Just got a new head for my Howard Low-D. Originally got the Howard in 2003, used, so it’s at least 7 years old.
I’m very pleased with the new head. I heard that they had made improvements, and it sure seems like it to me. With the old head, it was really hard to get the 2nd octave A and B; I had to blow like crazy. With the new head, it’s really easy - and the low octave is just as good as ever.
So I used to avoid playing it, but now I’m having trouble putting it down.
I’ve been interested in how much the new head improved it. I have one which i hardly use now because its so hard to get to the high notes without blowing really hard. if the new head fixes that then im gonna get one. i love the whistle in the lower range…
That’s exactly what the new head improved. I’d almost never play it because it was SO hard to get the high A and B. Now it’s much easier and I play it all the time. And it hasn’t hurt the low register at all.
Bear in mind that mine was 7-10 yrs old. So I can vouch that the new head really improves it from the head from back then. I don’t know exactly when they did the improvement - I’m hearing it was sort of incremental.
I purchased my Howard Low D in 2009. I have trouble hitting the 2nd octave A and B also. It might have been sitting around the seller’s business for a long time. Is there any way to tell whether the head is the new or old design definitively?
Well, there is but you’d have to have both types of heads to use the description I found. Read down the page for the differences.
This next post offers a little more about the physical marks but again, without photos, you probably have nothing to compare.
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/howard-low-d-whistle-head/24072/1
I do not have an older head any longer or I’d take some photos, sorry.
Feadoggie
The differences, according to Dorothy at Howard Music, are inside the windway and not visible. The way to tell if you have the latest head is that there are 2 dots on the right of the windway as you look at it.