Looking for a "warmer" sounding whistle.

Whistle
1

Ok - I know this is totally subjective, but…

I have a Walton’s Little Black and a Generation, both in D (and both “tweaked”, as least as far as having the mouth piece movable to get them in tune). But they both sound “tinny” to me. Ok, ok, I KNOW it’s a tin whistle, but I’d like something a little warmer sounding.

Just to give you some comparison, I also play mountain dulcimer and tend toward deeper, warmer sounding instruments. In fact, I almost exclusively play bass or baritone dulcimer now. I don’t like any of the “brighter” sounding instruments.

So - what makes (and composition) would y’all recommend (and source and approximate price, too, if you can). I really feel that I don’t give the whistle near as much attention as I should because of the tone of the ones I own.

Thanks

Missy

2

I have a Burke that I love and to me sounds “warm.” It also has a pure tone. I also like the sound of my Dixon. As you said, this is subjective, so YMMV. You might try a Busman or some other wooden whistle–that may give you the tone you want. These cost a bit more, but I’m sure are worth it.

3

I’m not sure what warmer means, but you’d do well to try a Dixon.

4

burke composite or overton

5

I think wooden whistles are warmer than metal whistles. So I would suggest an Abell, because that’s my favorite. I think the price is $300. You can get them directly from Chris.

http://www.abellflute.com

Edit: Another great option can be found at http://www.greenwoodpipes.com - Davey’s wooden whistles are great.

6

Mack Hoover makes a CPVC whistle that sounds a lot like wood, for a very reasonable price.

Dana

7

I have a Burke brass narrow bore that is a very “warm” sounding whistle to me, lovely tone all the way up into the stratosphere.

–James

8

I would recommend boxwood. The warmest sounding whistle I have is a boxwood by David Boisvert.

To go with the baritone dulcimer, you might want to try a low-D or low-G, especially Copeland.

9

Gotta get in a vote for Elf Songs here. Very warm, rich-sounding whistle. Or, if you like something a bit more complex, I second the recommedation of a Busman.

Redwolf

10

I prefer warm to bright as well. Dixons are good (esp the lower ones, A & G) if you want cheap, and Shaws are also very warm-sounding but don’t bother with an untweaked one. Get one from Jerry or have him tweak it.

11

Just to add to the confusion…

Alba Q1

Very soft and warm sounding, and a strong contrast to Generation style whistles. I’m afraid I haven’t yet tried wooden whistles, or Burke whistles, so can’t offer you a direct comparison. You may also enjoy whistles in the lower keys of course…the list just grows and grows!

I hope you find your ideal whistle,

Best, Adrian

12

You might want to look more closely at lower keyed whistles. Bb, for instance. It still sounds whistley, but not to tinny or shrieky. The lower you go in keys, the more flutey whistles sound.
Tony

13

thanks for all the recommendations so far - a little more information…

I do have a Bb whistle, but want to play along with songs in the keys of D, Em, G or A (I also have a G, but it sounds like a dog whistle to me!)

I’ve tried a low whistle (specifically a D), and my hands are just TOO small to finger correctly, unless I can find one where the bottom hole is really offset from the others. Even when trying “piper” fingering, it just didn’t work!

Keep up with the suggestions, I’m getting a “wish list” in order, here!

Missy

14

what about a copeland low G?

15

A soprano whistle will never have a true warm sound. If you find the whistle gets on your nerves, a quiet whistle may be what you really need. Also, a whistle that’s out of tune will get on your nerves.

First I’d plug my ears when practicing at home. That takes care of the annoying volume.

Then I’d find the most in-tune whistle possible. That comes down to Susato, which also happens to have a reputation as screechy. OK then, put some industrial ear covers over those plugged ears and you’ll be home free.

16

The lowest note on a soprano D whistle is an octave plus one step above middle C. That’s way high, like a piccolo! You just ain’t gonna get deep, dark, mellow sounds out of such an animal. If something like a Burke Brass D don’t do it, probably nothing will.

17

i second the wooden whistles for a warm sound - although dana’s suggestion about mack’s pvc is also true, imho. reyburn’s low whistles are awesome and his offset holes made for using the right pinky take out the stretch problem.

18

i dunno.. really.. what exactly do you mean by warm.. the overtones..or just the pitch… i think what yu mena is full sounding.. you may want to try a tweaked sweetone.. or maybe my kinda current fave a syn.. it has .. i guess i would call it a "round"sound. not quite placticy.. but..full.. and clear..pure.

19

If you’re seriously after deep/warmer sound, and are thinking of reaching for low keys, you can’t go wrong with some famous low-whistle makers like _________, _______ and ______. :smiley: I mean there’s no way to go deeper other than playing lower keyed whistles. I think if you love “deep” as in “low”, don’t hesitate to take up a low D. I hear Dixon is good for a starter.

Otherwise, as to high, or soprano, whistles, here are what I can think of at this moment:

a) Busman
Wood. You can pick what you like…Bocote (mine), Blackwood, Pink Ivory, etc, etc. If it’s not your daily prayer for all the recorders to be abolished from the surface of Earth, this is it. Mind you, I’m not a recorder hater and I do think some recorders do sound warm, only when played by very limited number of exceptional, divine-inspirated musicians. :smiley: Busman is one of the kind in the aspect of the tone it produces, although constructed as a 6-hole whistle. “Warm”. amen.

b) Elfsong
Copper etc. Warm/pure, but tend to clog on higher 2nd oct. notes. Still a soprano, so not really “deep” (nitpicking…? :smiley:)

c) Generation Bb
If possible, get a Freeman-Tweaked version of it. Marvellous.
Perhaps a little luke-warm, being neither high or low, therefore to be cast out of some peoples’ lips. I personally think it’s “deep” to some extent.

d) Hoover
Quiet, warm and pure. Would match dulcimers perfectly.
Go for lower keys.

lixnaw
I thought Copelands are a bit too reedy, but then again the reedy-ness is the very thing one would consider “warm”. I think Cillians are much “warmer” in the opposite sense (i.e. not reedy). Still has the metalic tone to it, but purer, deeper (perhaps narrower, focused?) than Copelands.

E=Fb
C’mon, listen to Sean Ryan…his Susato doesn’t sound like a screechy screemer! :wink: Surely there must be a way to produce a warmer tone out of the plastic bodies…I’m still having problem with the recently acruied Bnat, the tone I very much love.

20

Put your fingers around the fipple window so that it surrounds the top and sides and note how it sounds. The pitch will change, but ignore that and listen to the tone color. If that is what you’re looking for, seek out whistles with deeply planted fipples.

I built a small adapter the other day to put walls around the fipple. Slid it over the head and adjusted tightened the screw and sound really changed.