This is really a nice little tooter. Pretty sound, easy to play, and very handsome (I got the one with the brass tuning slide). I can see why people recommend them as good first whistles…very satisfying to play.
I can tell you, though, this is a classic example of the advice to play a whistle for a bit before you decide it has a problem. I pulled it out of the box, played a few tunes, and immediately thought “Oh no! It’s out of tune with itself! AND it’s got a funny buzz in the second octave!” After playing it for a while, however, it became clear that there was nothing at all wrong with the whistle. The “out of tuneness” I was hearing came from my automatically reducing my airflow on the bottom three notes, as I do with my O Briain improved and my Elfsong…this whistle doesn’t require that kind of breath control and, in fact, I was flattening the bottom three notes by underblowing. As for the “buzz”…that was my embouchure. I normally play my Elfsong with my lips near the top of the mouthpiece, tightening them slightly as I near the top of the second octave. That doesn’t suit the Dixon…too much air escapes. When I relaxed my lips and slid them a bit further down the mouthpiece, the “buzz” disappeared.
This one wants a name. I’m thinking of “Blackbird.” Or perhaps…how do you say “Blackbird” in Irish?
Awwwww, a brand new baby Dixon! Give her a big hug and a kiss for me…
I have one just like yours, my first whistle, and I just love it. The thing just sings, it’s really wonderful. I don’t think I have anything bad to say about it, even though it took a little while for me to figure out how it wants me to treat it.
Don’t even get me started on the two-piece Clare I got, though…it’s could be going on the raffle block before long if it doesn’t come around soon. Maybe I’ve just gotten spoiled by my baby…
Robin, are you perhaps overblowing the Clare? I could see that happening, if you’re used to a Dixon. I have both, and am very fond of my 2-piece Clare, but it is a very different whistle.
My dictionary says blackbird (female) is also céirseach. I’m not an Irish speaker - yet - but I think that’d be pronounced kayr-sach with a hard german ch sound.
On the 2-piece Clare, it is worthwhile to look through the end of the headjoint tube while holding the fipple up to the light.
On mine there was some plastic that had been shaved from the fippple (still attached to it, unfortunately) from when the fipple was first placed on the tube.
Removing the fipple with the assistance of hot water and cleaning things up a bit resulting it a remarkably nice sounding whistle.
On 2003-01-30 16:57, Redwolf wrote:
I can tell you, though, this is a classic example of the advice to play a whistle for a bit before you decide it has a problem. I pulled it out of the box, played a few tunes, and immediately thought “Oh no! It’s out of tune with itself! AND it’s got a funny buzz in the second octave!” After playing it for a while, however, it became clear that there was nothing at all wrong with the whistle. The “out of tuneness” I was hearing came from my automatically reducing my airflow on the bottom three notes, as I do with my O Briain improved and my Elfsong…this whistle doesn’t require that kind of breath control and, in fact, I was flattening the bottom three notes by underblowing. As for the “buzz”…that was my embouchure. I normally play my Elfsong with my lips near the top of the mouthpiece, tightening them slightly as I near the top of the second octave. That doesn’t suit the Dixon…too much air escapes. When I relaxed my lips and slid them a bit further down the mouthpiece, the “buzz” disappeared.
Red,
Does this mean putting more of the mouthpiece in one’s mouth? I have experienced the same thing on my new Dixon.
Mike
On 2003-01-30 16:57, Redwolf wrote:
I can tell you, though, this is a classic example of the advice to play a whistle for a bit before you decide it has a problem. I pulled it out of the box, played a few tunes, and immediately thought “Oh no! It’s out of tune with itself! AND it’s got a funny buzz in the second octave!” After playing it for a while, however, it became clear that there was nothing at all wrong with the whistle. The “out of tuneness” I was hearing came from my automatically reducing my airflow on the bottom three notes, as I do with my O Briain improved and my Elfsong…this whistle doesn’t require that kind of breath control and, in fact, I was flattening the bottom three notes by underblowing. As for the “buzz”…that was my embouchure. I normally play my Elfsong with my lips near the top of the mouthpiece, tightening them slightly as I near the top of the second octave. That doesn’t suit the Dixon…too much air escapes. When I relaxed my lips and slid them a bit further down the mouthpiece, the “buzz” disappeared.
Red,
Does this mean putting more of the mouthpiece in one’s mouth? I have experienced the same thing on my new Dixon.
Mike
Yep…that’s what I mean. It’s not a lot more…I usually play very close to the tip of the mouthpiece (not sure why…just a habit I have), and just sliding it a teensy bit farther into the mouth eliminates the buzz with the Dixon.
You might be interested to know that Walton’s ‘110 Ireland’s best slow airs’ book features a tune called 'An Londubh ‘san Cheirseach’,which translates as ‘The Blackbird and his mate’.Nice tune,dedicated to my favourite garden bird.
)