I have a Clarke D original whistle, and am thinking of upgrading. The Clarke has been good, but is very breathy, and transitioning to the upper octaves is not always very smooth.
What’s a good medium-priced whistle? I’d like to stay with the D whistle. Should I get a tunable whistle, or does it make a big difference? Yes, I’m new at this!
I’ve heard the Chieftain Pennywhistle in D being played–very nice sound! I haven’t heard how anything else sounds.
I’d be willing to spend up to $150, and prefer metal over plastic, if possible including the mouthpiece.
Most metal D whistles are under your $150 limit. You can listen to different whistles at http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/
However, bear in mind that if a clip sounds too good, it may have been electronically enhanced.
-Sindt’s are liked by many but you’d have a long wait and they don’t do well with c-naturals.
-I’d go for an Overton rather than Chieftan
However, you might try an Oak D for $10 and see what you think…
If you like it, in general, then spend another $50 on one of Gary H’s retro-heads to top your Oak body with and I bet you’ll be quite happy. Neither the stock Oak head nor Gary’s is metal, but they have a very metal sound.
Thanks for the great feedback! How do I contact Gary H. to ask about his retro head?
I’ve heard that Generations are not consistent–is that the case?
What about the "Sweetheart Wood Whistle, in “D”
Made by Ralph Sweet. Two piece, tunable. " ? They have it on the Sound of the Sea website. It says that it’s quieter than most. Would be nice for those upper notes!
Got to support my favorite maker: Elfsong Whistles are very good in my own opinion (plus you get a very slick color job) I personally like the heft. And the pure, round sound you get really drew me to this whistle. Its now my main preformance whistle, and its a favorite among the non-whistlers of the band I play with.
But, what kind of sound are you after? the breathy softness like your clarke? the pure sweet sounds of an elfsong (or burke I guess)? the traditional roughness of a (good) generation?
Yes, you should get a tuning slide.
Another thought: I was hearing when I first joined that Dixon made a good quality middle-of-the-roader, has this changed?
I second the Elfsong recommendation, particularly if you are looking for a sweet, rich tone in a whistle that isn’t terribly loud (they’re loud enough for solo or light session work, but you wouldn’t want one for a big session). They’re beautifully crafted whistles…a real joy to play and to hear…and the second octave is as easy as breathing.
The sound you want is paramount to making a decision. My favorite whistle may not be yours. Might be worth getting a few names, and then doing a board search for “reviews” (such as “Burke review” or “Elfsong review”) to get a feel for which of the many nice instruments in this price range will best meet your expectations.
If a lot of volume is not a concern get a Hoover. They come in a couple of bore sizes, but Mack does custom orders as well (he did for me) well under your $150 limit. In fact, you could get two or three whistles for that. The Elfsong has a similar reputation, though I’ve not played one myself.
If you want a little more volume, though, a Hoover or Elf may not be the way to go. you might want a Burke in that case. I just ordered one myself because I wanted a little more volume for playing in group settings.
Something I’ve found in my latest attack of WhOA is that it helps to consider the environment you’ll be playing your whistle in (it will also assist those you ask for advice). Are you in a thin-walled condominium when you play, or the middle of 12 semi-intoxicated patrons at your local pub? The point is that this can be an important factor in making your decision.
Hope this helps,
Micah
P.S. - Don’t get rid of that Clarke. I have several nicer whistles, but there are still some days that only my Clarke is suited for.
I’m gonna have to say it again… Water Weasel, at US$70 an incredible value. Tunable, reasonably loud but can also play soft, low breath requirements, and certified at 400PSI!
Having both Elfsongs and Hoovers (Whitecaps), I’d have to say that, volume-wise, they are very similar. They have very different sounds, and I’m not quite sure how to describe the difference, but I like them both very much (and I don’t think you could go wrong with either, unless you’re looking for a loud or very chiff-y whistle).
i too have owned both hoover and elfsong. for beauty, the elfsong is awesome. for sound, my vote goes to the hoover. however, just to make matters fun for you, i also recommend a reyburn lb. i keep coming back to it and have found it to be very expressive. bottom line is you can’t really make a bad choice. we are blessed with quality craftspeople who produce wonderful products! get them all!
Well, although you’re getting a lot of votes from people for their own choice of whistle, only some of the posts give you comparative information. Let me supply what I can.
In your price range I play D whistles by Overton, Elfsong, Sindt and Burke. There’s nothing cheaper that I could recommend ahead of these although Syns are very good value and worth considering. I also play a Copeland and several wooden high D whistles but they are a bit pricey.
If you want a pure whistle and, for all round playability, nothing in this price range touches a Burke. If you aren’t sure quite what you want, again you can’t go wrong with a Burke. For a reliable whistle with a traditional ‘good Generation’ sound the Sindt is what you want. For a whistle with very rich and complex overtones, an Overton would be your best choice. They sometimes need to be lent into but, if that’s a problem, ask Colin Goldie to make you an easy blower. If you are buying an Overton new, ring Colin anyway.
I’m reducing my whistle collection and have a Water Weasel Eflat, D, C set that I’ll sell for $100 + shipping. I haven’t advertised it before but this seemed like a good time to mention it here on the forum. It’s been my back-up, take everywhere set, but I’ve got entirely too many higher end whistles and something has to go. These are good whistles. Email or PM me if interested.
Thanks for the great feedback, everyone. Lots of choices, though the Burke seems to stand out as the favorite. Would you suggest the Brass Narrow Bore D, or the regular bore D? I know that the narrow bore is quieter, but not sure if that affects the overall sound quality in a negative way (other than being quieter, of course). Is the sound thinner?
Anyhow, I also realize that the Clarke D is still a fine whistle, and that I probably need to work on playing those high notes in a different way, plus not play in a room with no carpeting, etc. My ear drums are just now returning to normal after playing those high notes in the second octave–
The second octave is about the same on the two whistles. IMO the first octave sounds rounder and fuller on the regular bore. The third octave is slightly easier and quieter on the narrow bore.
