Hi, gang. I’m new to this forum/website, but a friend of mine “sent” me here to try and get info re purchasing more pennywhistles.
Here’s my experience, so far. I originally was given a VERY cheap TIN whistle. I wasn’t crazy about the sound, so I went searching. Bought a Susato, a Clarke, and 2 ?? (brass w/ green plastic mouthpieces). My favorite, by far, has been the Susato. It seems forgiving (fingering, breath control, etc.) and has a sweet, but moderately loud sound (for those “bar jams”!). Anyway, this Susato in D is the only whistle I currently play. I’d like to purchase a few more whistles in different keys.
I’m thinking, since I already know I like em, a Susato is the obvious choice. But I also wanted feedback from more experienced players on what other brands I might consider.
Since I’ve seen this question before, I’ll try to answer it here…What kind of music do I play? Anything, from folk, to Van Morrison to light rock covers. I even do (as a comedic thing) “Locomotive Breath” (Jethro Tull). We don’t do much TRAD, and with my abilities (or lack thereof), that’s probably a good thing.
I’m looking for an easy to blow (forgiving), sweet sounding, reasonably priced (I’ll pay UP TO $135), moderately loud whistle. I await your suggestions! (And thanks!)
I think you’ll like a Water Weasel. The maker (Glenn Schultz) is not with us anymore (phisically at least), so the whistles are not so easy to found, but they’re not impossible either. You can try asking his daughter Bree at www.thinweasel.com and I think that alespa (Matt) still has one or two non-tunable (NT) Water Weasel to sell (He won’t be reading the forums until next week so you’ll have to wait a little). I have one and it’s fantastic. The tone is pretty pure and clear, but with a tiny touch of breathiness and reediness that make it unique. It’s quite loud, too.
The price for the NT WW was about $50 so it’s not expensive, and if you don’t like it, it will be easy to sell as they will be more difficult to get as the time passes by… the tunable models starts from about $80-90 or so.
Excellent! An easier high octave is a selling point for me! And the price is great…not much more than a Susato ($35).
You guys are great! I’m so glad I found this website. I’ve already learned SO much about “whistles”.
I enjoy playing it at an acoustic jam on Tues and Thurs at a local watering hole. The violinist and I are the only “melodic” instruments (mostly guitars there), so we adapt to all SORTS of musical styles. I find that the p’whistle fits in on a lot of tunes. So I’m expanding my available keys.
Excellent whistles! ALMOST as good as real wood
Just kidding Walt…
The new Sweet Pro whistles are really terrific. If you’re looking for anothe key, Walt JUST released some new ones in C. These are so nice that Bloomfield (you’ll meet him) authorized his teacher Gunther to buy him one last weekend.
If you decide to go Low D, Walt also makes gorgeous matching low Ds in Dymondwood. I’m eagerly awaiting one in the mail.
BTW-- if you want to experiment with transverse flute, these are also available with a fife head (flute for the low D) which makes them quite versatile indeed.
Oh, God! So many choices, so little knowledge! Ok…what about HIGH vs LOW? Is this about octaves, I assume? I would guess that the highs are easier to play, due to their size, finger hole spacing, bore, etc.
Transverse? That’s not the same thing as one head for 3 bodies is it? (And what about THAT?)
At this moment, I’m leaning towards the Sweet Dymondwood C…
but then, there’s weasels, and susatos, and clarkes…oh, my!
The whistles you’re playing now are “high” whistles. A “low” whistle would be an octave down from the high whistle. Thus, susato makes a “high D,” which you currently own, and a “low D,” an octave below that. Highs tend to be a lot easier to play, not only because of finger spacing (lows require pipers grip or something similar), but also because of breath requirements and such.
Transverse is a fancy word for “parallel to the ground,” like you play a flute. Whistles are not transverse, but flutes and fifes and piccolos are. The Sweetheart low D, as Paul said, has an optional flute (or transverse) head.
Syn whistles (as well as susatos and several others) are available in “sets” that come with one head, but several bodies. This tends to be an economic way to get a couple of keys without paying full price for a number of whistles.
As for a suggestion, I’d definitely say Syn is a good way to go, if you like susatos. I have the Syn D/C/Eb set available from Gaelic Crossings, and I like it. The C is by far the best one, though. The D and Eb are much too resistant in the high register, for me. Not NEARLY as resistant as susatos, though.
Thanks for your very helpful post. I definitely do NOT want transverse (I’m a terrible flute player!!). Since I already have a High D (thanks for helping me with High vs Low) Susato, maybe it would make sense to get a Syn High C. The set really isn’t economical if you already have a whistle in one of the keys.
This is a great forum. Thank you ALL for your help and feedback. I’ll check in tomorrow to see if any others have “weighed in”.
If you’re looking for other keys, the Susato C is a pretty good whistle – most consider it better than the D.
However, if you have the funds, run, don’t walk to the Thin Weasel website and pick up a Bflat/A combo (or either one). Of the Water Weasel line, these are the absolute gems, and that’s saying quite a bit. They have all the best characteristics of pennywhistles and low whistles.
Thanks to everyone for the great input. It would seem that I’ve had your help narrowing the field from (what seems like) hundreds, to only a few great possibilities.
There needs to be a place where you can go BLOW different whistles, to see what you like. My abilities aren’t that impressive, but I do LOVE the sound of my instrument…as I’m sure you all do!
To be honest, I’m heavily leaning towards this. Going with my “gut” here. It’s obvious that there are many, many great choices available, and I hope those that suggested other whistles aren’t offended. It just feels right.
I may throw in a Syn, too, since so many of you seemed to like them. I’ll likely get the Sweetheart Pro in C and a Syn in maybe…G or A.
That’s the puppy. Some people who play strictly Irish/Scots music don’t like them because they’re a little low on chiff, but they’re simply suberb little all around instruments.
At the high end of your price scale, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to hand it down to your great great grandkids.
