I just got one. Susato advertises this as sweeter sounding than the regular unit. Wow! I’m not sure what to say. Sweet? No, not that. It’s less round sounding, lower volume, but more penetrating. As with it’s wide bore sister, the best I can say is that it is very accurate on pitch. But still with that recorder-like tone to it.
Someone mentioned on an earlier post that her daugher fell in love with the Walton’s Mellow D. So have I. It has only one flaw…too sharp. It’s really in Eb, not D. Otherwise it’s perfect. (Hey Mr. Walton, can ya fix that, eh? Please!!)
I agree that the tone of the VSB is very focussed and penetrating, even in the first octave. The low D on mine is a bit sharp, but otherwise the intonation is excellent. Breath control is very critical on the second octave D. (It squeaks if I slightly overblow.) I have a feeling that the bore may be optimal for an Eb rather that a D whistle, although I haven’t tried the Eb yet.
I think I like the regular small bore D whistle a little better than the VSB. It has a more consistent, even response, it’s low D is in tune, and the tone is sweeter. The small bore Bb is also a nice instrument, and I think the tone is beautiful, although it sounds even more recorder-like than either of the D whistles.
On 2002-07-18 23:26, Whitmores75087 wrote:
I just got one. Susato advertises this as sweeter sounding than the regular unit. Wow! I’m not sure what to say. Sweet? No, not that. It’s less round sounding, lower volume, but more penetrating. As with it’s wide bore sister, the best I can say is that it is very accurate on pitch. But still with that recorder-like tone to it.
My opinion, too. See: VSB D vs. SB D
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/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-07-19 09:30 ]
It was my daughter with the Mello D. It’s the throatiness of it that she likes, having only had the regular Walton’s D to compare it to till recently.
On 2002-07-18 23:26, Whitmores75087 wrote:
Someone mentioned on an earlier post that her daugher fell in love with the Walton’s Mellow D. So have I. It has only one flaw…too sharp. It’s really in Eb, not D. Otherwise it’s perfect. (Hey Mr. Walton, can ya fix that, eh? Please!!)
Is that it? I wondered why it always sounded a little off. I thought I had the mouthpiece too high. Actually, I did for a while.
Hi Jane, There is something about the tone of the Mellow D. Very slightly breathy, very slightly smoky or throaty. If you like that, maybe you’ll like my favorite whistle. I took the fipple from the Mellow D, and put it on the holey part (barrel?) of a Walton’s little black. Wow! To me it sounds just about perfect. Let me know what you think. You’ll have to put some tape on the barrel to make the fipple fit.
tom_muckian@whitmores.com
I like my VSB, but I have to confess I’m relatively new and havn’t played a lot of whistles. I love it from low E through second octave G, but the A and especially the second B is shrill and piercing and I find that when I play it in a small room I underblow those notes, trying to not be too loud. It’s not a good car whistle, but it sounds great in large rooms or outside.