My beloved Oak D, my first whistle, has developed a crack in the fipple.
Anyway, the sound is terrible, and I’ve decided to finally buy a new whistle.
I’ve heard good things about the new Generations, specifically that their quality control has greatly improved, and that the majority of their whistles to come off the production line these days are outstanding instruments. Does anybody know if that is the case?
Also, with respect to buying a Generation, I’m concerned that even if their newer whistles are quality instruments, I may end up with an older model when buying from an online retailer.
Back to my original question… Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should look into? Whatever I get will have to be a straight model (nothing conical), less than $20 (preferably around $10 - I’m quite poor) and preferably able to get to the upper notes of the 2nd octave without being excruciatingly loud.
Well, I considered getting another Oak, as I’ve grown quite fond of the one that I have been playing for the past two years, but in truth, it wasn’t as fine an instrument as my lavish praise might make it seem.
When trying to hit the high notes in the 2nd octave, I noticed that it was entirely too loud, and that the 3rd D was unreachable. Normally, I wouldn’t care so much, except that a few songs in my reportoire require playing that damnable note.
i like my Oak, but I’m totally in love with my Dixon Trad. I’d chose it over the oak 6 days of the week.
I am somewhat underwhelmed with my generation brass D. lots of plastic bits to sand away and just not as nice to play as any my other whistles. maybe i got an “older” version, but i purchased it at a store where the should be lots of turnover.
IMO, I’d go for a Dixon Trad at $26. don’t buy any capuccinos for two weeks and there’s the extra $6 right there.
For cheapies, I’ve always like my Feadóg the best, followed by my Oak. My Generation is OK, but has some extra buzz in a few notes.
The Oak is a bit harder to play than the others, IMO.
If you can swing a few more dollars you might get a Dixon Trad. I haven’t played one myself, but they’ve gotten some good reviews.
Another option is to save $10 more and get a Hoover Whitecap for your Oak body. I have one and it’s a pretty sweet whistle. It takes more push than the cheapies.
For probably the ultimate in lower-cost whistles, there’s always the option to get one of Jerry’s tweaked versions. I (and many) would recommend the Mellow Dog. The Blackbird is his new one that is getting great reviews, but sound like they like better breath control (I’m imagining similar to the Oak), so that one may not be for you. You can get either one for about $40 shipped I believe. Twice your budget I know, but something to think about.
The Dixon Trad and Freeman Blackbird are on my short list, too. Both can easily hit your high D.
My everyday whistle is a $5 brass Feadóg with the putty tweak.
BTW, if the crack in your Oak mouthpiece doesn’t extend onto the fipple blade itself, just the collar … A few turns of electrical tape around the collar, and maybe a bit of glue in the crack, should seal it as good as new. I have a cracked Feadóg C that plays just fine. And try the putty tweak to tame those high notes.
Also remember, if you get another 1/2 inch Generation-type whistle, you can try the head on your Oak body, and preserve some of the characteristic sound of the Oak tube.
I really like my Dixon Trad and recomend it over my Generation. The cost is around $25.00. I play the Dixon more than any of the other whistle that I have including several “higher” dollar whistles. What about getting a Hoover head and putting that on the Oak body? I don’t know if they fit a 1/2 inch tube.
Several of you mentioned the Dixon “trad.” Which one is that exactly? I’ve been looking at several different ones on his site and have been trying to decide which one to buy. I’m willing to spend a little extra cash to get something that will play well right out of the box.
Whistle and Drum carries the Dixon Trad – http://www.whistleanddrum.com. They’re sold out of the ones in D at the moment, it seems, but at least you’ll know what you’re looking for if you decide to go elsewhere for them.
Okay, thanks. I wanted to confirm. So that’s the non-tuning one. I was thinking about the one with the tuning slide. It appears to be the same thing, but with the brass tuning slide. Do people here think that it’s worth it to pay extra for the tunable model?
I don’t think you need to spend for the tunable one on the Dixon Trad. The head is moveable and take care of tuning, which you only need is playing directly with another whistle or other similar instruments. Mine is not out of tune, but other whislte are .
I understand what you’re saying, but for what it’s worth “tuning slide” is the terminology his website uses:
“Tony Dixon Manufacturing has pleasure in introducing the re-designed and improved Soprano D Whistle with an aluminium body. Back by popular demand, the return of an old friend - now renamed - the DX006 incorporates the internal tuning slide on an aluminium bodied high D.”
iirc, the Dixon Traditional is a brass body (not aluminum) with a black (plastic, ABS, polymer) fipple that is not glued to the body (hence, it can be tuned within a short range.) At the time I purchased mine, the Trad was available only in the key of D. It runs around $25 or 26 USD. If you are looking at an aluminum bodied whistle, unless i am mistaken, that is NOT a dixon trad.
You’re right. The aluminum-bodied whistle is not the one that he calls “traditional.” The traditional one does, however, also come in nickel. Too many choices!
P.S. Does anyone know of any other places that carry them (in the U.S.) AND have them in stock?
The Dixon Trad plays extremely well and is a lot less tricky to play than a Feadog - while I like both, I’d always choose the Dixon if push came to shove - in fact, apart from my Clarke Original (the “natural” one without any coating), it’s the whistle I like and play most. It doesn’t need a lot of air, but handles hard blowing pretty gracefully; it also plays well over the whole range, and even up into the third octave (this coming from a newbie - go figure!). The brass one’s not coated, so you’ll soon see where you place your fingers - if you don’t like that, try the nickel; I can’t say if the nickel plays just as well or even better - I don’t own one. I’d go for the brass anyhow.
The Feadog is a lot more demanding when it comes to breath control, and you’ll hear a lot of chiff when you blow harder, so you’ve got to like that - but it’s a very good whistle for its price tag, and as soon as you’ve learned to control pressure and air flow, it’ll sing for you. If you choose the coated/painted ones over the brass is up to you - I personally didn’t feel or hear a lot of difference. I own a Feadog Pro, too - it’s a little nicer on the ear, more forgiving, but still recognisable as a Feadog. The marginally higher price tag’s justified IMHO - but if you want a Feadog, a non-“Pro” will do.
