I started playing with a clark sweetone D about a year ago and really liked it except that the C natural is really weak/raspy whether half holing or cross-fingering…also even though it shouldn’t matter I really don’t like the “toy” like appearance. I tried a laughing whsitle and just couldn’t get the hang of it. next I bought an elfsong and adored the sound and look but ended up selling it. I’m not sure how to explain it but I couldn’t play it as “fast” as my sweetone the transition from note to not was MUCH harder not sure if it was a back-pressure issue or what also I didn’t really like that it took so long to warm up compared to my sweetone so I sold it and went back to my sweetone.
so I just got a 2nd hand Low D whistle and tried it and decided at least for now thats not for me…so I am once again getting bothered by the crummy “C” natural on my sweetone and am on a quest for my “perfect” soparno D whistle.
So I’m looking for :
-soprano D
-more towards the sweet/pure sound than chiffy
-less toy looking
-plays something like a sweetone in that it is quick to switch from note to note
-a good solid crossfingered natural “C”
-cheaper is alwasy better but would go into low 3 figures if I had to but <$80 would be great <$50 would be spectacular
-used would be fine with me…especially if someone would be willing to let me test drive it first…also be more than willing to trade in my india manufactured nickled brass low D whistle that I just bought
and suggestions/info/offeres would be great
thanks for any and all help
For $30 you can put a Hoover Whitecap ( http://home.bresnan.net/~mackhoover/ ) on a Gen tube ( I don’t know if it will fit n a Sweettone tube) and if you don’t have the Gen tube it’ll run about $10. I have one of these and it’s wonderful. But it’s not very loud.
Burke or Sindt…you won’t regret either, but they DO require some warming. Water Weasel, but you won’t like the appearance. But I’ll bet that you end up liking something with a conical bore…Copeland.
In his post vaulter says he tried the elfsong already, so I guess that’s not an option.
next I bought an elfsong and adored the sound and look but ended up selling it. I’m not sure how to explain it but I couldn’t play it as “fast” as my sweetone the transition from note to not was MUCH harder not sure if it was a back-pressure issue or what also I didn’t really like that it took so long to warm up compared to my sweetone so I sold it and went back to my sweetone.
I bought some elfsong whistles as well after my first sweetone. Same as vaulter I love the sound and the way they play… but they just don’t suit me. I find them quite heavy and I like light whistles.
My Burke Brass Pro is somewhat lighter and plays lovely, clear in tone and has lightning reflexes (not that I am able to use that feature though). But I keep playing my Generation whistle everytime. In session I use the Burke, but the Generation at home.
I do have a O’Briain “Improved” D as well, but it’s kind of squeeky in my ears… very shrill. You have to be carefull with your use of breath as well… if you’re used to playing a Sweetone I think you’ll need some adjustments in that area.
So if you’re looking for a less toy-looking whistle I’d vote for a Burke. Keep an eye out for a good Generation though, I think they’re just the best.
What about those Dixons for low cost? I finally played one at the whistle party and it was a great tooter. Are they sort of uneven in quality? The one I played, it was maybe Crom’s or Norcals, was fantastic.
I’m a Burke fan, especially the composites, but in the under $100 market, I like the Syns. I got mine for $35 including shipping. I don’t know what the current price might be.
I recently picked up a used Burke Narrow Bore Brass D for $75 and boy is it sweet. Just the sound I like. I’ve got some higher end whistles but this one has it’s place in my stable.
Might have been mine - I have the non-tunable version, which is a really good whistle for the money ($15). I think Norcals may have been the tunable ($35, I think). And I think that a Dixon (either version) would be pretty good match.
Though I’ve grown much fonder of my Serpent Brassy Polly since the party (I was still learning to deal with the air requirements then), I can’t recommend them for vaulter’s needs - though they meet most of his other criteria (good C-Nat, fast, cheap) they are a very chiffy whistle - even though they don’t feel like a Clarke when you’re playing, they sound much like a really loud, in-tune, Clarke orginal.
A Jerry-tweeked Gen might not be a bad choice (haven’t had a chance to try one yet). Ditto for a Syn (I need to get off the stick and order a set).
