Just curious…
Compared to the stretch on a low D, how much more of a stretch is the low C?
Quite a bit. But manageable.
I think you should try one of these before you buy one, if at all possible. I have experience with three different low C’s - one Chieftain (old style), a Dixon and a Burke. Makers designs vary. I have smallish hands for a man. The Chieftain was quite playable. The reach was do-able with a little practice. It sounded good, it just wasn’t the whistle for me. I had a Dixon polymer low C and tried for a year or more to get aclimated to the stretch. The right hand stretch was too much for me so I sold that one. I do like the Dixon low D though.
I have stayed with a Burke aluminum low C for a few years now. As Bloomfield said, the right hand is a bit of a stretch beyond that of the Viper low D but with some practice it becomes very playable. I use it when the situation calls for a low whistle in that range. Air requirements are a bit more too.
I would like to give an Overton low C a try some time.
Hope that helps.
Feadogie
Maybe these pics will help. They show my set of alternate (self-made) finger tubes for my Dave Lymm PVC conduit pipe Low Whistle. In both pics, from L to R you see Eb, D, C, Bb, aligned at the top tone-hole. Although the C and Bb have raised, offset 3rd finger holes, the spacing along the tube is of course the same. I think it would be fair to say that the proportions of these tubes are reasonably representative of cylindrical whistles. Sorry I only had a steel rule to put as a scale - it wasn’t ideal for photographing, but I think you can see enough to get some idea from it.
FWIW, the total span of the C from centre of top hole to centre of bottom one is about 9 and 1/2"or 24cm compared to a D at c8" or 20.5cm.
The third pic is of me holding the Bb using a semi piper’s hold (R hand only) - but I have fairly large and quite flexible hands with a span (thumb tip to little-finger tip) of 8 and 3/4" or just over 22cm L hand and slightly more at 9"/23cm R hand, and broad, spatulate fingers, so these things are relatively easy for me. I do find the Bb uncomfortable after a while, though.
Hope this helps to give you some idea.
Very helpful replies – thank you all.
I can see that I will just have to try one someday, but I definitely won’t buy before I try. From the measurements and pics, it’s clear that my reach would be teetering on the edge of doability – may be doable, maybe not – and the only way to know for sure would be to road test it.
I never before thought I would want or need a low C, until a song came along this week that sits (vocally) just perfectly in that transposition, and wanting a deep, haunting whistle intro. And of course where there’s one song of that ilk, there may be others. Tra la la…
I have both Overton Low D and C. The difference in spread on the lower three holes is 1/2 inch. The difference on the top is 1/4 inch.
I have an old Susato keyless low C and its finger-stretch is not noticealby wider than the several low D’s I have, to me at least. In spite of this, my understanding is that the low C Susati are only available now with keys, which have the effect of making the finger-stretch very comfortable.