Serpent Village Smithy Review

http://www.serpentmusic.com/villagesmithy.html

I’ve had my Village Smithy for a couple of weeks now in which that was basically the only whistle i played, so i think i can say some things about it now:

(1) Looks: What a beautiful whistle! I’ve been thinking a lot about how to describe it. The picture in the URL above doesn’t really do it justice. Originally i thought “this is the whistle Robocop plays”, but that’s not really true. Thinking of the serpent engraving in the back, now i say that this is the whistle that the Yakuza’s vat-cloned ninjas in cyberpunk novels play. The look is exactly halfway between the beautiful and the dangerous. This could be a whistle but could also equally well be a specialist weapon. Or something a kamikaze pilot might carry in the cockpit. Bill Whedon is an accomplished artist; this is a metal sculpture that happens to also make music.

(2) Durability/maintenance: Bill says he drives his pickup truck over these things regularly. I can confirm, this whistle will survive a collision with almost anything. And if you get it scratched, that will just add to the decor. I bought this mostly as a whistle i could throw in the bag and carry anywhere without worry, and that it is. I’m not sure about rust. I think i can see the beginnings of rust points inside mine, but this could be paranoia. Bill recommends using bore oil in the inside, except when he recommends not using it. :slight_smile: I never said it wasn’t a zen whistle… Anyway, rust is a possibility. The whistle seems to embrace moisture; i have trouble getting all the water out of it, even using the pipe cleaner that came with it. I like rubbing extra-virgin olive oil on the outside of mine, but then again, i’m weird.

(3) Sound: What about it? I sent a clip to Tony Higgins, and i’ll let you know if/when he puts it up in clips&snips. I had to work hard for this whistle. For some reason, it refused to give me a consistent sound for many days, until it suddenly started happening. Bill thinks it has to do with the angle of blowing, and i think i agree with him. Maybe a combination of angle and air pressure. This whistle takes more pressure than a Water Weasel but the pressure also has to be more controlled. Play it right, and it has a robust sound (not as loud as the Weasel, but good enough for playing in a small group or alone). Play it wrong, and it’s hiss land. No wonder it’s called Serpent! Bill says it’s actually a very easy whistle to play, so your mileage may vary. I’m glad i persevered with it, because i do like the sound. I’d say it’s a sexy sound, which goes well with slower tunes or slip jigs. It’s good for fast tunes too, of course, but the same way that the O’Brian Eb makes me want to play fast, this whistle makes me want to hold back and enjoy the tune.

(4) Tuning: Excellent. Every note spot on, including c (OXXOOO) and c# (all open).

(5) Ornamentation: Very responsive to taps, cuts, slides and finger vibrato.

(6) Clogging: See above about the whistle’s affinity for water. Clogging was not a problem during normal use. You may have to blow the condensation off every half hour or so, nothing out of the ordinary.

(7) Service: Excellent. Bill Whedon is a great guy.

I can’t help finishing with a quote from the Serpent Web site:

Impress your friends! Show 'em that you’re a Real Whistler, who can make Real Music with a piece of motorcycle tubing!

Thank you for posting that. I am still patiently (barely, mind you, but considering the the circumstances, yes) waiting for my two Serpents to arrive. A ‘G’ and and ‘A’.

Me too - I’m waiting for an ‘F’.

I think that Bill was a bit overwhelmed by the response to his generous offer - I certainly am not going to jog his elbow as he digs his way out. Especially as I made it harder for him by asking for both engraving and a satin finish. :smiling_imp:

I thought of a couple of things i failed to mention (tuning, clogging and ornamentation) and added them to my review.

The look is exactly halfway between the beautiful and the dangerous

Hmmmm. I like that!!! Could be carrying a couple of crystal people inside…an assassinating musical instrument indeed.

If Bill is still using a wooden fipple plug, it may explain why you had a hard time getting a good sound at first: the plug may have needed to absorb a bit of water and swell just a bit. Bill may have made and voiced the whistle, then some time elapsed before he shipped it, allowing the plug to shrink a little.
I agree with the part about Bill being a terrific guy.

No, this is a new model, that has a plug made of yellow metal polished like a mirror and lacquered.

I picked up my Anaconda whistle from the PO today. WOW, I am going to have to find the Bar room brawl thread and enter my vote for Serpent Whistles being the weapon of choice! Very nice first impression, will reserve all other comments until after a bit of viewing and messing with it. My G is right on its heels I hear too.

Yes, this one has the brass fipple plug as well.

The tune is posted.
Tony

I just have to respond to this thread. First off, all of you, thanks for the wonderful words. Glauber, the metal is brass, and it ain’t lacquered - it’s just real shiny. :smiley:

Rust: The VS will rust, but, like a motorcycle frame, it’s going to take long years of no care to do any real damage. Your oiling the outside probably makes it look cool, and heightens the contrast from where the blowtorch burned the metal. Put a couple drops of mineral oil on your little brown and red swab, and run it up and down the bore a couple times to get rid of visible rust, and to protect it a bit.

Oil: Use it if you wish. Most organic bore oils are hygroscopic to some extent, though, and will hold moisture. I’d avoid getting them into the windway. Do keep the coating thin (wipe on, wipe off).

Clogging: Put a teaspoon of Ivory Liquid in a half-gallon of water, and dunk the head and let it drip dry. When the clogs return, rinse it out with plain water, dry, and repeat the dunk.

Do not run over your Village Smithy with a Sherman Tank. That will void the warranty. Same thing for striking it with a 35-lb sledge hammer, or using it as a target for artillery practice.
cheers, :smiley:
serpent

I own a Village Smithy, which doesn’t have a wooden plug, and it’s a damned fine whistle, plus a great weapon in dire straits!!! :slight_smile: And both my Greyhounds have ran off with it, due to my negligence, with no visible damage!

~Larry

But, then, Larry, you’ve not fitted your greyhounds with the standard Village Smithy Destroying Tungsten Carbide Dentures!
:smiley:
serpent

Are they available from you? :slight_smile:

~Larry

Great. That’s all we need: dogs that are capable of catching a car - and tearing it apart once they catch it.

Serpent? Maybe you should reconsider this particular offering. Along with the Village Smithy Destroying Carbide Claw Extensions for cats. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Sorry for the stupid question, but what’s mineral oil? Are you talking about any kind of petrol-derived lubricant, or mineral spirits, or what name would it be sold under?

Thanks,

glauber

I am not sure exactly where they derive it from, but there are lots of grades of it from food grade to technical grades.

You can buy it at your local drug store. It is used for “intestinal lubrication.” I guess it could be used for other purposes as well.

Hi, Glauber. Mineral oil is commonly used in enemas :astonished: and as a massage aid, sometimes mixed with fragrances. You can get it at your local pharmacy. It’s quite inexpensive.
Cheers,
serpent :smiley:

Yow, that’s a scary thing to have around the house. I’d hate to bump into it in the dark and give myself an accidental enema! :astonished:

Needless to say, The Accidental Enemas would be a great name for a band!

Mine’s in the post (come on posties … fly, drive, run to get 'em here!) … but the second-best thing to having my sticky little mitts on on sexy new whistle hardware is reading your review (and all this thread.) Thanks, Glauber!

Accidental Enemas … whatever next …

Wait - I DIDN’T ask that. Doooon’t wanna know!