After asking about the Burke, I did a lot more listening. I appreciate all the input. From what Ive heard I cant find a better {to me} sound than this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMtdFTijUUc Yes a Clarke Original. I realize this fellow can play anything.
But Ive learned to shift and play controllably the 2 nd octave on my Blackbird C and Mellow D D, SO,well,The “easiness” of play Id heard of, and yes the tone, were the main draws of the Burke. I do like the Burkes tone, but the Clarke just sounds right. Ihave one Ive thumb tweaked and messed with the cutting edge a bit, and although it takes more air, I like it. So much for the Burke I guess.
Sorry for running on, actual question is , on the Shaw Low D. I like the tone, I have read again & again how it requires a lot of air. I don’t doubt that. Ive seen on other forums that people sometimes take others opinions and make them their own, without ever having a actual experience with the subject. Not trying to be a smart a, just something Ive seen.
Heres 2 vids on the Shaw, that to me sound great, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYrH0-ln0aQ , and a raw one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzd_SDcM3_o
I have a Shaw high D from many years ago and at that time I thought I’d need an iron lung. That said, I’ve noticed that as you get more experienced, things like that become less and less of a problem. Also, I had the whistle tweaked and noted that yes it was easier to play at the time but regretted that it lost a bit of its wonderful and unique timbre in the process. Its original tone was lovely. It’s almost difficult for me to imagine the breath requirement on the one hand and the lustrous deep tone on the other of a Shaw low D, which I have never played. Just sharing, albeit not responsive to your query.
I’ve hade a Kelpie for 8 months now and I really impressed with it, I play it from time to time with our Morris band.
We play a lot out side and it copes well with wind and has enough volume to be heard even when playing with
a couple of melodeons, fiddle and a drum.
What I do like about it is you can push the low D and E till they nearly break and they’re still in tune and are really strong
The 2nd octave has good volume but doesn’t need the same push that a Goldie needs.
If a Shaw and a Kelpie are the same price then go for the Kelpie, a no brainer IMO.
thanks for the input, looks like the Kelpie will be a bit more, but Im ready to spend the extra to get the sound and the lower air requirement.
nothing worse than saving a bit , and then regretting , not spending the extra and get what actually works for you.
Steve
The great advantage of Clarkes and Shaws is that it’s easy to change the voicing.
You can change the position and shape of the blade, the height of the windway, etc.
I had a friend with an amazing Clarke C (back when they only made C) and he allowed me to keep it for a week, during which I modified my Clarke over and over, getting ever closer (but never quite identical) to his supreme whistle.
So if your Shaw takes too much air, you can easily adjust it so that it doesn’t.
My all time favorite soprano D whistle is a Clarke Woodstock (nearly identical to a Sweetone). Cost me $7.00. It’s a soft whistle, but it plays crisply and I love it in the second octave. It has a chirpy sound that I really appreciate. I’ve tried a bunch of soprano D whistles, and this is the only I really play. Before this one, I’d pretty much given up on soprano D whistles. Too shrill in the upper octave. This one brought back the fun.