Are there any whistles that can be compared with Susato’s regarding back pressure, loudness and breath requirements?
Ideally, they also should be available in different keys, namely D, C and Bb.
Thanks!
Is there a reason you don’t want to just use susatos? I think that, if they’re your ideal, you may as well just play those.
And there’s nothing wrong with playing susatos, if you can do it well.
On the other hand, I think my Abells feel remarkably like susatos. Similar backpressure and loudness, and I think the breath requirements are only slightly higher on the Abells. They don’t sound anything like susatos, though, so that may be a consideration.
The only reason is that I don’t like the feel of shiny and plain plastic on my fingertips.
Well, I guess the main question is: Do you like susatos for their sound? Or for their characteristics (like backpressure, et al.)? Because I can’t think of another whistle that sounds like a susato, but there are plenty that feel like a susato does to the player.
Well, I also like the sound, but the main reason for me why I like Susato’s is the “play-and-feel”.
A metal susato would be genious though.
Get a very cheap Taiwanese recorder (I bet you can find one made of some crappy wood) and learn the fingering, and there you go 
Or wrapp some tinfoil around the outside of the “whistle”.
Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh against Susato, what do you recon? But I really do hate them.
I’m with you, I believe there’s a reason it is called the “Tin” whistle 
Eh, to each his own.
I agree that the Abell is close in volume etc, but it’s a FAR superior product. The Silkstone is also very in tune, rather lous, and has a slight hint of that Susato sound…only slight. IMHO anyway.
The Alloy Silkstone is a wonderful suggestion. Probably your best bet, in fact.
Also (Henke will probably gasp audibly at this one) I think Syns are a good alternative to susato. Again, the sound is much different, but they have a satisfying amount of backpressure. And they’re cheap, as well.
Took a look on that silkstone thingie, it looks really nice and when the playing characteristics are comprable…wonderful!
Will have a look at the Syn too…thanks so far
I agree the Syn is about the closest whistle you will find to a Susato.
The only reason is that I don’t like the feel of shiny and plain plastic on my fingertips.
Here’s what I did on my plastic Yamaha recorder: I took very fine sandpaper to it (400 grit), and gently rubbed the glossy finish lengthwise, so that it looks almost like wood grain. It looks a lot classier, both close up and from a distance. And it is less slippery.
Oreo Phil
if you don’t like the feel of a susato, how do you get through life? is there nothing plastic that you have to touch? what is your computer keyboard made out of? here’s a suggestion, get some of that spray on velvet/felt stuff that they use in high school wood shop, that’ll be a different texture. i have textile sensitivity too so i know a little bit of how you must feel. i couldn’t stand to use a pic when i first played the guitar but i had to get over it, although now i use metal finger pics, i wish i knew about those a bit earlier. is it just your fingertips that can’t handle the texture, what about a plastic fipple?
just asking, i’m curious.
The following is off-topic. Forgive me.
I had a friend in high school that did a lot of stuff with the drama department (and myself). Once, before a performance, everyone was putting on their makeup (or having it put on by a female, in my case), and I saw her struggling with some cotton rounds. I tried my best to figure out the problem, but could not for the life of me make sense of it. So I asked her, and it turns out she couldn’t stand the way cotton feels (the raw kind, not cotton cloth). Someone else had to do whatever it was she was trying to do with the cotton for her.
Thought I’d share, though I’m not sure why at this point. 
Not at all.
Well, I do gasp rather audibly when someone acctually compares the wonderful Syn whistles with the horrible Susatos. It’s like comparing a fine Macallan’s whisky with Lord Calvert because they have the same colour.
In all seriousness though, getting a Syn is a great idea for anyone who seeks a whistle with good backpressure, volume and astonishing playing characteristics. And Syns acctually sound very nice as well, not like the Susatos.
So, if you want the Susato sound with another material, a cheap Taiwanese recorder is the way to go. If you acctually want a real whistle with a nice sound which basically has the same playing characteristics that you would want if you were looking for a Susato, but much, much, MUCH better. Get a Syn.
You won’t go back.
Henke,
Let me just say we at SUSATO are very happy many whistle players
do not share your opinion concerning the “horrible” susato’s. Including
many professionals who have chosen this whistle for popular
recordings, performances on television and concerts with thousands
in attendance. I suppose their opinion has little value to you but
we here at SUSATO value that positive feedback very much and
we take this opportunity to thank them.
Good day!
Kelhorn Mike
Kelhorn, we’ve done this before. Henke is not going to be swayed.
I think your keyboard may be better put to use addressing Gabriel’s
concerns… He obviously already likes and plays your company’s
whistles, but doesn’t like the feel of smooth plastic. Does your father
make a less smooth whistle, or a non-plastic one with the same
playing characteristics?
Seriously, you’d be better off courting your actual customers rather
than defending yourself against your detractors. The best defence is
often a good offence…
Good for you that people are playing your whistles. I don’t, and I won’t. I have played them, I didn’t like them at all so I’m expressing my opinion.
Good advice by fearfaoin. A defensive attitude is never a good thing. Although you weren’t that bad
I think Susatos are in a slightly unfortunate position. If you start with cheapies and think you’d like to progess to a more carefully made instrument, you tend to look first to mid-price instruments and there are the Susatos. This is certainly what I did. I found them hard to control. So I moved on to Overtons, Burkes, Sindts, Abells, Copelands, Busmen, Grinters and so on. A couple of years later I got out my Susato high Eb and really liked it. I now like some of the high keys and regard even the lows as underrated. My conclusion—it actually takes a bit of experience to control a Susato and most people buy them before they have that experience.
Now to the question. I can’t think of any metal whistle that resembles a Susato closely but I think you should perhaps buy a Burke. I think you’ll be buying a better whistle but it will have some of the features you like.
My favorite story about Susato whistles:
There is a great whistler at our sessions who is also on the boards here at C&F. At one of the sessions, I had brought a regular old Susato SB D whistle. I usually don’t bring the Susato–nothing against it, it’s a fine whistle but I usually play my Burkes in session, and Burkes just “do it” for me.
Anyway, Jen and I frequently try each other’s whistles. She wanted to try the Susato and played it through a set. When the music was done, she put down the whistle, looked at me with a slightly confused look, and said in a surprised voice “But that sounds nice…”
I think that pretty much covers my thoughts on Susato and the reputation they have on these boards.
–James