On 2002-05-21 16:38, garycrosby wrote:
Odd. I haven’t noticed any difference in the “taste” of the Oak mouthpiece when compared with the “taste” a Sweetone or Walton’s which are also have a plastic mouthpieces. Charlie, is it possible that yours somehow got contaminated or that there is something inside that has … err, has gone “foul”?
It’s certainly possible, but as I said, I’ve soaked it in hot water and also in bleach solution, so it’s not simply on the surface.
If I were to speculate, I’s suspect one of two things – either it’s a sort of plastic that I’m somehow sensitive to (I don’t have any sensitivity to vinyl, which is the most common plastic-related thing of this sort), or (more likely) the resin didn’t completely polymerize in the curing process.
I’m the one who implied toxins. Bad me. I suppose I’d better say loudly and in public that I am only comparing the taste of my two new Oak pennywhistle fipples to the smell I associate with solvents. I am NOT saying new Oak fipples are hazardous to our health. But they do make my lips numb and it isn’t the vibration of the buzzing doing that.
ChrisA, I’d sure be interested in learning what Oak has to say.
Debra
[ This Message was edited by: dth on 2002-05-21 17:44 ]
If and when I get to discuss matters with Oak, or whoever makes Oaks, I’ll be posting the full story, at least for the boards, and maybe Dale will choose to publish it. Who knows.
My D Oak whistle definitely made my lips all numb. It kind of felt like a burning/numbing sensation. I actually stopped playing it for a while and used my Generation D instead (I like it better anyway). I’ve since picked up the Oak again and it’s potency seems to have subsided. Still curious though why it was like that in the first place.
Did you use Jet-Dry or something similar in the whisltes to try to cut clogging? For a while after it is applied (maybe a week, depending on how often you play) it can cause a mild numbness of the lips. This happens even after the taste itself has worn away.
I think the problem is with the plastic.I haven’t gotten numb lips from my oak, but the fipple stunk really bad when I first got the whistle.After airing out for awhile I don’t notice the smell anymore.The oak’s the only whistle I’ve had that problem with. Btw I purchased it about 2 years ago from The Whistle Shop.
Take care, Johnz
On 2002-05-21 17:38, dth wrote:
I’m the one who implied toxins.
[ This Message was edited by: dth on 2002-05-21 17:44 ]
Whoops! Chris, sorry for thinking you had put words into my mouth (or thoughts in my head). I had wrongly assumed I was the only one who’s commented on this.
No Caru, no jet dry - straight from the package - about 10 minutes later I was talking like Jar Jar binks. Meesa lips is numbiny.
Just as a test, I just put my lips further onto the fipple and the numbness was quite present. I think it’s a combination of numb and kinda stingy. Mild, but present indeed. Tastes kind of bitter.
I used to get quite a smell and a bit of taste off a red Generation D head. I stopped using it for a while, and it seems to have subsided, but there’s still a very faint whiff if I hold it really close to my hooter. I’ve never noticed a problem with any other head, including the Oak.
That said, I quickly swapped the Oak head for a Feadog III, also in Black, so maybe I didn’t play it enough.
I can’t see any connection between Oak and Feadog. They seem worlds apart in quality of the Nickel body, and the Irish makes are usually proud to display their Irish origins on their labels, it’s a selling point! So it would make no sense for Oak to be made by the Feadog manufacturers to my way of thinking. Mine was bought in Ireland, and there was no clue to the manufacturer OR distributor on the paper insert.
Oddly, the term Pennywhistle is used on both the plastic case and the paper insert fingering chart. I thought no self-respecting Irish player used this term anymore, but called them tinwhistles, or simply whistles. Maybe this is another clue?
I got onto Keynote, who make the Feadóg, in Dublin. And, then I got really confused. It seems that if I want to buy an Oak whistle via Keynote (an Irish distributor to music shops here) I will get the model made in the US by Music Sales Corp, NY. However; These whistles, with double nickel coating, have (I understand) been discontinued - although there are very large supplies left.
Keynote are curently manufacturing a new version of the Oak for Music Sales, which will NOT (I’ve no idea why) be available in Ireland, but only in the USA. It will be (or is already) closer to the current Feadóg than the old Oak model, as far as I can tell. I got no more than that, sorry. Oh, I’ve just realised why the new Oak isn’t available in Ireland (can you guess!)
They’re not making the nickel Oaks anymore? Yeesh, glad I got one while I still could. I still think they’re pretty darn good for a cheapo whistle, buzz or no buzz (which I don’t have problems with on my whistle, as long as I don’t blow too hard).