Han’t been here in a while… could be years, can’t remember. There were maybe four forum options last time I logged in, just to illuminate.
Need some info, whistleophiles. First of all, anyone here tried one of the Whistle Shop’s tweaked whistle choices? They have a Clarke classic, Sweetone and Generation (I think) tweaked. They sound intriguing since I confess music is not my gift… I can’t really tell if one is in tune or even that good because I can’t play well enough to really tell. I have ones I like, pretty sure they’re good, but I have lost my favorite Feadóg and none of my other whistles can fill the void (choke…gasp, snuffle).
Also, on that same note, I was trying to play a tune for my baby tonight on my nice clear Sweetone and she began to cry . Now I have confessed already to not being that great at it but I didn’t figure a 4-month-old had much of an ear. It was supposed to be a lullaby but the Sweetone was not the whistle for the job. It’s nice and clear, yet rather loud and sadly fairly short on personality.
The baby turned out to be tired in fact, but now that she’s asleep anyhow I am trying to find out if there is a whistle that is particularly soft and sweet that could pull off lullabies and generally not frighten the baby. Any suggestions are welcome, though I can only afford low-end high whistles.
For a soft whistle that has a sweet tone a Hoover Whitecap would be my choice. As for the Whistle Shop’s selection, the tweeked Freeman Generation D is superb. I really like mine.
I agree fully with the second part of your description of the Sweetone: “sadly fairly short on personality.”
You may want to find another source for the tweaked whistles. It sounds as though the Whistle Shop and its customers are experiencing unfortunate problems. Check this out: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=42673
For more soothing stuff, a lower whistle is best. A Clarke original is probably the mellowest high D whistle. It helps to play tunes that don’t go too high. You can also try a mute to cut down on the volume and shrillness, this was posted recently:
I am the proud owner of a Jerry Freeman “MellowDog”, which is basically Feadog fipple on a Walton whistle body. I liked it so much that my WhOA went into temporary remission
Jerry tweaks Generations, SweeTones and Shaws and I understand that they are all excellent. You can order directly from him if you like. Send me a “PM” and I’ll tell you how to reach him, if you’re interested.
I will second the nomination of a Hoover Whitecap. I just bought one from Tommy that is on an Oak C body and it is the quietest and sweetest whistle I have ever played! It also takes ALOT less air than any other whistle I own…I find that rather than blowing into it I am merely breathing into it. I think they are something like 40-75 bucks new depending on the key body you want to choose. Well worth it!
If you already have the Oak or Gen body, you can get a Whitecap for $30. It’s best to send the body to Mack so he can make sure of the fit.
I have a Whitecap on an Oak and on a Gen and the Gen is my favorite practice whistle, because it’s quiet. But is it quiet enough for a baby? I’m not sure anything is that quiet, if you start getting up into the second octave.
For other quiet-whistle choices, any of the copper-pipe based whistles in B or Bb or A will be delicate compared to their D or Eb siblings. My 2 1/2 year old daughter likes my O’Brien Bb (large windway).
Another cheer for the MellowDog. Jerry makes a real gem - if it were made out of blackwood and silver, I’d never want anything else.
On further study and checking out the info y’all passed along, I’ve decided to skip the tweaked whistles for now. The tweaked Sweetone it would seem isn’t much different and not one bit more interesting. However, when I added the simple card and rubber band mute to a regular one, I found it actually did have a sweet tone. I hope the card holds out for a while. The baby didn’t mind it as long as she had her teether in hand. She looked at me funny, mind you.
When she fussed, I picked her up and tried playing the Coventry Carol over her curly wittle noggin but had to finish on one hand when she started tipping over. And “my” Sweetone is in fact my 8-year-old daughter’s, as she reminds me each time I play it, thus extracting from me the chance to play it her way (insert shudder here). So Daidà na Nollag will bringing me my own Meg and a tabor pipe. I’d been considering a tabor pipe since my son was born. Now I think I am ready to try one out.
. Now I have confessed already to not being that great at it but I didn’t figure a 4-month-old had much of an ear. It was supposed to be a lullaby but the Sweetone was not the whistle for the job. It’s nice and clear, yet rather loud and sadly fairly short on personality.
