitive price, i.e. £ 69.-
For 15% to 30% more, I maintain the Alba is more than worth it.
Take it tunable, and you’ll be ready for an eventual extra tube, like, say, B or Db… Actually, you may as well take it non-tunable, since getting an extra tube will need to send the whistle back anyway, and making it tuneable can be a retrofit.
I’ve got two Overton Low C whistles that are incredible, one narrow bore and one…well, not narrow bore I’m not really certain what Colin is calling it these days. At any rate, both whistles sound fantastic and have excellent tuning and response. If you’re looking for that “Davy Spillane” sound, here’s your whistle
I tried one of Colin’s “narrow bore” low C whistles in Tønder last year, and it was absolutely wonderful. Not that much harder to play than his low Ds, actually…
Go raibh mile maith agaibh (that’s a thousand thanks) to everyone for their helpful suggestions and to those of you who e-mailed or PMed me, I was away for a few days and I just drove in from Ohio tonight through a !@#$ing winter wonderland so I’m knackered but I will be getting back to each and every one of you by the end of the week (work calls at half past five in the morning).
Good luck!
I’m not really certain what Colin is calling it these days. At any rate, both whistles sound fantastic and have excellent tuning and response. If you’re looking for that “Davy Spillane” sound, here’s your whistle