Is hole size an issue with anyone?My friend has an older Overton sop D with big holes and wonder if this an added factor to its unique sound and feel.As an experiment I re-tuned my D Gen in a way that increases the diameter of every hole with G and E almost doubleing the original size and I realy like this new feel and there is a little more depth in the tone.The feel of oversized finger holes with more air covering a larger surface area of ones finger is I reckon more sensual and sluring G takes on a new dimension.Low whistles with big holes can be difficult to handle for some of us but a soprano is somehow easy as hand size is of lesser importance.Cheap whistles such as Waltons mellow D with its larger bore have larger holes that can be even further enlarged (I’ve done it)and still have improved tuning.What do you like…small or large holes?Opinions please on your own whistle would be interesting. 
Mike
I’m a large hole guy myself. Large holes sound a lot better when you play ornaments like cuts, rolls and cranns. They come out clearer and more percussive.
I used to be a large hole guy but then I started playing my tweaked Feadogs (a tweaked Walton Little Black fipple on a Feadog barrel). Some of the Feadog holes are smaller than even Generations but it is more in tune and does a better OXXOOOO C natural than any other cheap whistle.
Joe
I have very small fingers, so I have a bit of an advantage over many whistlers when it comes to playing soprano whistles.
That being said, I still prefer larger holes on soprano whistles because of the easier half-hole fingering.
I quite dislike conical whistles for that very reason… the first couple of holes are always considerably smaller than on a typical cylindrical whistle.
I will also agree that the larger holes do have quite an impact on the overall sound of the whistle.
I have to admit liking the feel of a medium-sized finger hole myself. My favourite whistle for the tactile sensation is my Silkstone PVC Bb, as the holes are a nice size and so smooth. I think, though, that with everyone’s differing hand sizes that people’s tastes would certainly vary. I find that playing Bb and even A and G whistles seem to provide my hands with that “at home” feeling.
Jef
I have an older Chieftan high D which has a barrel the size of a normal Bb or A, and huuuge holes. The only one like it I’ve seen. It requires a lot of air but the volume is ear splitting when you push it. The loudest whistle I’ve heard, rivaling my piccolos. Perhaps Phil could explain if the hole size and/or diameter has a significant effect on volume.
Bruce
[ This Message was edited by: BruceW on 2001-10-12 17:48 ]
I wonder if companys like Generation and Clarke designed their whistles to be more easily played with finger tips as opposed to the piper grip, which to my mind works well on big holes, and other manufacturers simply followed suit…seems to me there is a BIG HOLE in the market for some big holed soprano whistles going by your opinions so far. Mike
Holey molely Buce!Imagine a low D made in the same proportion as your big soprano,although come to think of it,those old Overtons did have gigantic holes and no doubt Phil Hardy was involved in making them.How does your Chieftan sound apart from loud? Cheers, Mike
Big holes are terrific. They are one of the main reasons I love my Weasels. Nice, open sound, and very easy to half hole and slur-- I like to play all sorts of tunes in additional to Celt Trad, and often need notes which are not really on the whistle…
In 1847,Theobald Boehm redesigned the concert flute for greater power and sonority. One major factor in this new design was much larger toneholes.
If a tonehole is moved away from the voicing the tone flattens,it must be increased in diameter (sharpened) to compensate this flat pitch. The drawback is that more wind is needed to maintain constant pitch and fewer harmonics are present(reedy tone)in the color.
Cylindrical bore,large toneholes and voicing equal Greater volume and pure tone but more wind needed. Pitch shift flaws in the upper modes but greater range(more modes available).
Conoidal bore,small toneholes and voicing equal decreased volume and reedy tone(harmonics)but less wind needed. Better pitch matching in the 1st and 2nd mode but severely limiting all other modes(octaves).
For those of you interested in woodwind acoustics on this subject(acoustic impedance)…
Acoustic](http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/z.html%22%3EAcoustic) Impedance
Final word: Vive la difference! Unlimited combinations for the designer are unlimited voices for the player!Yes?
Thomas Hastay.
[ This Message was edited by: Thomas-Hastay on 2001-10-13 14:37 ]