Hi guys,
I can’t get enough of my Susato kildare in B, and I’m considering getting an A whistle, one of the “mezzo” whistles falling between low D and high D (not the rare A-below-low-D). While I like Susato’s playability and tuning, I’m not a huge fan of the somewhat plastic-y vibration they have in the lower octave. So is there a decent, preferably metal low A whistle out there for under $100 USD? If not I’ll just build one using GG’s tutorial, I’ve had good results with it in the past. It’d be nice to have a manufactured one, though, as I’m still learning how to get the sound I want from my own whistles.
Jerry Freeman makes an A whistle using his tweaked Generation Bb head and his own custom brass body. It plays well and is in tune. You’ll need to use OXX XOX or OXX XOO for the Gnat (the Cnat position on a D whistle). You could do a lot worse for a lot more money since it will probably cost you less than $50 shipped.
You’ll have to contact him directly though since I’ve never seen on on his eBay store.
Tommy Dion makes whistles in the key of A with aluminum tone tube and pvc head or tone tube and head of cpvc.
I believe they are still only $55.00 plus mailing.
Click on the pic for a sound clip.
My key of A tweaked Generations are $44.50 plus $6.00 postage = $50.50 total. You can use www.paypal.com with jerry “at” tcenet dot net for my PayPal email address. Or if you want to send a check, PM me and I’ll give you my mailing address.
I don’t know of any recordings of a tweaked A Generation. However, the sound is very much like my tweaked Bb whistles. Recently, a customer in Brazil posted some YouTube clips of a Freeman tweaked Bb, which you can listen to using the links below. The recording quality gives a clear impression not only of what the tweaked Bb whistles sound like, but the tweaked A Generations as well.
If you like, I’ll send you a tweaked A Generation on approval. If you choose not to buy it, you can send it back and you’ll only be out the return postage. That way, you don’t have to think about buying a whistle you haven’t heard.
I’ve often wondered why Alto Bb and A whistles are described as “low whistles” (even in some music shops, so it’s not just you), when I have never seen a whistle above soprano G.
They are the highest A whistles you can get, so you’d think they’d be called “high A” whistles to distinguish them from the Bass A.
I decided I found the whole high/low labelling system inconsistent and confusing, so I took to using the soprano/alto/tenor/bass labels.
Doesn’t really help though, because 9 times out of ten someone will reply “Oh, you mean a low whistle?”
Yeah, the terminology in trad music and whistles in particular can be pretty convoluted and nonsensical. I’m personally lobbying for the “Tin Whistle” when not actually made of tin to be called the “Northumbrian Flute” because F*** me if the word “Northumbrian” isn’t the coolest sounding thing ever. “Tin Whistle” just doesn’t represent the beauty and mystery the instruments sound like…
