Hi everyone, we incorporate whistle into our rendition of Old-Time Musical performances here in East Tennessee and are looking for a relatively inexpensive Whistle in the Key of A for our programs. We play a lot out of D, Am, A, some G. We have C and D whistles, but looking for a good A. We’ve searched the forum and found some preferences from you, but still searching for any recent experiences with A whistles.
Keep in mind that to play in the key of A, you often want to use an E whistle in G fingering, depending on the range of the tune.
That said, a good choice of inexpensive ($67) tunable A whistle is Susato. Good volume for Old Time music, good intonation and clear tone, easy availability direct from Kelischek in NC.
Might give a thought to Alba. I just had a really sweet lower A on tour. Stacy makes them in either lower or high A, tunable or untunable, well within you budget. An attractive, great sounding, well made whistle. She’s easy to do business with (unless she’s off at a fair or festival). Find her on line at Alba Whistles. I won an Alba D in a contest and had to put my Burke on the bench.
I’ve played a Sausato and a Shaw. The Sausato had a little wider finger spacing on the bottom hand than the Shaw and I found it uncomfortable. The Shaw, like other wooden fipple whistles, has a lovely tone in the bottom of the range and is breathy. I’m not a huge fan of either, and am anxious to see what other people say here.
I have a Dixon tunable poly A that’s very nice. Easy playing, comfortable hole spacing (no piper’s grip needed), nice warm/woody flute-like tone. Accurate. Whistle length is 15", center of top hole to center of bottom hole is 5.4375".
The distance between holes B1 and B3 on the Susato A is 65 mm center to center. The Generation Bb measures 55 mm.
Actually, the B1-B2 distance is 25 mm on both whistles. The Susato’s extra 10 mm is entirely in the B2-B3 distance. It’s the spread between these 2 fingers which is the usual motivation for piper’s grip.
Thanks. Looks like it would be pipers grip for me. Is that typical of A whistles ?
I wonder if it is the Generation that is ‘out of proportion’ so that it can be within finger pad reach like the rest of their range.
I also need to buy A whistle.. For songs that my friend sings in D.. I think about a burke (210dollars) but It’s rather expensive for me.. I’ve tried a susato and I didn’t like the sound of A.. And I’ve tried plastic Dixon.. it’s quite.. only play with calm guitar at home.. A Chieftain I think will be too loud for songs..
You might consider one of Mack Hoover’s whistles. I believe his A whistles are made from 3/4" CPVC. Cost is ~$70 US. Mack can likely voice a whistles to you desired loudness/sweetness.
Hmmmm… having a senior moment here. On the subject of key of A whistles. I think some where in the C&F archives someone explained how they made an A whistle by adding length to a Generation Bb? I did a search but I must be using the wrong key words.
My method is just to loosen the head, clean the tube, and then slide the head back a semitone from its original location, but the intonation won’t be 100% without modifying the holes with some tape (it’s good enough for me without tape). It beats me why Generation don’t produce an A whistle, since the Bb head and tubing do the job adequately well. All they’d need is a new jig for the holes. Hey, we could even write them a new jig and call it “plump the woosle”…
Not sure I should to revive this discussion in favour of the more recent one on A whistles.
But since this is the one where I asked about finger spread relative to a Generation Bb its here I will report that the right hand finger spread of the Dixon plastic A is the same as a Generation Bb and an easier reach because the bottom hole is slightly smaller. Top hand is a mm or so wider spread. Gap between the hands is wider. I think the alloy one was the same but its not the one I chose to buy so have not compared in detail. Don’t know if I made the right choice, I’m having trouble blowing the bottom note up to pitch but I may just need to practice that.
Never mind, it seems that he doesn’t make whistles anymore at the time being.
On the subject of key of A whistles. I think some where in the C&F archives someone explained how they made an A whistle by adding length to a Generation Bb? I did a search but I must be using the wrong key words.