Review: the Busman D+ whistle (pics added)

Whistle
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I received today two Busman D+ whistles: a light and dark matched set in tiger maple and black delrin. I think these are the first D+ whistles Paul made, since he constructed the prototype D+ at my request. The D+ has the Busman C whistle body, but tuned with D whistle holes and an extra 7th hole for a low C. The low C hole is about the same size as the D hole and is offset to the right to accommodate my pinky finger. So far, the low C hole is comfortable reach for the pinky of my medium size hand.

The D+ whistles look stunning (long and slender) and feel wonderful in my hands. The delrin has an excellent satin finish. On the tiger maple, there are subtle tan-colored strips circling the wood that flash on and off as I turn the whistle around. Compared to my Busman D in birds eye maple, the D+ is more visually impressive, despite the fancier grain of the birds eye wood. The D and D+ whistles have the same size headjoint, but the proportion on the D+ with the longer C tube is more aesthetically pleasing (imho). In fact, the whistle looks so good that one could swear Paul chose the length of the body tube specifically to fit all 7 holes of a D+ design instead of a C whistle.

The D+ whistles also have a better balance weight-wise. The D whistle has always seemed top heavy to me. It’s center balance point is just below the joint, so that if I hold the whistle up at the position where my left thumb normally rests, it quickly flips over on the fipple side. Not so with the D+. The center of gravity on the D+ has been relocated further down on the body, around the B hole position. Held at a point about where my left thumb rests, the whistle is perfectly balanced between head and foot and is more comfortable to hold. Overall, the D+ whistles are in a class by themselves - truly lovely to hold and behold, and touched with elegant style and sophistication.

What about the sound of the D+s? Well, I could only play them for a few minutes today. The tiger maple sounds brighter than the delrin. The delrin seems to clog a little more often and has a bit more backpressure. Overblowing with all 7 holes covered produces a high Cnat having the same airy quality as the other 2nd octave notes, whereas the OXXOOO Cnat sounds more like the notes in the first octave. That’s really all I can say for now.

And here’s an idea for clearing out clogs on Busman whistles: wipe the outside of the metal fipple with a tissue dipped in very hot water (squeeze out the excess first), without letting any water in the windway or headjoint. The few times I tried it, it cleared up the clog immediately - without any shaking or sticking tissue paper in windway and headjoint to dry it. People have suggested warming a metal whistle in one’s hands before playing to prevent clogs, but that has never worked for me. Anyway, I don’t know yet if this solution will work everytime.

After all I’ve said about how nice the D+ looks, I wish I could post pics, but I don’t have a digital camera with me. Maybe in a few days…

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Thanks for the review of the Busman whistles. I was wondering what this new D+ whistle was. Kindly indulge us with photos when you can. This build sounds exciting. I love Maple as well.

I am waiting right now on a Busman C birds eye maple whistle myself. Now I have another reason to look at a D+ in the future!! And now I can tell my wife - “But honey, I don’t have a D+ whistle. And it is an essential tool…for the art of Irish music. An ancient musical key just now resurrected from the stone tablets of Connemara. How can you refuse me a symbol of my people and ancestry? It’s a piece of essential history I tell you! My Irish blood cries out for it!”

Maybe the good Dr. will even develop a Bb down the road. He relates it will need new equipment - but we can wait a while…
Then we can get A’s in wood maybe.

Hurry Paul - Hurry - grow larger trees so we can buy bigger wooden whistles!
We’re insatiable!

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When I ordered the D+s, I expected that the delrin would be the low-care, practice whistle in the collection. Instead, each one is showing distinct characteristics as a worthy whistle in its own right.

My birds eye maple D is about 1 year old. It was my first high-end whistle (I received it in August 2004 and Paul tweaked it for me earlier this year). Because the D is not the easiest whistle to play (due to the backpressure and clogging), I took quite a risk ordering two D+ whistles blind. Because the D+ was not part of standard line, Paul asked me to pay for both up front. Well, the gamble paid off.

I’ve been playing the D+s for a few days now. Here are more details of the differences between the D and D+ whistles:

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  • The delrin is heavier than the tiger maple. The tubes of the D+ appear to have slightly thinner walls than the D.

  • The tiger maple has a lighter color than the birds eye maple. Paul has been experimenting with finishes, which affect the color and the sound as well. The tiger maple has bright, sweet sound, maybe the most expressive of my three Busmans.

  • The delrin is the loudest, surprisingly loud, but it also takes a bit more air; on the other hand, the tiger maple is a bit quieter than my birds-eye, another surprise. If I were going to play in a group, I would choose the delrin for its volume and projection. If I wanted a light sweet sound and was practicing by myself (or before a microphone), I would go with the tiger maple.

  • The 1st and 2nd octaves on the D+s are more uniform. On the birds eye D, the 2nd octave is definitely airier. The D+s have a purer sound across both octaves with just a hint of air in the 2nd octave.

  • The delrin D+ plays a strong and solid low C, as strong as the low D. The low C on the tiger maple D+ is finicky. It tends to break if I push it too much.

  • Third octave notes on the D+ are less shrill and easier to play, but I still cannot reliably go above the 3rd octave D on any of the whistles.

