Any plans to add a “Sounds” section to your website?
Yes, I’d like to, but the quickie software I used to make the site doesn’t support that. I may add some links to existing sound clips such as Erik’s on clips and snips in the meantime.
On 2002-12-18 23:09, Grannymouse wrote:
Probably because I have seen the master at work and the love and sacrifices he has put into his whistles. I’m sure Paul and Fred do too…just haven’t been witness to it. My 2 cents. Gm
Hi Grannymouse-- you and any other Chiffers have an open invitation to come visit if you’re ever in the Albany NY area. We’re on the way to Lake George, Montreal, Vermont Skiing, the Berkshires, Adirondacks, etc. Gotta agree with you about Glenn and the work he does. He da man!
Paul, e-mail the sound file to me. I’ll host it and you can attach a link from your webpage to the file.
On 2002-12-18 23:39, jim stone wrote:
I have never played a Busman or a Rose,
but I’ve played thin weasels–I
think they’re swell, but I
prefer Abells for craftsmanship
and for sound.
I’ve had an Abell for a year now and am just beginning to warm up to it. It offers much less backpressure than I’m used to, and mine has a somewhat breathy sound in the lower octave. The tuning slide is really difficult to work. OTOH, it’s about the easiest playing whistle I own – perfect octave transitions, lightning fast response. Plus the craftsmanship is second to none.
I had a Rose for a couple of months and sold it (to someone who appreciates it). The telling moment came when I asked my wife go into the next room and play a little on the Rose and a Susato. I couldn’t tell the difference, and when I played, she couldn’t tell the difference, either. Why is it that if it’s a Rose it’s pure, but if it’s a Susato it’s recordery? I didn’t dislike the Rose, and I have a bunch of Susatos because I like them. I just feel that a whistle as nice and expensive as it should be with someone who really appreciates it.
On 2002-12-19 08:36, chas wrote:
Why is it that if it’s a Rose it’s pure, but if it’s a Susato it’s recordery?
I’ve wondered about this myself and have come to the conclusion that the “recordery” sound of a Susato is largely imaginary.
After all:
- Susatos are made of plastic and have a Japanese sounding name, like some recorders.
- People who have a personality clash with Kelhorn Mike are unlikely to say anything nice about Susatos (with the notable exception of JessieK), so they associate these whistles with recorders (see below).
Since recorders have (unfairly) become a catch-all category for all negative impressions of Susatos:
- Some people can’t get the hang of playing them because their response characteristics are different from other inexpensive whistles.
- The standard bore D Susatos put out a lot of volume in the upper part of the second octave. People who are only used to quiet whistles (like Generations, Feadogs, and Oaks) may experience this as a “shrillness”, possibly due to auditory overload.
I agree that Susatos don’t sound
like recorders per se. Rather it’s
that inexpensive recorders are often
made of abs plastic, as are Susatos, and
abs instruments tend to sound
alike.
Hi, Chas,
I was very surprised by your comments regarding the respective sounds of the Susato and Rose whistles. I don’t doubt your sincerity for a moment, and have never played a Rose (sadly). I do have a Susato, however, which has a pretty average sound to my ear, certainly below what I would have expected from a Rose whistle, judging by the astonishing reception they have received.
If there’s suddenly a two year wating list for Susatos, I’ll know who to blame!!!
Above all, I’m happy that you’ve found a whistle that you’re happy with, even if you end up taking a little flack from owners of Rose whistles.
Best wishes for you both over the Festive Season, and thanks for an interesting post,
Adrian
i love my busman bocote soprano “d” paul sent me several months ago. it’s so beautiful to touch, see, play and hear. i can’t get enough of it!!!
thanks, paul!
- tom
I too have a wonderful Busman Bocote soprano D. Joyous and healthy holiday season to all.
Philo
Chas & Ridseard,
Thanks for you kind comments about our
whistles and I should probably add you guys
to the payroll. I agree wholeheartdly but have
an obvious bias. The comments remind folks
to try and be as objective and open-minded
as possible when considering a whistle and to
trust their own instincts about what they
like. Thanks again.
Kelhorn Mike
I think some of the ‘recorder’ issue of the Susato’s is the mouthfeel of the chunky mouthpiece. For me they sound too loud. I haven’t had a chance to check my perceptions against my newly achieved and MUCH beloved Rose (my current lesson whistle!) but next time I have the chance to borrow a Susato, I’ll do that, and with the decibel-meter thingy.
Well, I’m sorry, but I do think Susatos sound like recorders. I have a few (let’s see: an VSB E, VSB D, SB D, A & G) and I used to play them quite a bit. It’s no problem to get used to them and I can even learn to not put my sixth finger down on the high notes (but I do not like it). I am playing them less and less now, but that is a different story.
If I compare the sounds of a Gen, a Feadog, a Waltons, a Sweettone, a Susato, an Overton, and a Sindt (I would add Copeland, Burke, WW, Silkstone and other hi-enders I don’t own but have played), I’d say that the sound of the Susato stands out among them. The other two that are very characteristic are the Sweetone and the Overton, but both are very different from the Susato. And yes, the Susato reminds me of recorders: It is something about the timbre, the graininess of the sound that doesn’t have to do with smooth vs breathy.
Is that a bad thing? I don’t know. The recordery sound is not why I don’t play Susatos much anymore. And anyway, most of the recorder bashing here on c&f is tongue-in-cheek anyway, and I don’t understand why the renaissance recorder types get knots in their codpieces over it. 
I am going to start a new whistle buisiness grinding down Susato mouthpieces so they’ll be more comfortable to play. Sorry, can’t do much about the way they sound!
Hi Paul!!
Can’t wait to hear my tulipwood!!!
RPI brat
Or mine, Paul, even if it is being a
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