G’day everyone!
I’ve been playing for a few months now and I’m keen to get another whistle. I’ve got a Feadog and a Generation… The Feadog sounds harsh in the 2nd octave and the Generation is too breathy. Is there a cheap (under $50 Aussie) solution? Is there a whistle out there that meets these criteria?:
Pure sounding
Not too breathy
Good intonation
If I buy it, I’m guaranteed to get a decent whistle
Cheers
Dave
Tony Dixon.
Tony Dixon trad.
Yep! Dixon Traditional! My favorite right beside my Clarke Original.
Not too much discussion about them lately, but Jerry Freeman’s “Mellow Dog” is a great tweaked cheapie, and plays a lot like my more expensive Burkes. Consider the C/D set, which is easily in your price range.
I’d also recommend a Mellow Dog - and yes, get both the C and D bodies. Great whistle.
Jason
Thanks for the responses 
Ok so there are two contending whistles at the moment: the Dixon Trad and the Freeman Mellow Dog…
Which one is generally the less breathy one? I really can’t stand a lot of breath noise, and while I know all whistles will have a bit, I want to minimise it. Breath noise and raspy chiff and all that traditional stuff will probably grow on me and I’ll end up loving it, but not at this early stage of my whistling journey…
Cheers,
Dave
I have a Dixon and I don’t find it breathy at all. Personally I would recommend it.
How’s Townsville mate? I worked over in the big Honda dealership there for a while and lived down near the water beside where you get the boat to Maggie island. Good guinnesss and kangaroo steak in the local Irish pub!! Happy days…
Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke.
Oh, did I mention…BURKE.
Might have a hard time finding a Burke for under $50 though - even used.
Jason
I’ve been listening to the soundclips on the net… The best sounding one by far (in my opinion) is the Burke…
The reason why I’m not too keen on a Burke (besides cost…) is that on the reviews I’ve read, they seem to be almost too easy to play. Dunno if that’s such a good thing while I’m still a noob. One day, though… One day…
And yeah, Townsville is AWESOME!!! I grew up in Mackay, but I’ve moved up to Townsville for uni. Lot of people in Mackay complain that Townsville is “Brownsville” and that it’s a dump… I reckon it’s the best place ever (better than Mackay anyway).
P.S: Don’t mean to offend any Mackay people… I come from Mackay, so I’m allowed to say stuff like that 
Especially diving at the Yongala wreck. Amazing!!!
Hi
I’d go for a Dixon Brass Trad, for the money the’re hard to beat.
I love mine 
I had a Burke, didn’t like it at all and sold it.
Cheers
Burkes “seem almost too easy to play.” There’s a great excuse not to get one. I’ll sell you a whistle with poison barbs coming out of all the holes. How’s that?
Sheesh.
Sausato fits your requirements. Lots of folks will say they hate it but plenty of people in Europe play them.
I’d second the Freeman Mellow Dog. If you get one from Mitch at Oz whistles the shipping will be cheap.
I’d also second the Dixon Trad…dandy tooters those. The Mellow dog will be more pure though if that’s what your after.
I’d also second the Burke…errr…how many seconds can I do before they actually start being thirds and fourths and whatnot?
As to Burkes being too easy to play…there’s no such thing. Easy is a good thing. No one will call you a sissy. By contrast, there are many whistle that are too hard to play. You don’t want the instrument to get between you and your music.
You can still play a Burke plenty crappy though if you have the skills to do so.
Doc
Bob, people are entitled to express their own opinions without a sarcastic put-down, even if their preferences differ from yours.
Let’s face it … “Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke, Burke” is not a very convincing argument. Though I happen to be very fond of my Burke DASBT.
I don’t know whether Mitch has any Mellow Dogs in stock right now. However, I send them to Australia frequently. Airmail postage is US$4.80. If you would like me to send one, I’ll credit it to Mitch, since I owe him a shipment.
Best wishes,
Jerry
I have no experience with B-B-B-Burkes or Dixon Trads but I have Jerry’s Mellow Dog C/D set. They are excellent whistles and probably the best deal on the planet in terms of whistle for the dollar.
Strewth. Does a pilot learn to fly and land a plane by putting it in autopilot? Do you learn to drive a manual car by driving an automatic? My point is if it’s easier to play than others, you might not learn techniques like breath control properly. Maybe I shouldn’t have said “too easy,” just “easier than some other whistles.” And remember that I picked that up off things I’ve read about them, it’s not my personal opinion. Settle down mate.
…Aaaanyway… I’m thinking that I might go for the Freeman Mellow Dog C/D set from Mitch. Jerry, if he doesn’t have any in stock, if you could throw a set his way, that would be terrific.
Cheers for all the responses fellas
Dave
P.S: After all this, I will most likely end up playing a Burke one day