But it wouldn’t hurt to try an Oak D - once you’ve got the breath control down, they can be a very good whistle. And they cost even less than the others I’ve mentioned (12 or 13 dollars).
For under $50 a tweaked Sweetone by Jerry Freedman. He has removed all problems I had with my original Sweetone with his magical tweaking.
For over $100 a Burke Aluminum Session (or any Burke). I found they play about as well as my ability lets them. The better I get, the better they play.
There are many, many good whistles out there that are reviewed on the main C&F site. I’d recommend looking at the low- and high-end whistles and using that as a basis.
also even though it shouldn’t matter I really don’t like the “toy” like appearance.
you realize, don’t you, that when you start thinking like that you’re definitely on the slippery slope?
If you like your Sweetone, it sounds as if you might like a more “open” sound than some of the “sweeter” whistles, like Burke narrow bores. Since you’re obviously coming down with WhOA, why don’t you 1) talk to Mack Hoover about your likes and see if he has any ideas; although a lot of his whistles are quiet, he sometimes has surprises up his sleeve; 2) consider a wide bore Burke? But because of the cost, get a few opinions before you pop for the Burke.
I love my elfsong to bits, can’t imagine why you’d sell it but oh well.
If you’re looking for something less expensive, try a Serpent Polly, I think they’re around $20 and for what you pay, they’re excellent whistles, hand made and whatnot. They do have a decidedly “whistle” sound to them, you may or may not like it. Maybe someone can post some clips? They come in colors, but if you don’t want a “toy” looking instrument, you can request an unpainted one.
Tweeked Clarke original from the whistleshop. Meets all your requirements, at about $20, except perhaps the c-nat, and even that’s not too bad, relatively speaking. I have one, and it’s just about darned near perfect, although I did play it in one group setting and it was just barely loud enough. I think they don’t get recommended a lot because not a lot of people have them. It’s hard to explain why I still have WhOA, with this little beauty. It will not leave you breathless, unlike the untweaked version.
I have not tried the Jerry whistles nor the Serpents, so I can’t compare them, here, but I’ll give you my advice as a fairly low-skill player who like Clarkes and Sweetones.
I advise a Dixon for the cheaper, louder option and a Whitecap for the spendier (not much, though) option. I have both and they are my current faves. I actually have lost my WhOA with these babies in my bag.
Neither will set you back as much as $50. Thom at the Whistle Shop has been very good to deal with both times I ordered from him. Both of the Dixon Ds I have had played the same and both were great (gave one to a friend who was leaving the state, had to replace it). The Hoover Whitecap I have is quieter, has a little breath in the sound (not much, but sounds like a whistle, not a recorder), and is a truly lovely piece of work.
Here’s a thought: Clarke originals are so doggone cheap, and are such a piece of history, that you really can’t afford to be without one. The D version is significantly easier to play than the C, and to my mind has a much more beautiful tone than the Sweetone. I have one in natural–the real tin look. It seems to me to have a slightly edgier tone than the black ones. I would compare the tone to a Hoover whitecap, at least not too dissimilar. Clarke original and Hoover: hard to go wrong for the price, and you may learn more about what you like.
If you want a whistle that plays as easy as your Clarke but has the sound of Elfsong. Want a beautiful look and feel too? Something not chiffy with a sweet clear almost sensual sound. Then let me suggest that you get a Serpent Copper VIllage Smithy! This is an awsome whistle at a Great price!It plays as easy as my favorite Clarke, looks very atractive, feels very comfortable to play, takes no time to warm up and is very easy to slide into a note or do rolls.
I think too many people are overlooking this fantstic whistle! All they can think about are the Brand name whistles. (Copeland, Burke, Sindt, etc) I am not saying these are bad whistles. But, it seems like I am always hearing " I wish I could find a whistle that plays as easy as my… But sounds like a…" Well I am telling you the Village Smithy IS your wish come true!
It has even cured me of WHOA! I have no desire to even look for another whistle. (And believe me I had it bad!)
As suggested in an earlier thread, I have posted a tune on the Clips & Snips playing my Copper VS. ( My playing abilities aren’t the best but at least you can hear how sweet and clear it sounds)
Raven
