Yes, I’m in the touchy feely and natural look aesthetic camp, wood especially, but, bottom line is the whistle has to be in tune with itself and play well. If you think the Sweetheart whistles are too expensive that eliminates quite a lot of beautiful playing whistles that are same price level or even more expensive.
FG, take your time while on the hunt, browse the collections here on C&F, search the listed websites on the whistlemakers list and find a whistle you like… one whistle at a time. You can search any name whistlemaker here on C&F and threads will provide valuable insight into whistles and even clues for what not to look into any further.
Meanwhile, play the whistle(s) you already have and enjoy them! Have FUN with your whistling.
Meanwhile, play the whistle(s) you already have and enjoy them! Have FUN with your whistling. >
I agree - I should turn over to play and have fun instead of worrying too much about what whistle would fit me best. The thing is, that playing with my Dixon takes away some of that fun because when I reach the higher pitch it starts to bother me. So ideally, I would make a decision soon - and return to playing.
But if I understand aright, many aspects are relative as feadoggie said or well, a matter of taste. I got an idea of that, while reading the reviews at “Wandering whistlers music archives”, which I’m sure are well-known in this forum. It was hard to find a review of a whistle, that completely suited the author. So it seems to me feadoggies statement about whistles being social instruments is really true. This really made me laugh and I will begin to sew my multiple whistle pouch.
While I can understand and support your vision I would also suggest that you keep an open mind regarding materials.
Thank you for preventing me to be too closed-minded. In fact I heard a lot of very nice whistles made of composite material and I love my Parks Bb. What I mean is - there is a german saying what means: if a meal looks good, it tastes even better. I’m sure you have a similar wording overseas. For that reason I’m creeping around those beauties like the Milligan, O’Brien or Bleazys.
Maybe it’s a good idea to talk to the makers and tell them what i like, so they could tell me if they can help me. This is something I haven’t considered so far, but you encouraged me to do so.
Well, I hope I soon will be walking through the woods with a nice whistle in my pouch and feel like Bilbo Baggins. My feet already look as I’m a hobbit as I broke the right one two weeks ago, haha. Seems this is the perfect time to worry about what my new whistle would be…
I think you might mean “Mack Hoover”. If so, I’ve a couple of his whistles. He makes a nice narrow bore D which I think would be quite suitable for (quiet) living room playing. Me I like the quieter sound of his narrow bore D whistles; very easy to play and pretty sweet well up into the second octave and quite playable well beyond.
Read, that the natC by OXXOOO should be a bit difficult. Should I add this one to my list?
You should add any and every fingering permutation that will give you the precise tone, the colour and the intensity you want in a particular circumstance, and for preference will also mesh well with the previous and following fingerings. One nice thing about playing a simple system instrument is that there are many ways of fingering almost every note: you may find that oxxooo is a little sharp or a little flat of where you want to be – and some whistles are made to finger Cnat this way while others are not. It’ll be up to you to figure out which fingering(s) are best for your whistle and for the sound you wish to get out of it: you can try closing more holes, you can try half-, third- or quarter-holing one or more holes. Eventually you’ll find something you like!
My Mack Hoover “White Cap” is one of my favorite whistles and sounds particularly nice. It has a nice clear tone, sweet and pretty, and is relatively quiet. I like it best fitted on a metal Generation or Feadog type of body rather than the PVC body that I also got with it. I believe you can order just the White Cap head for around $35. It’s an essential part of one’s whistle portfolio.
I know I may reflect on the whistles that was talked about yet. But what so you think about the Lon Dubh Whistles? Would that be an option too for my living room and fondness for a soft 2nd register?
If the main thing is a very sweet 2nd octave, and moderate-to-low overall volume
YES! That’s the main thing for me.
From that point of view, maybe a Burke would become my favourite. But the only thing I would miss there is a bit of that special “irish” tone. Not as much as the Generations or Feadogs have, but just a hint of this special tone, that sounds like yearning.
What do you think, which whistle comes as close as possible to this? The Hans Bracker, O’Brien Rover, Dave Milligan, Bleazey or Killarney?
Sorry for getting on your nerves. There is no shop where I can try these.
