I’d just want to ask if you could tell me if the O’Riordan whistles
made of materials other than wood(Black aluminum, delrin, etc) are as good as the wooden ones.
Also, a question about their average value. Some makers sell Delrin and other synthetic materials for about the same price as wood, but I think aluminum should be considerably cheaper than wood. Is that so in the case of O’Riordan whistles or they are anyway worthy?
Thanks
When a whistle is bought, the buyer is not buying material. They are buying the skill of a craftsman. The value comes from the accuracy of the material being removed.
Yes, that’s obviously true. But different materials should present different approaches in the making process and different results as well. Of course I’m aware of O’Riordan fame, but the only parameter of judgment I have are audio clips, since I’ve never played any of them. So I’d like to know opinions about the aluminum ones and other materials comparable to the wooden ones.
I buy for curiosity sometimes - then sell a few when they don’t suit my fancy.
I keep whistles for the playability (by my standards), and the voice.
There are many different purposes, budgets, and tastes on playability/voice.
For value - the best $160 I ever spent was for a Freeman “tweaked” Generation, Full Set. Followed by a Reyburn high C/D set.
Yet I have whistles from Overton, Copeland, Schultz, Sweetheart, and etc. that I will not be selling anytime soon (except perhaps to buy another coveted whistle).
I have my original Freeman Tweaked Sweetone and Shaw that will never be sold, they are worth much more to me than the few dollars they would bring.
And the whistle I covet the most is the standard, old style, red tipped brass Generation that Nicolas Buckmelter plays. It’s hard to believe that it probably cost someone US$8 new. Nic’s pretty darn good with an Olwell flute too.
I didn’t address your question about O’Riordans, primarily because I’ve never played one. But I can say (in my experience), material and/or cost are not necessarily good indicators of the true value of a whistle.
Try as many as you can, you will find your Muse - or perhaps more than one (what’s the plural form for “Muse?”).
Have fun,
I owned a wood c/d and an aluminum d by O’Riordan awhile back. The heads were both delrin and interchangeable from the wood and metal. Both heads created identical sound. Placed on wood or aluminum tubes made a different sound due to the resonance, and possibly, thickness of the materials. The wood was very thick. The aluminum was a lot thicker than a Generation nickel, maybe closer to an Overton aluminum. Both were solid, sturdy instruments. The aluminum had a black lacquer or something covering the tube that made it look like a shiny plastic. I decided I didn’t like the pure tone of that make of whistle and sold them.
Tony
Yes. Quite possibly better. 