As you might have read in the section of my whistle diary I posted, I now have WhOA. I have just acquired two more low-end whistles, both of which are not in tune. As it is right now, only my Susato is in tune, and although it is fun to play, I find myself playing my Feadog D more because I like the sound better.
Anyway, my birthday is coming up , which my better-half just brought to my attention yesterday. She asked me what I would like for a present, and (snicker!), I wonder what I could want?
So I need your help in selecting a midium high-end whistle to purchase and give a loving home to.
Here is what I am looking at:
1: John Sindt
2: Mack Hoover
3: David Parkhurst
4: David O’Brien (Nice Guy!)
If you have any of these guys works in D in your collection, please let me know how you like them, and if you can, compare them. I have read what reviews there are on each, and have gone to the websites, but money is tight for us, as we just had a baby girl in July, so I can only afford one (sigh). So I need some input on them from people who have been playing the whistle a while now. I would like an easy-playing one with a more tradition sound, hence the selection of only metal whistles.
I only have one of the above-mentioned whistles…but I really love my Hoover!! It is a quiet whistle…(good thing for newborns around)…and I haven’t heard the others…so I am not a good person I guess to be replying. I have a Clarke Sweetone, a Hoover whitecap brass and a Jerry Tweaked Generation. Thought I believe that the Generation is a more traditional sound…the Hoover is very smmmooooth. I am sure others will give you a more musically intelligent reply.
Good luck on your venture into whistledom! (I just started 1 year ago)
The Sindt is a great whistle, just too thin a tube for my personal physical comfort (and I think the C is better).
I have a Hoover - a bit too quiet for me.
I really also like my Parkhurst, still consider it a great deal, and have wondered why no one seems to mention it lately. Uniquely beautiful whistle in copper that may be a bit too heavy for some. Moderate volume.
Maybe you should also read some of the recent reviews on the new Humphrey whistle; can’t comment as I don’t have one (yet); it’s on order and got raves from some really good players.
For a few bucks more, I’d strongly recommend a Burke brass Black tip - which has been my workhorse whistle ever since I got it.
The only Hoover in D I had was his brass tunable. A nice, quiet whistle and fairly clean sounding. I have not ever heard a feadog so I do not know how it would compare sound wise.
Another maker you might consider is Weston, based in the UK. He makes copper, nickle plated copper and wooden whistles in D.
Does it need to be a D? I have a Chieftain Bb I am selling right in that price range.
Out of that selection Sindt hands down. I would recommend looking at gary Humphrey’s though. Very similar to the Sindt but that bit sweeter maybe, and without the long wait
I have a Hoover Whitecap but it is in Bb but it is a great whistle.
I also have a Copper Parkhurst Quiet D. It is a great whistle too.
While I hate to make your decision even harder, I would suggest that you also consider the Alba Q1. It is my favorite whistle. I am missing my Parkhurst right now though as a friend asked to borrow it to learn to play whistle. I keep my Hoover and my Alba by the computer.
I think you should get all three of these. Then you can’t go wrong!
Of those you mentioned, Sindt is far and away the best, but there’s an 8 month wait. In that price range, but not on your list, I’d definitely go for a Humphrey. They’re better than any of those mentioned IMHO, but still very affordable.
Wow, thanks for the help you guys! Of course, now I have a few more to consider! I am really thinking about a Hoover, but maybe I should wait until I hear some more? Has anyone played the full-bore soprano D Hoover, and not the small-bore, if the small-bore is very quiet, what is the regular size like? I guess nancymae had it right with a quiet whistle in the house with my new-born!
NorCalMusician, is there anywhere I can go to hear a sound-bite on a Chieftain Bb? I was kinda thinking of starting in all D’s, then branching out from there. Just thought if I am just starting, it would be easier to compare whistles if they are all in the same key.
Also, I heard that you can get poisoned from long-term exposure to copper? Do the Parkhurst have anything over the copper?
I don’t think I can wait 8 month’s for a Sindt! Maybe I can get one for next Christmas!
Man, how could I forget a Syn High D whistle!!! I just got one and am thoroughly enjoying it. As a matter of fact it has repaced our Alba as my wifes FAVORITE whistle.
All for under $50 shipped (but you better get a direct quote from Erle: synwhistles@yahoo.com.au) To top it all off he is a real joy to deal with on all fronts.
Mack Hoover is exceptionally nice to deal with, too. One time…my whitecap broke (freak accident) and he heard about it and sent me another one, free of cost.
GO MACK!!! HOOVERS RULE!!!
(nothing against syn, of course, I just really like Hoover. )
I have a Hoover traditional-bore brass high D with a Corian fipple plug, which I recently got in trade from Beth (aka avanutria). This particular whistle was made in 2002. It’s a quiet whistle with a very sweet sound. If you ever get over to the mainland and south of Seattle, you’re welcome to try out the whistle. (PM me if interested.) I also have a Jerry-tweaked Generation high D, a Burke AL-Pro high D, and a couple of Busman high Ds you can try out. (Though the Burke and the Busmans are a bit more expensive than the other whistles you’ve mentioned.)
, which my better-half just brought to my attention yesterday. She asked me what I would like for a present, and (snicker!), I wonder what I could want?
)
Send me an email and I will send it for you.