Does anyone know if there is a nice Soprano D whistle with a delrin head & a wooden body?
Thanks,
Dublingirl
None I know of, but you surely could ask Chris Abell for such a hybrid, since he makes both all-delrin and all-wood on the exact same model.
Ask also Paul Busman, he might like the idea.
I have a Hoover prototype with a Delrin head and wooden body. It was an experiment, and has the thinnest wooden walls I have ever seen in an instrument. Ask Mack if he will make you one that is standard thickness. As with all of Mack’s whistles, its playing qualities are excellent, with a pure, open sound.
Best.
Bill
I asked my guru Glenn Schultz one time about making wooden heads for Generation type bodies, and he said " If yer gonna make wooden whistle, make wooden whistles!"
Not that you’ll be able to order one or anything, but Patrick O’Riordan’s concert whistles have delrin (or some polymer) heads and wooden bodies. Dale has a pic of one at:
That’s EXACTLY the sort of whistle I want! What a shame I can’t order one.
Dublingirl
Lucky the one who knows exactly what she wants.
And lucky you are indeed: you’ll have an O’Riordan kingswood D/C set for sale in UK next week–see http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=160540&highlight=#160540
Be ready with lotsa £££ though…
Here’s a photo from Mac Hoover’s Web site:
http://home.bresnan.net/~mackhoover/pics_and_poems_.htm
Looks like what you’re looking for…
The whistle pictured in Bretton’s post has a CPVC head. Black Delrin is available.
Best.
Byll
Thanks so much! Looks like I’ll be contacting Mack very soon about his lovely whistles. I already have a Hoover narrow bore & a brass Whitecap -I hadn’t heard about the wooden ones!
Thanks again,
Dublingirl
Nice pic; interesting looking whistle…How’s it sound?
PhilO
has anyone reviewed one of macks “whitecapwoods”? they have been on my mind for a while and i’d like to hear more about 'em. i bet they sound great 
tansy
I think Mack is still testing the new design - getting feedback from a few players, and tweaking the design before he rolls out a production model… At least, that’s what I last understood.
I’ve had a chance to play several of Mack’s wooden whistles over the past few months. I also own (and play) a pair of Pat O’Riordan’s concert wooden whistles. Over the past year, I’ve also played wooden whistles from Glenn Schultz, Paul Busman, and Fred Rose.
These are all fairly different instruments. Mack’s are still in the development stages when I last saw them, but may offer some real competition in the wooden whistle niche in the not too distant future. Mack uses a fairly thin walled construction - quite different from O’Riordans. Lighter in weight and perhaps just a touch louder than Pat’s whistle design as well.
Mack has also recently started working in Delrin for his mouthpieces as well as his now famous CPVC “whitecap” design. Personally I prefer Delrin for it’s moisture shedding properties. The sound difference between the two plastics is negligable to my ear.
If you have specific questions I’d suggest a call to Mack as he can be the most helpful in answering your specific questions.
All the best!
B~
..I hope this doesn’t count as an advertisement, but I make wooden whistles. And a delrin head is certainly an option. Currently, aside from the orders I’m working on, I have 1 soprano d made from purpleheart with brass ferrules, and another that has a purpleheart fipple with a lilac body (nearly white!)..one for the ladies?..
David Boisvert
www.greenwoodpipes.com
Here’s a pic of some whistles from my website:
With the brass ferrule, the head must look just like a tube of lipstick 
So, yes, usually more like for the ladies.
Davey, your whistles look great! How do they sound - are they always in tune? And what woods do you make them in?
Dublingirl