Today, my order from the Whistle Shop came-- a Dixon D, a Clarke original, and a C Meg. I already had three Oaks (melted two mouthpieces trying to make them tunable, though) and a Walton’s, and I wanted to explore a little bit without dipping deeply into my pocketbook. Well, I don’t really know enough about whistling yet to know much about what I just received, but I am definitely happy! The Dixon is much lighter than I expected though, which makes me worry I might break it or something! Of course, the Meg was $3, so I don’t mind if it turns out to be lame, but I really like the Clarke! It’s just got a great feel to it.
However, the whiste spree has left me in the throes of the musical instrument acquisition addiction…
My first whistleshop experience wasn’t that great, but I think it was me no being able to wait more than it was anything to do with the whistle shop. Now I’m a multiple-time returning customer. You will be, too.
The Whistle Shop: i met Thom Larsen (sp?) the other day. Great guy. I’ve spent way too much money on that site, but what can you do? Much recommended.
Clarke: one of my favourites too. Recently i found the Shaw, which is like a shiny Clarke. I like mine, but not everybody does. As for the wood, i just assumed they used whatever pallet wood they had in the warehouse. The wood, btw, absorbs moisture and delays clogging, but the conical shape does tend to retain moisture, needs to be shaken from time to time.
Aaron,
I have one of those Dixons too. Don’t worry about it being fragile: I have been carrying it unprotected in my bag for weeks (that’s the one I take to work with me) and it is holding up just fine.
P.
Without seeing (and smelling) the wood in a fresh Clarke original, I can’t tell you what species it is.
However, ceder is generally used, and some makers prefer juniper. Both are softwoods (coniferous) that resist degradation or mildew when wet. Most other woods would eventually develop problems.
Well, the fipple is definitely cedar. It just needed a few days for the scent to really get through to me…
I have a problem with the Dixon, though. I can’t get the C# without blowing hard enough that it’s piercing, and the high D is almost impossible. Is this normal, is it my poor beginner’s technique, or is it an problem whistle? Is there a way for me to know?
Aaron, I don’t have a Dixon (yet?) but see cranberry’s thread at http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=11160 (it’s titled “Dixon is Weird,” I think. Anyway, his issues sound very much like yours, and were happily resolved by Tony Dixon.
Does it play easily below the C#? The reason I ask is I’m wondering if you’re not overblowing the whistle (so that when you think you’re playing in the bottom octave you’re actually playing up in the second, and thus getting a second octave C# (and third octave D), which would be very piercing indeed.
Try this: finger a low D and blow VERY GENTLY into the whistle, using only as much breath as is necessary to get a clear tone. Is that lower than what you usually get when you play the Dixon? If so, you’ve been overblowing, and adjusting how much air you send through it will probably solve the problem.
My Dixon requires VERY little air in the bottom octave (just breathing into it, really, rather than blowing) and no more effort to get the C#, other than lifting those fingers. It also plays very easily in the second octave, with only slightly more breath pressure (and it’s definitely not loud or piercing). If you can play the bottom octave easily, without much breath pressure (and you’re sure it IS the bottom octave), but really have to work to get C#, my guess is that there’s something wrong with the whistle.
Last fall I bought a Dixon brass slide D from the whistle shop. After a short wait because they were back ordered it came in the mail (or UPS?). The whistle had several problems so I sent it back and eventually (back ordered again) got another one. The second one was out of tune and had some cosmetic flaws. Since these problems were manufacturing issues, not marketing (ie not Thom’s fault) I e-mailed Tony directly. We exchanged a couple of e-mails and the result was that he sent me a new one which is now my favorite whistle. So I would suggest you contact Tony directly. He’s a nice guy. I think maybe he is having a job keeping up with the demand for his whistles and some clunkers slip past him.
Mike
PS that’s me playing the Dixon with my grand daughter in my avatar.
