Need some diagnostic assistence..

Whistle
1

I put this post in the right place now.

My A clogs up, almost within halfway through a song, even the soap method doesn’t help, and the low d note, won’t play, without squawking,sometimes straight off. I tried all kinds of finger pressure changes, with no effect.
Switched fipple heads, and put the problem one on the Bb Then the Bb started with the same problems as the A, when before it was fine.
Anyone, is this typical my Bb doesn’t do these things, the clogging, so rapidly,and the note problems squeaking and octave change problems.I thought it might just be me, until I changed fipples. So I figure fipple problems?
I want to order later on down the line the low G. I was wondering how different it is to play then say the A, and how the hole spacing is, and what about the low F?
thanks Cy




[ This Message was edited by: Cyfaenad on 2002-09-01 09:14 ]

2

Whew! Well, the only thing I can comment on is the F. I am very small handed, and I have no problem with it at all. I like the instrument very much, throughout its range, but still have a problem getting the mid D clear unless I tongue it.

3

On 2002-08-14 20:18, Cyfaenad wrote:
I have learned allot just reading..incl successfully tweeking a bad high d’s..feadog expecially..well Fea-oak now..which is my best high D at the moment the genetic head splicing worked..> :slight_smile:>

This is OT, but you brought it up. :slight_smile: Could you describe your Feadog-Oak hybrid?

4

Ridseard

The whistle is new to me, but I play harmonica, so I know something about breath control.

I did the wax fill on the Feadog head, and cleaned the plastic pieces out, and had to file the blade some also. Put it back on its tubing, and it still was somewhat squeeky, so I tried it on the Oak tube, and it worked.

It has a crisp clear sound, doesn’t squeek, flows smoothly through the octaves. Goes into the third octave no problems, it actually turned out better then either my orginal Clark or LBW. It plays the best of all my high D’s. It even holds its own with the improved O’Brian. Hope thats what you were looking for.:slight_smile:
Cy


[ This Message was edited by: Cyfaenad on 2002-09-01 09:21 ]

5

I’ve got a Dixon A, Bb and Low D and have never had clogging problems with any of them. I play the A a lot too so I should have had this happen if they were inclined to do so. So I would suspect a problem with that particular fipple.

6

On 2002-08-14 22:25, Cyfaenad wrote:
Hope thats what you were looking for..> :slight_smile:

Yes it is. Thanks!

7

Howdy,

Welcome to the board.

I saw what you said about the Oak and decided to comment. I have several Oaks which I think are some of the best. You need to buy a couple of them, that’s when you’ll find one that’ll work for you. I have a couple of recordings of an Oak over on Clips n’ Snips. Take a listen. I’d just hate to have you make your mind up about that whistle after trying just one. And yes, I have tweeked all mine. Yes, the tone can be shrill, but that can be dealt with through better breath control. It doesn’t take a lot of air, and I think thats where people get into trouble with the Oak. It takes only a little air, but that air has to be big, like a solid wall, moving slowly, vs. a small stream moving fast. And that can be done through the shape of your mouth and the shape of the air passage, all the way down to your belly.

Take Care,
John

8

On 2002-08-14 22:40, cowtime wrote:
I’ve got a Dixon A, Bb and Low D and have never had clogging problems with any of them. I play the A a lot too so I should have had this happen if they were inclined to do so. So I would suspect a problem with that particular fipple.

I know my Bb plays and no problems, with clogging at all.
As for it being the fipple on the A. I suspected that, thanks for the confirmation there. Since the fipple switch worked.I imagine its the case. Thom will take care of the problem for me, I am sure.
Cy

[ This Message was edited by: Cyfaenad on 2002-09-01 09:25 ]

9

On 2002-08-14 22:45, JohnPalmer wrote:
Howdy,

Welcome to the board.

I saw what you said about the Oak and decided to comment. I have several Oaks which I think are some of the best. You need to buy a couple of them, that’s when you’ll find one that’ll work for you. I’d just hate to have you make your mind up about that whistle after trying just one. Yes, the tone can be shrill, but that can be dealt with through better breath control.
Take Care,
John

Thanks for the welcome. I am not a message board person, but I had a question.

I lurked and listened, to everyone, and made a decisions on make, through listening to clips, and the consistent postives about them.


But I thank you for your comments, about the Oak.I must have just got a bad one, for I have listened to clips, and the Oaks can have a good sound true. They all have their distinct sounds don’t they?

It all worked out though, and I ended up saving money by making two unworkable whistles, not only workable, but one of them is pretty good for a hybrid.

Thanks for the input about breath control. I am familiar with it. I have a harmonica that needs that kind of approach.:slight_smile:

I will take your word that there are good Oaks, I wouldn’t want to slight any whistle.
I hope it did not seem I implied Oaks themselves were bad, just that ones fipple was pretty badly tortured in some factory.

Thanks for the reply.
Cy
edited for clarity

[ This Message was edited by: Cyfaenad on 2002-09-01 09:34 ]