I’ve had a really cruddy Gen D sitting around for years. I’ve tweaked it every way I could think of and still it played awfully. Nothing at all above the second octave G, and lousy below that. Inspired by Gary Humphrey’s beautiful work, I started to tinker…
This is essentially my usual head design, except I copied the window dimensions, windway length, blade edge to bell length etc from the Generation head.
I ended up with a really sweet little whistle! It’s fairly quite, although I may tweak that a little. It’s right in tune and nice and clean sounding.
I have absolutely no intention or desire to make these for sale-- I just thought people here might be curious to see what I’ve been doing while my wife is helping her Mom back in Michigan recover from a broken hip. Now, where’s that little Generation high G I had sitting here…
Paul, you sadist! You post my dream whistle–your head design on a Generation body–and then say you aren’t selling them?! Who would have dreamed such a black soul resided behind that innocent mask…
Robin
Paul: Sorry, I meant to post a reply, and did a PM instead. The old reformed ex-lurker is still getting the hang of it.
What a handsome whistle !!
Give us a concertina progress update sometime.
I’m still out there in wavering land. I think I’m surely in the anglo column. Most probably in the key of G/D. And I am not crazy about buying a non-repairable instrument. That’s about it, so far.
I did a whistle trade with a board member for his D/G Stagi and have been having fun with it. Just picking tunes out so far. If anyone can recommend an excellent 20 button Anglo book, Id appreciate it.
That looks great. I think you should offer those for sale or atleast by special order now I know I have a gen D sitting around here some where…
Yes, and if they aren’t very quiet than they would be something quite different from the the whitecap. I’d probably get one.
Why don’t you machine a simple mold and sell these to millions of irate Generation owners? There are many types of safe polymer plastics to choose from. Easy-start business.
Well, the last whitecap I bought isn’t really all that quiet, I’d say its volume is on a par with maybe a Feadog or an Oak. It’s quickly become one of my most played whistles.
That said, I like the looks of this blacktop whistle…you could put this on a nickel Gen tube and have a good-sounding and very elegant-looking whistle.
–James
I did hear that Generation have received expert assisitance in redesigning their plastic bits and that greatly improved versions are now in the pipeline.
How long they’ll take to filter through and how you’ll tell whether you’re getting new or old stock remains to be seen.
Quite an exciting development though, for the budget end of the market.
Thomas, you almost caused the death of a whistle maker with that post… I laughed so hard I almost choked! 