Good morning.
I’m considering purchasing a wood whistle. A friend plays a beautiful Abell D in black wood. I welcome any opinions from you old hands out there who’d care to weigh in with any other quality makers to consider.
Many thanks, Séamus
I am a new hand and very much a beginner but really pleased with my Roy McManus wood whistle.
Hi. Thanks. May I ask what kind you have from him? Pitch, wood specie,etc? What was the wait time for your whistle? Sorry for lots of questions, but investing in a wood whistle is a big step. Thanks, séamus
Seconding McManus. I have a McManus high D in mopane, and in my opinion, it’s the best wooden whistle out there - better than Abell.
The reason it’s so good is that it manages to strike a perfect balance of having a strong lower octave with a balanced second octave that isn’t too flat or too piercing. I think it nails this better than any wooden whistle I’ve tried. I also think its intonation is better than an Abell’s (which is already pretty good).
I’ve tried McManus whistles in blackwood and other woods, and to me, there’s no discernable difference between any of them.
I also have mopane and high D. I contacted him via email and it took about one month. I didn’t pay until he had finished making the whistle. I am really happy with it. I am from Belfast so I just had to add a whistle made in Belfast to my collection but it is a fantastic whistle.
I know they are expensive but worth it. I recently had an Abell whistle in my shop and it was amazing. I wrote Abell for information and he offered to service it free of charge! Not a bad price if it is your “forever whistle”.
As wooden whistles go, Abell makes a nice one. I can’t say I really agree with any wooden whistle, but I did briefly own an Abell (bought used for $100, if you can believe it!) and it was a nice enough instrument. Certainly well-made.
Another maker worth considering is Charlie Tarrio (‘chas’ here on C&F), who mainly sells Whorfin whistles through the Irish Flute Store, apart from discounted ‘seconds’ and other special requests. I’ve got a Blackwood in A on order from him.
Thanks for this. Just out of interest, is yours a large or small hole McManus whistle? I went for the large hole option thinking it would be louder, but wonder whether the smaller holes would make for a sweeter tone.
I had no idea you could choose hole size. I just got a standard, whatever that is.
The only other McManus I’ve tried was his large bore “session” whistle, which I strongly disliked (but that doesn’t sound like what you’re referring to as “large hole”).
Hi. Anyone have different contact info for Roy Mcmanus?
His website his email as: Whistles@mcmanus.co.uk, but my emails have come back as "undeliverable. So- just wondering
Thanks,
Séamus
try the same prefix @roymcmanus.co.uk