Hi folks! I don’t post much, as I lost my computer a while back and re-discovered the website only recently. I do, however, intend to post a bit more now that I’ve found it again.
Anyway, the crux of the issue is this: I have recently begun to craft my own whistles out of various materials. I started with PVC, and made some [passable] whistles. I need a tuner to do it properly, and lack the funds ATM. I’ve moved on to aluminum and (hopefully) stainless steel. Would any of you crafters and tweakers out there have any tips or tricks to share with me? Aside from getting the tuner, of course.
I greatly appreciate any assistance I can get. Thanks!!
Hi there Kaldor,
There’s been a few new whistlemaking addicts been posting here lately, check out page two of Rustman’s “DIY Whistle” thread for pics of his copper and my aluminium whistles (click on my one to get the big picture), and I’ve posted soundclips of my D and C whistles a little further down the page. (It took me a while to figure out how to do it). Check out Devondancers threads too, she’s just discovered the joy of turning a piece of pipe into something unique and beautiful.
You’ll be able to get some ideas about costruction from the pics, and one of my postings on Rustman’s thread is fairly detailed as to how I make my aluminium ones. I think Rustman probably went to this site to get the idea for the copper ones, http://musicmoz.org/Instruments/Wind/Flute/Tin_Whistle/Links/Building_Instructions/
and I’ve made quite a few off Guido Gonzato’s excellent PVC whistle site as well.
Hope this has been a help,
Ian
Any computer has “basic” software included in the DOS(“START” menu,audio) to produce any accurate frequency you desire, no tuner needed.
I also suggest the books of Lew Paxton Price, “Secrets of the Flute”. With this book and maybe Bart Hopkin’s “Air-Columns and Toneholes”, you can design flutes and whistles accurately with simple calculator mathematics. No tuner needed that way either.
Good luck! Enjoy - it’s addictive! And don’t let your whistle kill your camera, as my orange peril did!! You can’t afford the tuner; I can’t afford another camera - ah well . . .
The people here are so friendly and will give you such good advice you should have no problems.
After that I’ve moved to use Guido’s instructions using plastic, copper and aluminium with pleasing results. I strongly suggest you to use some kind of tuner, especially when making fine tuning between first and second octaves. I use tuner from Sonar 7 recording software,
Hey rustman! I used the same instructions for my copper whistle, too. I found it a little too large for my hands, so I gave it to a friend that could play it easier.
Thank you all for the information! I think I really like the shakuhachi tuner. It’s like tuning to a pitch pipe. I’ve found that the stainless steel blank I have is a Bflat4. Now to take the program to work, where I have access to a milling machine, and get the holes done properly. whee!!