To me the “most traditional” sound and playability comes from a really good vintage Generation.
The 2nd octave is amazingly pure and sweet and nimble and easy, yet the low octave isn’t wimpy, but full and round (but not loud) with a certain interesting tone colour.
Sindts are very close to attaining this which is why they’re so popular.
But, a youngster just won in Ireland with a Freeman Bluebird D, so you couldn’t go wrong with that!
A youngster also won the North West regional Fleadh,in England yesterday playing a MCMANUS blackwood,and has every chance of winning the all Britain in about a month.
Well that’s true, it seems. On the other hand, it is enriching to me to hear about different experiences people have with different whistles. My impression is, that there are not a few members of this forum who share an affinity for inexpensive whistles, though they have had high-end whistles too.
What I also learned is, that there are different whistles for different purposes. Though I must say, that my decision goes into the direction of a Hans Bracker or Carbony Pipe Makers Union (they have a new high D with a bit reduces loudness) or maybe the Rover, I will try to save up for a Freeman Blackbird as well - now I know that whistles are social creatures.
Nevertheless the limiting factor of the best whistle available is me. I’m deeply distressed by the speed that some advanced players produce. I’m just about trying to do some proper long rolls Just telling me that speed isn’t everything.
Speed is not everything… and in itself is not a requirement for making music sound nice. Being able to play slow is critical to learning to control the instrument, improving your timing, and learning tunes. Best to work at that before trying to speed up too much.
Playing steady and “up to speed” is the goal to work towards and it’s the key to successfully playing at the tempo of a dance or a session of more experienced players. If you work at it diligently you’ll find yourself improving before you know it, and you’ll just keep getting better and better.
Best to work at that before trying to speed up too much.
That’s what I think is a general recommendation, no matter what kind of instrument you learn. Correct!
As I informed myself now about the costs of importing a whistle from a maker in the US oder Canada, I give up thinking of an O’Brien or a Burke. I think it will be a better Idea to visit the german whistle dealer and fall back on what he’s got in his shop. I could choose between Dixons, Parks, Carbonys and even Sweethearts and I think this is not a bad variety.
Ordering a Hans Bracker would be an alternative though. But I have to find out how much the additional costs would be then.
That reduces the amount of attractive whistles, but this must not be a disadvantage because otherwise I probably would go crazy as I cannot make a decision.
WHOAD should be included into the International Classification of Deseases.
If I get you right you’re looking for something more “special” than the usual cheapies…? However, Walton’s whistles are rather quiet with a particularly soft 2nd octave IMO. The sound is breathier, less pure than many other whistles… you could call it “traditional” I suppose. Cheap enough to buy one (or two) and have a try anyway. (Take the standard bore – the “mellow” model has a wider bore which actually makes it louder.)
It may sound ironic, but I think that rolls actually make it easier to play reels faster, in that you’re parking on a note rather than frenetically jumping all over the place.
If I get you right you’re looking for something more “special” than the usual cheapies…?
Yes, that’s right. I tried a standard Walton and a Generation with blue head last year in a music shop and they were absolutely not what I was looking for. Hardly in tune with theirselves, squeaky and tinny. Sorry, I don’t want to affront anyone whose favourites these are but I didn’t like them.
I once was amazed by a whistle that I guess was an O’Riordan. I would describe this as my sound ideal together with the whistles from John Sindt. But as there are none to find I have to look for alternatives. If I now play f.e. the second part of Haste to the wedding, the upper A and B notes are ear-bleeding shrill on my whistle, so it has the effect that I put the whistle down instead of stick to practicing and go on.
I love love love irish and scottish music but I want to make it sound well.
It wouldn’t harm at this point of the discussion that the player is a contributing factor in all of this. Breathcontrol, control over the high notes, pitch control etc all have a bearing on the resulting sound. The whistle is not a push button instrument.
Yes, I definitely agree. But I worked hard on putting out beautiful tones out of my Dixon and would say I managed this task well. It’s just highest notes that really bother me and IMHO this is due to the whistle. I mean, there evidently are differences between whistles and I’m just looking for something, whith which I have a bit less problems and which supports me in my passion for playing.
Just telling me that speed isn’t everything.