My new Hoover A

Whistle
1

It’s the Whitecap A with 3/4" aluminum barrel, and I’ve had it for about three days, now.

I’m definitely glad that I went with A as my first non-high-D whistle. It already seems quite large and low compared with my Ds. I think that a low D would have been too extreme a jump for a beginner like me. It still takes a few minutes to get used to the relatively long distance down to the sixth hole after playing a high D for a while.

It’s a very nice whistle, quite straightforward in appearance. Like the Whitecap-Feadog, it plays very easily in both octaves, but it’s a bit louder overall. There’s also more of a discrepancy in volume between the octaves, and the third-octave D is quite loud. It seems to be quite well in tune in both octaves. It takes a bit more air than the “good” Ds, but not nearly as much as the Clarke Original.

The timbre seems quite different from any of my Ds (which, themselves, are all different from one another), but I don’t seem to have the vocabulary to describe it. One word I would not use for it is “bright”, but that may also be a function of the range.

It’s pretty easy to bend notes, and the relatively large fingerholes are very nice for sliding from one note to the next, which makes it fun for blues. I’ve been playing endless variations on “Summertime”, “St. James Infirmary”, “Baby, Please Don’t Go”, and even a version of “John Henry”.

Of course, it’s also just right for slow airs, but I don’t think I like it as well for quick tunes, like “Over the Waterfall”.

All in all, I’m have a fine time with it, and I think it was a great bargain at $60 with shipping included.

2

I too have a hoover a which i really love. mine’s pvc though. i have a whitecap b, a soprano d whitecap and a pvc hoover low f. i love their pure tones. the b is my wife’s favorite.

i think the key of A for a whistle is one of my personal favorites. about a year ago i went on a quest to find the “perfect” A. i tried several and settled on mack’s. it has just the tone i was looking for - pure with character.

3

I’m looking to get a lowwer pitched hoover myself soon. Pvc vs aluminum body comparison?
What about the lowwer whistles. Do they use amazingly small amounts of air compared to other whistles of that pitch?
I was set on getting a low d, but now that I have a couple, I’m thinking of a G probably.

4

my preference is for mack’s pvc whistles or whitecaps. i maybe a little odd in this, but i’ve found his pvc’s and whitecaps are louder and are not near as sensitive to breath control. his low f is one of my favorites.

5

YOu like his pvc’s better than the whitecaps or the other way around? Niether?

6

ah, sorry, i like mack’s pvc’s and whitecaps better than his metal work.

7

I have a CPVC Hoover F. It is HYPER sensitive to breath control. I have spoken to others that have this whistle that say theirs was super as well. I am considering seeing if Mack would do a little work on it to calm it down some. I want to get a little bit more playing time on it first though.

8

Hello to all!

I have the Hoover PVC low G & low D.
I love them both! :smiley:
I have asthma & I have no problems playing them.
Also I play them, fingering wise, the same way that I play my high Ds.
For me the holes are not to far apart & I can play them as I do my high whistles.
I suggest getting a low G or low F before playing the low D.
It will really help you get ready for the low D.
You can do as I did & get both whistles!
I’ve also noticed that playing a low whistle will help you in playing the high whistles.
I have no problems telling anyone to buy a Hoover PVC low Whistle!!!
Matter of fact, I think that there will be another low Hoover whistle in my future.
I hope that this helps!

9

Sometimes it seems a little too hyper to me, and I wind up letting a little air leak out aound my mouth until I get used to it. If I don’t playing anything except the hoover and maybe quieter whistles, I get used to it and I don’t seem as hyper. I picked it up this morning after playing clarkes and the shaw and I had to let a little air leak until I got control. I have gone as far as putting a small coffe stirrer staw in my mouth beside the whitecap. It works, but looks totally rediculous.