Recently purchased an O’Briain “Improved D”. Very nice whistle with characteristics and dimensions similar to Jerry Freeman’s Blackbird D.
Couple of questions for those of you familiar with this whistle and the maker;
What is the proper pronunciation of “O’Briain”? Is it the same as O’Brien or not?
What head does he start with and tweak for this whistle?
Does he use existing tubes from another whistle or produce his own?
Thanks and best wishes.
Steve
MTGuru
October 23, 2010, 7:24pm
2
Basically, yes. If you want Gaelic, it’s Oh Bree-ahn, with the last n slightly palatalized. Irish names are officially fungible that way. Makes using the Irish phone book an interesting experience.
IIRC, the current whistle is a tweaked Feadóg.
ubizmo
October 23, 2010, 8:45pm
3
It’s the narrowest bore cylindrical whistle I’ve seen. It fits right into a Mellow Dog, and almost fits into a Dixon Trad.
Ubizmo
But virtually the same diameter as the Freeman Blackbird…
Best wishes.
Steve
It is, in fact the same size as a Freeman Blackbird.
Best wishes,
Is that the one with the blank ex-directory section?
