Came across this link on another Celtic group. Anyone know about these instruments? Sure are pretty!
How could we have missed them? How could they have missed us?? The whistling world is truly bigger than C&F…and I have been lulled into dreams of omniscience, now only to wake up…
Lisa
I’m a little concerned about the fipple woods available…isn’t purpleheart one of the toxic ones?
I know it definitely stains…two years ago I got a splinter of purpleheart in my left palm. The splinter was out in a few minutes but the purple stain is still there! 
Hmm, let’s see: A website offering whistles for sale (with electronic payment as the only option), but with no physical address listed, no photos, names or identifying description of the makers, and a warning that the e-mail link might not work. And these people are trying to drum up bulk sales (school programs etc.)
I say beware the serpent in the garden of evil…
Loren
P.S. Thanks to the person who wrote me about this site off-list, inspiring me to look closely at this thing (you know who you are, and you look Maaahvalous!)
Ever alert SherlockLoren! Thanks for the observation.
Philo
Well let’s hope I’m wrong. Let’s hope that these whistles are wonderful, the makers are honest, and perhaps they are simply a bit…unsophisticated in their web dealings.
OTH, until that’s been determined, I’d urge extreme caution.
Another thing that strikes me: I always worry when I see an instrument that appears to have more thought, time, and effort put into cosmetics than the actual working design, and that appears to be the case here. Now just where is it we’ve seen that before, seems a bit familiar…
Loren
Someone could email them and ask if they could borrow one to review.
avanutria,
Might “someone” be your middle name?
Nope 
Well, hm. I’ll shoot then an email and see what they say.
Edit - Okay, I emailed. If I get a response I will let you know.
[ This Message was edited by: avanutria on 2002-08-17 12:56 ]
I just sent them an email asking them a little about the company and pointing them to the chiff&fipple web site.
Let’s see how they respond…
Edit- Eeep..looks like yall beat me to it. Oh well, maybe they’ll be more likely to respond with all the interest.
-Drew
[ This Message was edited by: drewcifer on 2002-08-17 13:05 ]
Just looking at them makes me hope they are legit. The samples shown are as pretty as anything I’ve ever seen. It’d be nice if they play as good as they look. The one sort of jangly thing with me is that price has to be determined somehow, and that fancy engraving on a $90 whistle seems to say that they may have cut corners elsewhere. One comment, though. I’d question the possibility that they’re angling for bulk or school sales. At $90, even if they offered discounts, a school or retailer could buy a lot of Megs or Sweetones or Gens.
My other concern is the use of chrome-moly steel. I’d think that’d make for a rather heavy whistle, but I’m not a metallurgist and don’t even play one on TV, so that concern may be unwarranted.
On 2002-08-17 12:12, Loren wrote:
…and a warning that the e-mail link might not work…
Rereading the site, I think they are saying that the HTML command “Mailto” may not work for everyone and in that case to type the address into your message manually. This is a valid (if obscure) concern, as if you use a mail program not connected to your browser or if you are on a school computer (which typically locks out the automatically-compose-email function, at least it did in my high school) you would have to put it in by hand.
Ok, hang on a sec…I need to go get a big pillow and put it next to my chair. Ok. Got it. And here I go falling right off it!!! I AGREE WITH LOREN! 
Doesn’t it seem strange, that for whistles with such ‘intricate’ workmanship, and that are selling for $90, that NOBODY’S heard of them here before?? I’m just a wee bit leery…
Also, the look of the flute wasn’t what I’d call traditional at all, judging from the other metal flutes I’ve played. But it’s always hard to tell from thumbnail photos.
I’m gonna let someone else buy one first, before I run out to snatch up a matched set. Too good to be true?? Though, I agree the knotwork is really cool. Wonder how consistent it is from one tube to the next?? I think they could stand to loose the floral motifs though
B~
I think the knotwork sucks. I think that and the snake look like they did it with one of those cheap Radio Shack engravers…I like a slightly rough looking whistle that shows it is handmade, but I don’t like to pay for mediocre decoration. I’m not keeping my nasty comments to myself, this time, concealing it in opaque sarcasm. 
If somebody made one of these whistles for themselves as a hobby and self expression I would say cool, but somebody is making these whistles to profit and I say blech. Vent complete.
I think they could stand to loose the floral motifs though
Brian
I dunno 'bout that one - the floral motifs seem to do very well for hall with their glass flutes and piccolos.
And speaking of Hall, why can’t anyone get them to try a glass whistle? You’d think it’s be a pretty good market.
As an aside to Thom and Steve and any other multi-brand dealers here, have any of you been contacted by these folks with an eye towards handling their product?
Nothing salves a weary soul like a cheap whistle.
[ This Message was edited by: Chuck_Clark on 2002-08-17 13:43 ]
On 2002-08-17 13:34, ysgwd wrote:
I think the knotwork sucks. I think that and the snake look like they did it with one of those cheap Radio Shack engravers…I like a slightly rough looking whistle that shows it is handmade, but I don’t like to pay for mediocre decoration. I’m not keeping my nasty comments to myself, this time, concealing it in opaque sarcasm. >
OK, then, are we all agreed that we hate them before we get a chance to play their whistles? Just checking.
Ah my thinly disguised resistance to my own Whoa has been discovered…Hats off to you Blackhawk!
Lisa
On 2002-08-17 14:01, ysgwd wrote:
Ah my thinly disguised resistance to my own Whoa has been discovered…Hats off to you Blackhawk!
Lisa
I just commissioned a review and I’m hoping they’ll respond.
Loren’s right. It’s a bit weird.
Dale
I’m with Loren and Brian on this one. Looks too suspect for now. If we find out this maker is anywhere near Missouri,well then, hide your wallet and run, run, run! That other guy, John McSomethingorother used PayPal and marketed to schools.