  • The D+ whistles clog less seriously than on the D (and Paul had tweaked my D to reducing clogging). When a D+ does clog, shaking out the excess is usually enough to clear it (no need to dry the windway w/tissue paper, for example). This improvement could be due to the windway on the D+ being wider (although the height of the D+ windway is actually slightly lower than on the D).

  • The D+ whistles have less backpressure and are easier to play. They are, generally, more responsive. The delrin D+ does require a bit more push, especially on the A and B in the 2nd octave.

  • The beak on the D+ mouthpiece has a thinner, more comfortable profile. Paul says he made this change beginning with the batch of whistles that included my D+s.

  • The tuning slide on the D+ is longer. Paul says he did this to improve the stability, so that the slide would not loosen up.

The D+ whistles represent a major advance in Paul’s craft. Some of the revisions in the D+ are already present in his new Ds, but other improvements in the playability and handling may be inherent to the D+ design.

Yet, I must say that there is an almost indescribable quality about the birds eye maple D that is not found in either of the D+ whistles - a combination of air and woodiness in both octaves which reminds me of folk music. The birds eye maple D demands more finesse and breath control (the low D note especially requires a gentle breath), but is casual and charming to the ear. In contrast, the D+s (their purer notes, woodish and lacking the metallic ringing of, say, a stock Generation D) are agile and confident - professional instruments, if I dare say.

Based on these observations, I have to concur that the material used in making a whistle does matter. Wood and delrin in the same design do not give the same sound. With handmade instruments, there additionally must be variability among whistles of the same wood and design. Yet, there are enough common qualities in both my D+s to suggest the distinctiveness of the D+ design.

For those who are considering a Busman D whistle, I strongly recommend including a D+ in that consideration. At this time, Paul is charging the same price for all his whistles, and with the D+, at the very least, one gets an extra note.

I will try and post pics next week.

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(quote)For those who are considering a Busman D whistle, I strongly recommend including a D+ in that consideration. At this time, Paul is charging the same price for all his whistles, and with the D+, at the very least, one gets an extra note. (quote)

Alas, a small correction. I am now charging an additional $15 for C and D+ whistles. This is due partly to a bit of increased labor to make those, and to the unfortunate need to use twice as much wood to make these. The woods I use most often are available in 1 foot or two foot lengths. One foot is perfect for a D or Eb, but although they’re only an inch longer making a C or D+ requires using a 2 foot piece. This is also why I don’t offer these longer whistles in all woods: for many I can only find 1 foot pieces and I like to make each whistle from a single piece so the grain matches.

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I am now charging an additional $15 for C and D+ whistles.

Oh no. Well, I’m glad I ordered when I did then. :smiley: At $265, the D+ whistle is still a great bargain. It’s worth much more.

for many I can only find 1 foot pieces and I like to make each whistle from a single piece so the grain matches.

BTW, is it possible to make a D+ from two 1-foot blackwood pieces? I’ve been told that the grain in blackwood is almost invisible.

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[quote="headwizer
BTW, is it possible to make a D+ from two 1-foot blackwood pieces? I’ve been told that the grain in blackwood is almost invisible.[/quote]


It is a possibility-- some blackwood is very black and the grain is hard to see. Other pieces are much more on the brown or dark grey side and the grain is visible.
Another option is a hybrid: black acetal (generic for Delrin) head with wooden body. Depending on the wood, this can be very attractive.

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Ok, here are the pics:

My three Busman whistles: Birds Eye D, Delrin D+ and Tiger Maple D+

The headjoints showing the new slide on the D+s

The fipples of a D and D+, showing new windway of D+

Carry cases for the whistles: My whistles are often stowed in my knapsack or backpack. The felt pouches alone do not protect the whistles enough for such transport. For the D whistle, I put the whistle in its pouch and put the whole thing in a plastic pencil case I purchased at Walgreens for 50 cents.

The D+ whistles were more difficult to find a case for. It was too big for a pencil case. Wood cases were too heavy and expensive. Plastic fishing tackle boxes were either too big or too small. Instead, I found a great case at the supermarket. It is a Lays Stax potato chip tube. Unlike the Pringles cans, the Stax can is plastic not cardboard. Just long enough for the D+, the Stax tube was designed to protect the fragile chips from being damaged in transit. There’s enough room for both D+ whistles and pouches. Best of all, it cost me $1. All I had to do was eat the chips, wash it and remove the label and glue residue.

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Thanks for the thoughtful review. This new C natural concept is very interesting. You have some very fine whistles there indeed!

I did get a Birdseye in C from Paul. His woodworking is fantastic! Mine is a little lighter but the figure is outstanding like yours. I continue to “season” it by playing it a little more each day. It sings with a beautiful voice. I did, however, choose to fit brass fittings and it compliments the maple very well.

I really enjoy playing the whistles, but the beauty of his woods and handwork are also just fantastic! I was so pleased I am planning another Birdseye in D even though I have a wonderful D in Kingswood. The beauty of the woods take it from just a musical instrument to a treasured collector’s item.
Kind of the thing I would not mind displaying next to my Grandfathers Howard gold pocket watch which is a very precious antique.