So, I’ve been practicing on my Generation D now for a couple of months, and it seams like I just can’t get rid of that squealing and annoying tone it produces.
First I thought it was me (or maby it still is? ), and ofcourse when I first started out, the high octave took some time to master. But when I listen to recordings of myselfe playing, I have noticed that my whistle doesn’t sound half as clean and nice as the Tweaked Generations you can listen to at www.tinwhistletunes.com.
Even the low register does not sound absolutely clean either.
I have tried to controll my breathing techniqe, tried to blow just a bit softer, but nothing seams to work.
Now, the sound is not TERRIBLE, though I simply cant get it to sound as clean as I think it should be.
I have heard that many Generations has a tendensy to be a bit “lousy” when comming from factory, and that they often has to be tweaked.
Though, I have now ordered a Clark, and I hope that will sound better.
I would say the exact opposite…and that the Clarke will be better. You should try tweaking the Generation, though. My guess is that it’s a piece of junk as it is, and so no harm done if you ruin it.
Just make sure you wait until the Clarke arives before you operate. If the Clarke sounds just as bad, at least part of the problem may be with you, and there would still be a chance that the Generation isn’t terrible (a small chance).
Actually I think most of the problem is with the Gen-whistle itselfe. Some notes can be played clean, but many notes is far from good.
The C natural is impossible to play with clean tone. The note sounds mellow and almost scratchy.
Though, as I said, I hope the Clarke will solve the problem.
I went from a Walton that I bought over the internet, which is very close to a Gen, that was out of tune and had “noise” issues and after about 100 man hours of research I switch to a Freeman Shaw D and my life got so much easier. IMO it’s just like most things, you collect research from industry professionals on what is a good instrument to start on, something in tune and “playable” for as little money as possible to start and work from there. Is the Generation really consistently a good whistle, I can’t say as I’ve never owned one but from my research over the years many well established players who own multiple pieces say they are inconsistent when purchased straight from the factory. They are machine made and there is NO ONE, to my knowledge in the manufacturing process that “tests” the whistle for voice, intonation and playability. My council to any new player of whistles or any instrument is to ensure that tet instrument has been “overlooked” by a professional for the minimum requirements of a “playable” instrument.
If you know how to test a whistle and you have the option to try it before buying then its easy but few who start really have a clue and in this is where a lot of unnecessary frustration is experienced. If you want to play Gen’s I’d just get one from Jerry Freeman or someone who retails his work, he is a renowned professional and for the extra few dollars you will end up with a “guaranteed” playable piece…
The humbleGeneration flageolet is forever a topic of speculation. FOr instance, I’ve just spent the last week with a recent prominent Irish whistle artist’s CD on loop-play - the instruments being played are mostly Gens and although I can hear some of the characteristic “weaknesses” in the whistles, it is totally not apparent unless I hunt for them.
As WTA suggests, there are other sounding instruments that can be chosen, it depends on what you’re playing and at what level you are playing.
I would not throw the Gen away, but it sounds like you need to explore a bit. The Megs or Sweetones are a very good next one to try - being conical they intone differently. There are very few whistles cheap or expensive that intone to a tuner, most need to be “Puffed” into tune using breath control. Same whith flutes, oboes, trumpets etc. With the mastery of one or other octave, they will all have their own challenge - all part of the fun
Got the Clarke today. Much better and softer tone, a bit lower volume (wich is good cause the high notes are killing me), all notes in tune unlike to the Generation. Though, it aquires twice as much air. But that is a positive thing, cause now i have time to get use to it before I purchase a Low D (though my suspission is that the Low D’s aquires even more, right? ).
Though I still have some problems with getting the C natural sound good. Sometimes it sounds ok, but most often it sounds weaker. Guess maby being extra gentle when executing the note should do the trick.
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