My Goldfinch whistles

Whistle
1

Finally i have received my Goldfinch whistles:
Bb, C and D with two fipple i can choose (i’ll send back the other).

A nice bag for the Bb, a superb service and a lot of communication…
I must try the “D” fipples: are really different each other…

2

More goldfinch pictures!


But seriously, you really left the thread hanging a bit by not telling us how yours play/sound.

3

Not to be confused with an American goldfinch.

4

Or a Lesser Goldfinch:

These guys will eat nothing but Nyjer seed, which they are utterly crazy for. But the Scrub Jays would be all over those peanuts.

5

Did someone mention finch?





BTW, the snow has ended.

6

You are right: i was a little busy and i had no much time to test the whistles properly. I apologise.

From D to Bb:

  1. The D whistle is the brighter i actually own. More loud than my beautiful O’Brien Rover, less than the Impempe, has a brighter, “birdy” voice. Easy to switch between the octaves because i choose a “lighter” fipple that also give a defined and focused sound, without chiff. I think will be perfect for recording.

  2. The C is very close to his little brother, but slightly more reedy and airy in both octaves. A very good C whistle.

  3. The Bb will be returned to the maker due the hardness of the setup: he will re-send me a lighter one because is difficult to me to switch between the octaves.
    I wanted to try this configuration to test myself, but i really cannot play it properly: requires too much pressure.
    The fipple is a little bit “fat” but i cannot say is a defect.
    Anyway i like the sound: the bottom octave is really warm and strong, is slightly reedy like the C and i look forward for the new one because the mid-whistles are my favourite for improvisations. Later, i’ll purchase also an “A” one to complete the high-mid set.

At the end, i can say that the PVC used to make these whistles has a nice ivory color, is hard and the overall manifacture is superb.
The look is professional and shows great care in machining the pieces.
The price is maybe a little high if compared to other PVC instruments but they are totally hand made and every whistle is a “custom” piece, adjusted to the whistler preferences.

I’m ready to send to Goldfinch my ebony flute: they agreed to build a custom fipple to transform it in a Frankenflute low D!

All the best, mates

7

A little update.
After some time, Goldfinch sent back the Bb whistle after some modifications.
Now is perfec for my style of playing and, more, they sent me a lovely Eb whistle as gift due the long wait.
Only one word: GREAT

8

I bought a D Goldfinch and amazed at how loud it is. I know what you mean about the "Birdy " quality of the tone, it is great for fast reels and clear on every note. I think I’ll order an Eb model next.

9

Can anyone comment how they compare to Susato’s for volume and wind resistance?

10

I’ve had Goldfinch C and D whistles for a couple of years now. They’re good whistles, agile with a pleasant, rather pure tone. I’ve used them both in sessions- more D than C, largely because of the keys of tunes that we play, of course - and they’ll hold their own with a smallish bunch of players. Louder than a Gen or Feadog, say, and probably louder than a nice Dixon Trad which I have.

However, I used a Susato (which I was to lose) in sessions before; and I use its replacement now. The Susato cuts through more, and I like its tone (honest). I don’t know about wind resistance. f it starts blowing here over the next day or two, I’ll investigate.