Hi! I’m new to the forum and new to whistle playing (I’ve been playing Boehm-system flute for 20 years), but I have gotten bit by the whistle bug in a big way! I have been researching whistles for days and listening to sound clips, etc. and really seem to like the sound of wooden whistles quite a bit. I would just like to know if there are some really good makers of wooden whistles which I am overlooking. I currently have an order in with Paul Busman for a Purpleheart whistle in D, and will be ordering a non-tunable Cocobolo in D from Tommy Dion. Some of the other wooden whistles I am considering include whistles by Brad Anderson (Arizona Ironwood), O’Brien Rover in Blackwood, and Mack Hoover apple wood with cherry stain. Granted, I am not buying all of these, but I was wondering if anyone has any strong opinions on the whistles I am contemplating? I am also intrigued by the copper soprano whistle in D from South Wind Whistles and really like the sound of it from the sound clip I heard. If anyone has any advice or recommendations, I sure would appreciate it. 
I’ve been playing Boehm-system flute for 20 years
hi-five Whoo, another one!
Can’t help you with the whistles, sorry; never foumd anything better than my Feadogs and Gens. Welcome
Wendy,
I’ve owned a Thin weasel, Fred Rose, and a Busman. Tried an Abell.
My personal favorite is the Busman. It’s easy to play and has a sweet tone!
I am on the tour for the Anderson but I haven’t played one yet!
Nate
I’ve never played a SouthWind whistle but for the same money you can get a Humphrey whistle. Gary has been making whistles for quite a few years and has a great reputation here on the board.
Here’s a list of some of the wooden whistle makers:
I can highly recommend Jon Swayne’s whistles - see vid clip of me playing mine here. A pupil of mine has an O’Brian from Canada which is nice and good value for money, but not stunning. I’ve had goes on Rose and Bleazey - both excellent. I’m eagerly awaiting my turn on the Oz whistle tour…
(BTW, I started as a Boehm fluter but learnt the error of my ways!)
I highly recommend the O’Brien Rover in Blackwood, but I can’t say anything about the others. My O’Brien is pretty much my favorite whistle.
Pat
I have a Ralph Sweet laminated birch and love it.
Hi and Welcome!
A Ralph Sweet (Sweetheart Flutes) would be a logical compliment to your wooden straight-bore whistle. A top-rate cylindrical bore and conical bore whistle will give you a nice tone pallet to start out with. The differences between two straight-bore instruments are very real, but the difference between a straight and a conical bore are much larger. Personally, I believe that if you’re only going to have a couple of whistles, they should have distinctly different voices. But that’s just me.
Wendy,
It’s the Sweetheart Pro Plus d whistle I have that I like so much. He sells them for $150.
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/whistles.html
I have owned many (sold some and kept others) and you are certainly considering some fine whistle makers.
I love my Abell set. I have a C/Db/D/Eb set and it is a joy to own and play. Chris is a gentleman to deal with (as all the good builders are).
The Rose is a really beautiful instrument with a very clear voice. Used Thin Weasels can be really nice.
Good luck.
I’ll second the OBrien whistle. I have a rover C/D set in Purpleheart and it’s quite nice.
Other than that, the only wooden whistles I owned were a Sweet (his original style, it has problems, but I wouldn’t expect those problems to still be in his new products…a decade is a long time) and a Thin Weasel (wonderful whistle, but I’m allergic to blackwood so it damn near killed me).
I’ll agree with Patrick. I love my Abell soprano D.