i recently purchased an alloy low d from ronaldo reyburn. what a great experience. ronaldo communicated clearly along the way and was happy to tailor fit his whistle to my desires. i could not have asked for more.
i decided a long time ago, my needs, budget, and time did not allow me the luxury of having a variety of whistles in the same key. so the idea of adding a second low d (an onyx is my other) took some time to get to. a few years ago i went on a quest to find my perfect low d. i tried several, all quite nice. however i settled on an onyx. but as my playing improved, i discovered i wanted to add a different tone for greater expression. hence my decision to add the reyburn.
here’s where i think the reyburn truly shines:
- the bottom register can be very expressive. i really like how i can lean into these notes . . . from the g to the low d, pretty amazing. especially the low e. the e seems to be weak on some whistles. not true on this one. this was a key factor in deciding to try a reyburn. i am very pleased with the low register. this is not to say the upper is bad - its spot on as well. but i desired a whistle with an exceptional lower register and the reyburn has provided that.
- the volume dynamic. the ability to lean into and out of a note creates a variety of options.
- the tone. to me, when all is said and done, it is the tone of the instrument which sets it apart. i recognize the tonal quality is personal to each individual, but i love the depth and complexity of the reyburn. it is very different from others i’ve played (and from my onyx).
- the back pressure. this was something ronaldo and i discussed. i ended up with his normal design, which he said is a medium blower. i like the phrasing it allows. it suits me well.
over the years, i have collected my “ideal” whistle in keys from high d to low c. one in each key. with this addition of a second keeper in low d, i admit the call of the slippery slope to add more whistles is getting stronger . . . however, for now, i choose to focus on playing the reyburn allowing it to train me to its nuances. what fun! thanks ronaldo!