OK, it’s been answered before, but, for whatever reason, my computer cannot get into the C&F archives. And I have eleven adult ed students who are going to be opening their Acorn whistles this Thursday. So I need to know how to deal with the dreaded tingler before-hand.
What to do? What to do?
In my experience, the Oaks have the lip numbing effect, whereas the Acorns, which are the fraternal twin to the Oak (and the good twin at that) don’t give the tingling sensation. So you should be all clear.
Then again again, doesn’t the tingling tell you that it’s working?
If there is a problem a thin coat of superglue works wonders - it hypoallwhatdoyoumacallit… but make sure its dry before you use the whistle or it could be very intresting at the A&E dept.
Richard.
I have an Oak and an Acorn, both recently bought, and neither do anything to my lips.
However…
I do have a Generation (only one of many) that I have noticed a slight numbing of the lips from at the point of contact.
I play it anyway with blissfull disregard.
It’s even easier now that the extra fingers are growing in.
Best,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
Last weekend I applied super glue to my Oak whistle head. I figured I don’t have much to loose. Besides, I used super glue on my right hand fingernails for several years when I was playing flamenco guitar, so I have quite a bit of experience with it. I am glad to tell you that it worked great. There is no after taste and no more tingling. If you are going to do it I would recommend that you practice on a piece of scrap paper to get the hand of how the glue behaves. I would also recommend that you rough up the mouthpiece surface with some fine sandpaper before glueing so the glue has a non-glossy surface to adhere to.
Mike
I think the tingling was caused by chemicals leeching out of the plastic, and it does stop after a while (the leeching and thus the tingling). Making sure to leave the whistles out of their packets in a well aired room could help.
Oak were made aware of the problem a while back, and it’s possible that they’ve changed the formula of the head, and newer Oaks may not have this problem anymore.
The only problems with my Oak are that the low D, E, and F# are SO picky and the high A and B will shatter glass! Everywhere in between, it is my best D whistle.
I bought an Acorn a few months ago, right at the height of the Oak lip numbing deal, and it also had the same effect. I tried the superglue and it works. But practice first to get it smooth.
Acorns, not Oaks. Mouthpieces wrapped in cellophane that stink to high heaven when you open them.
Any other solution than superglue? The students will sue the Adult Ed department if I cop to that.
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Oil?
Hi Hep,
I soaked my Oak mouthpiece in water and dishwater detergent overnight, and the problem disappeared.
tom
bump