Hi! I started up an Irish folk/rock group about a year and a half ago. I play mandolin, guitar, harmonica and bodhran and I realized after about a year that we really needed the whistle. So about 4 months ago I bought a bunch of cheap tin whistles so I could try them all out and see if I was going to be able to do it or not. Thankfully, it’s working out well (I think the years of clarinet playing is helping). Here’s what I’ve got right now (and my impressions):
Clarke Sweetone D- my favorite D whistle- I like the tone, high notes easy to hit, and doesn’t take a lot of breath (unfortunately, I broke this one last week, freak accident)
Clarke with wood reed C and D- I like the sound of these when playing acoustic, a little quieter, but takes a lot more breath and harder to hit high notes
Feadog and Walton D- I never really took to either of these, I think I like the Feadog slightly better
Generation Bb, Eb and F- I like these a lot, especially the lower Bb one, really pretty sound- i don’t get to play them a lot live because we don’t have a lot of songs in those keys
So thats what I have, but now I’d like to upgrade to some nicer whistles, especially a good high D and low D. I’ve checked out a few websites, but I’d like to hear from players to get info on what you like. One of my biggest issues is that I seem to have poor lung capacity, so I like the whistles that need a little less air. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jason
ps- our band is called Sons of Malarkey, you can check us out at sonsofmalarkey.com. thanks!
I’m going to be out of step with a lot of the people here perhaps, in that I really like the sound and performance of good old traditional Generation whistles, and Feadogs, and play them in preference to high-end whistles.
My trusty D and C whistles, both of which I’ve been playing for around 30 years, are a Feadog D and a Generation C. Both are, in my biased opinion, the finest whistles of their key I’ve ever played. They both practically play themselves, taking very little wind, having a full round low register, an amazingly easy and sweet upper register, and wonderful light “action” between the octaves. (Both of them have had their headspace reduced and have had carving on the toneholes to correct their scales.)
The closest I’ve played to that old Feadog D is Jerry Freeman’s Tweaked Feadog. I would try one of those! And his tweaked Generations are wonderful; I play a Freeman Tweaked Generation Bb that’s great.
For lower keys I use Burkes. I have Burkes in low A, G, and F that play fantastic. They’re easy players but they use a greater volume of air than many other whistles.
I recently tried a Sindt B and it was great. You couldn’t go wrong with them either.
For a Low D I use an MK.
The trouble with off-the-shelf Generations and Feadogs are their spotty (or more truthfully nonexistant) quality control. You might have to try dozens of Generations to find a Diamond In The Rough that plays great. Many Generations barely play, are breathy, squawky, or horridly out of tune.
First, I agree with the above post on a lot of the choice of whistles. I so far like ALL of Jerry Freemans tweaked whistles…his tweaked gens are so very good and easy to play. You really can’t go wrong with any of Jerry freemans whistles… I raise the Jerry Freeman flag high. I also like the Cllare “D” Brass whistle a lot and they play in tune and are easy to play and is the same type of whistle as the Generation whistle only you can play them…LOL. The Tony Dixon Trad “D” Brass may be the best (cheap price wise)whistle of its type on the planet? I like Dixon whistles and his Low “D” whistle sounds very good at a good price…The MK Low “D” whistle which may be the best on the planet cost $400 USD Ouch! It’s Great tho… Good Luck, Mickey
Per your cheapies likes, we seem to have similar tastes in that regard. If you want a really well made somewhat richer tone than the cheapies and one that tends to retain that “feel” I’d strongly suggest a Sindt.
I would agree with the comments made by the other posters. I play a Dixon low D non-turnable, Dixon Alto G (Alloy) tunable, both are reasonable whistles. I also have a generation D, C, a Freeman tweaked Generation nickle Bb and in the last week received a Sindt A.
I would say that the Sindt is in a class by itself, followed closely be the Freeman Bb, I was lucky with the Gen C (off the shelf, local music shop) as this is also a nice instrument, the D is OK but needs really careful breath control to stop it squawking, the Dixon’s are fine although the Low D has high air requirements and lower end of the first octave is on the weak side, the G is fine, but in a session can struggle to be heard.
Hope this is of help and give you some idea of what you may be looking for.
Hi Everyone! Thanks for all the suggestions, they’re much appreciated.
and hoopy mike- I did buy a pakistani practice set of pipes about 6 months ago on ebay. I knew they would be difficult to play, but they’re ridiculously harder than I thought. I wish I had time for lessons.
I’ve had good luck with Feadogs in C, but I wouldn’t waste any money trying one in D. I’d also recommend the Jerry Freeman tweaked whistles - my brass Generation D is one of my favorites. I like the Dixon Trad as a beginner’s whistle, but it has it’s limitations beyond that. I still play mine occassionally…
Moving into higher-end whistles, I’d hedge that you’d be pleased with a Burke narrow bore, and I agree with the praise for the Sindt’s. There isn’t much else out there that I would recommend to someone who has been playing a short time… They are both very fine whistles, and you can buy them with a reasonable amount of confidence that you could get most of your money back on resale if it turned out that the whistle wasn’t something you planned to stick with.
I am not someone who should make a recommendation on a low whistle in my own opinion. I don’t play them enough, nor have I played enough of them. I will say that I do like my Chieftain, they take a moderate amount of air (far less than some others I’ve played) and I find that the breathing comes naturally with it, but that’s me - opinions will vary.
Here are some soprano favourites in each of the price categories:
$ - Feadog or an Oak. For a complete beginner the Clarke Sweetone/Meg.
$$ - Dixon Trad or a Freeman Mellow Dog. (Also the quiet Freeman Blackbird or the very loud Susato, but both of these require some breath control.)
$$$ - Parks Every or a Dixon Aluminum DX006.
$$$$ - Sindt
$$$$$ - Burke
I agree with some of the recommendations. However, I’m curious about how you like you whistle to sound. For example I like a more mellow sound, less chiff. Even though I was told it required more breath I took the chance on my Chieftain Songbird D. I remember having trouble with some higher notes for a short while, after that I was much happier and glad I choose it for its characteristics.
Personally I hated the Clarke (original) I tried. It didn’t help that first time I received the wrong key, and the second showed up bent. When that was all done with, I was pissed to find out I just didn’t like the sound of it.
Personally, for the cheapies, I like Generations best. For more expensive whistles, I have a Sindt D and Humphrey C and D+ (seven holes)…three more Sindts on order, and Gary Humphrey is getting back into the whistle business which is great. Right now I have the Impempe tour whistle here, and I am liking it very much indeed. I know there is that group of folks who think you should stick with the cheapies, but I have zero regrest about buying some better ones…they really are better and for me more pleasurable to play.
I know I am going to get slapped around for saying this but don’t waste your money on a Sindt.
I recently waited the usual 6 months and to my surprise…what a dud…sent it back!
A better recommendation would be use your own Feadog tube and order a white cap from Mac Hoover for 30 bucks!! Best 20 $ I ever spent…well the prices went up a little but it is still a great deal. Mack won’t be around forever so buy up a truck load because your friends are all going to want one when they play yours!!! SERIOUSLY.
