Been playing my Clark Sweetone for about 3 weeks and just got a Tweaked Generation about a week ago. I like both whistles, but really like or prefer the tone of the Sweetone.Can anyone of you experienced players recommend a whistle with a similar tone? I can see already the beginnings of WHOA. After all, " One is the Loneliest Number" Thanks, Stevie.
The Clarke Sweetone is a conical-bore whistle. You could try the Clarke Original or a Shaw. Both have a bit of that breathy sound you get from the Sweetone, and are very affordable, easy players.
I like the Clarke original a lot.
–James
Me too. It takes slightly better breath control, but there’s no comparison with the tone.
Count me among the Clarke lovers, too. I also have a Thom Larson tweaked clarke that’s like a Clarke original, only better. I believe you can get them from the whistle shop.
Tom
I’m somewhat confused by this thread. Granted I haven’t played any of the Clarke Sweetones or Originals I have for some time, but as I clearly recall: I’ve always loved the Clarke original because of the traditional lovely tone (and the fact that it was the first whistle I ever played and learned basics on) and never had much problem with the wood plug, the breathiness or the air requirements that some have complained of. The only problem was that some of the whistles have a very sharp finishing seam on the underside of the rolled metal which can be a bit uncomfortable. However, the Clarke Sweetone, which people seem to be referencing interchangeably with the original herein, is a TOTALLY different whistle in every respect from the Original - I never liked it and find its playability unchallenging and so easy while its tone is dreadful. Of all the whistles I’ve played (hundreds) it feels and sounds the most like a toy.
Anyway, that’s just personal opinion; but the fact that a Sweetone and an Original have not much in common (besides maker) as to tone and playability can be objectively demonstrated by playing a bunch of each side by side. I don’t get it.
Philo
There is something both Sweetones and Originals have in common They are both conical. Me personally, I like the Sweetone better but personal taste is the issue here you will passionate defenders of both. Meanwhile if you get WhOA bad enough and take a liking to conical whistles you might start dreaming of a Copeland. I now have one in C and it is seamless and makes me sound better than I deserve. I am looking around the house for uneccessary things to sell for more - things like dishes, light bulbs, towels, door knobs, chairs, lamps…
Thanks for all the advice. Being that I also play harmonica, I know that ones with a wooden comb have a warmer tone than ones with plastic combs, though they tend to be breathier. I like the warmer sound on most days so I tend to grab the Sweetone first whereas the Generation is a little crisper to my inexperienced ears. I do think that I’ll try a tweaked Clarke just because they’re so affordable. Does anyone else tweak these besides Mr. Freeman? Thanks, Stevie. “Sometimes it’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear ignorant ,than to open it and remove all doubt.” Mark Twain
Get a Jerry Freeman tweaked Shaw. It’s a wonderful and different whistle from the Clarke, but still in the conical mode.
Regards,
Steve Mack
Couldn’t agree more with PhilO–whatever your opinion of the Clarke original and Sweetone respectively, they don’t sound or play at all alike. I bought a Sweetone for my three year old daughter precisely because of that “toy” sense about the thing–and because she’s a bit of a weapon and they’re cheap as chips.
Quoted for truth.
Just for the sake of completeness, Susato Kildare tunable whistles have a conical bore, though not as markedly conical as the other whistles mentioned here.
That said, they belong to a different family of whistle design and have little else in common with the other whistles mentioned in this thread.
–Jame
I haven’t played sweet tones that much. The ones I have played seemed rather dull to my ear, so I agree with that. I guess, to me, the Clarke original seems like a logical next step.
Of course, I’m biased because I really like clarke originals. 
T
why not just keep playing the one you like? it’s easy to waste money on whistles you don’t play.
monkey587, This raises the deep metaphysical question, “Can money spent on a whistle ever truely be considered wasted?”.
Or if you gave 587 monkeys enough whistles and enough time, would they eventually play a harmonized version of “Danny Boy”? (I say buy more whistles).
Yes.