My daughter (a tubist for 15 years) picked up and became addicted to a Waltons Mello D while in Ireland. Her love affair with the whistle deepened visably when exposed to Low D. Though she has no fear of unweildly instruments, I would like to present her with the most suitable whistle for her short arms and small hands. There’s a giant of a bass player in there.
Pointers from players to assist me in my search would be very much appreciated.
Having found your site for the second time,
Chip & Whiffle, Flip & Chiffle among others,
You might check the Whistle Board archives for similar questions and opinions.
I’ve got short fingers for a guy, and I find the Dixon Low D easier to play than a Burke Composite “EZ”. It sounds realgood, too. It’s also dirt cheap at less than $50 for the non-tunable. Check Here: http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/low/dixon/lowd.html or here: http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk
The wholes on an Overton are very close together compared to other low whistles.
Chris
On 2002-07-16 15:30, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
The wholes on an Overton are very close together compared to other low whistles.
Chris
Chris, are all Overtons that way or do you have to ask for it as an option? I am on the waiting list and am trying to figure out what to tell him when we talk on the phone. From his emails, I gather that he makes a wide variety of whistles, then lets you pick which one you want from the batch.
Well, Overtons in general have a pretty small strech. Loren will back me up on that. If you e-mail Colin and tell him that’s what you need I’m sure he’ll accomidate you. Colin and Brigitte are, without question, amazingly pleasent to do business with. They are kind, friendly, helpful, accomodating… they’re amazing. Just tell Colin what you need and he’ll hook you up right.
Chris
This will help you a lot!
http://www.songsea.com/lowwhisfingchart.html
I am a woman with small hands and I recently got a regular (not big hole) Overton low d, and I can play it just fine. Before that, I had a Ralph Cook low d that was supposed to be an easy reach, but the Overton is much easier to play. Good luck
Thank you all so much! This is very helpful and I will check the archives also. This will help me make this gift a well chosen one. It helps to know that a few of these whistles have some kind of accommodation. This looks to be the start of a long and happy exchange between whistle and player.
She has always been able to play anything she touches from drinking straws to to plumbing, and I wanted to give her a decent instrument. Listening as she has assimilated song after song from the clips and snips strengthens my conviction that she and Low D have a future.
Thanks again.
try soundsamples on different whistles at
http://nwparalegal.com/clipssnip/newpage.htm
don’t forgett the burke low D EZ composite!!
Jane,
Here’s another idea to throw into the mix. You might want to check with Ronaldo Reyburn. He’s very, very good about communication and answering emails. I just received one of his low Ds and I am mightly impressed. So far I’m liking the sound best of the three low Ds I’ve tried, those being Overton, Burke Al Pro and now the Reyburn. I’ve got positive things to say about all three whistles but the sound of the Reyburn has really captured my imagination. I’ll be posting more in a day or two on this whistle but wanted to mention this as another possibility.
take care
I will try and hunt down some samples of this Reyburn also. Mr. Burke is probably within driving distance of me. The samples with the Overtons have been just magnetic.
Jim,
Do you have the one with the offset hole? The hands in question are very small. Her ring size is 3. I will be watching for your further posts regarding your new instrument and hopefully a song or two. Beautiful and throaty sound on the Reyburn site clip.
Hey Jane,
No I didn’t go with the offset, mainly because I’ve got one of the big hole Overton and seem to be able to cover the holes with not too much of a stretch. I emailed Ronaldo and he measured the holes for me and they were the same as the Overton for the distance between the 5th and the sixth holes. I don’t have large hands or fingers. I wear a man’s small or medium glove with most mediums being a bit large. You might check with Jessi K. off the board, she had a Reyburn for a while and has always been really good about sharing info with those that are interested and I trust her judgement.
Also email Ronaldo. He has just been super to work with. I suspect the offset system might work well for what you’ve described but he’ll work with you so that you get the whistle you want. The sound is really, really nice and its easy to play although the Burke and the Overton both have taught me a lot over the last year so I’m not coming to the Reyburn as my first low D.
Also on the Snips and Clips (or is that Clips and Snips?) Tony Higgin is playing an air “Coombe” on a Reyburn Low D.
Have you condidered starting her out on a low G instead? My Suato Low D is just to big for me, and while other low D’s may have an easier reach, I’m afraid my hands are too small to ever play the low D well. I have considered a Low G, they’re smaller than D’s with an easier reach, but large enough to have that wonderful low tone and just big enough to learn piper’s grip.
Dixon isn’t too expensive, but stay away from Suato . . . I just don’t care for them. A low G from Dixon isn’t too expensive, and then she can easily graduate to the low D when she’s ready
On 2002-07-16 18:33, Jane wrote:
The hands in question are very small. Her ring size is 3.
That being the case, I’ll second the motion that you start her out on a Low G.
Ideally it is best to work your way down to the low D, this will gradually condition your hands for the stretch making it much less difficult than tackling the beast all at once.
I have very small hands myself, and even the easy reach of a Dixon low D was quite a painful stretch at first… I made the mistake of jumping from low G to low D all at once.
Jane, thanks for asking this question – I’ve wondered about it but am not ready to try a low whistle yet. Can you let us know what you decide and how your daughter does with it? I also have small hands. Guitar-playing has given me some stretch, but when I do try a low whistle, I want to make sure it’s one I can play! (I saw a guy playing a Susato low whistle one day and he could barely reach. No way I would be able to.)
Thanks,
Tery
I have ungodly short fingers… it runs in the family, 2 of our knuckles are kina put together making our hands a whole knuckle size smaller than the average person and I can still play the low whistle just fine. It just takes practice
Chanse, What kind do you play? We are going to be going to an Irish Fest in Milwaukee next month, so I’m reserving my purchase until she has at least held a couple, or at the very least eyeballed some in person. Decided this will be a good opportunity even though it is after the birthday I am shopping for. I’m investing in some highly recommended CD’s to tide us over till then.
Jane,
If I’m not still having car trouble then, I’m also hoping to make it to Milwaukee for the Irsh Fest. If I do, I’ll be bringing my whistles and they would be available to try.
Reyburn Low D
Overton Big hole Low D
Overton F (close to my idea of a “perfect” whistle)
Burke Al Pro G
Burke Composites A and Bflat
New Sindts in A and Bflat
It will just depend on my transportation situation
It would be so much fun to meet you there. I hope your car comes around. We are planning on going for Friday and Satuday.