I’ve owned several Susato’s and I’ve never liked them. I’ve appreciated their better points, but just could not warm to them. The ones I bought were both in D, and both bought singly.
Two friends each had D Susatos, but they were purchased as part of a package deal. Each sounded better than any I had ever owned. In fact I swapped a Syn for one the other day (I have another Syn). I like this Susato a lot. Responsive, loud, very in tune, not too screechy. What’s going on here? Could it be…
A: The fact that I now wear earplugs when practicing
B: The fact that I’m now a better player
C: “Far away hills are greener”
or
D: The Susato’s that are part of a multi-key package deal are better.
There is one more possibility. My “whistle values” have changed. The tone may mean less to me now that at first, and volume and being in tune mean more now that I play in a group.
I played one for the first time not long ago and liked it a lot. In fact I just now ordered a soprano D (by itself) from The Whistleshop. I hope it’s a good one.
Perhaps it is time to point out that practically every Susato may be turned into a whistle that is not only bearable but good by a simple blade transplant.
I bought my Susato as part of a set, although I never seem to use much but the D – played it for years in gigs, sessions, etc. and always liked it quite a lot. I do think you have to keep a close ear on it, though, esp. in groups…the different timbre and, of course, legendary volume can quickly turn it into a weapon of sesh destruction if you’re not careful.
Thanks for the link Bloomfield. I had seen this tweak mentioned but not the details. It sounds like it might be the way to cure the sound of the Susato. Of course many think the sound is just fine.
Well I really like my susatos - bought as a set (3) but I generally only use the D. Just as well really since there’s only one mouthpiece to interchange between them - not that I did ever try to play all three at once I played the Bflat one for a Breton piece - once!
I have a little susato tweak that has worked out alright for me. Even get rid of a lot of the recorder sound. I made tiny little shims the size of matchsticks to put on either side of the windway using black polyclay. I think blue tac would work. Reduced the size of the window my nearly half. I wound up having to use less than half the amount of air, less than half the volume, and a dry, yet still pretty tone. Individual results may vary. Void where prohibited.
Try this! The blue tack is right there in the drawer! Muzzle that cursed beast!
My first whistle purchase was a Susato C,D,Eb set. Couldn’t play the danged things in the second octave at all. Got real frustrated and thought about taking up the accordian.
I then bought some Jerry-tweaked whistles (Generation D, Sweetone D, Shaw D) and could play them right out of the box. After working with them for a few months I moved onto Burke aluminum sessions and really started to get the hang of playing.
Recently I had to play outdoors in the cold and didn’t want to risk my beautiful Burke’s, so I picked up the Susato’s to give them a try. Amazingly I can now play them well into the second octave and sound good! They still sound a bit recordery for my taste, but now that I’ve developed some breath control I don’t squeak, squawk or blast the second octave.
So, the problems I had with the Susato’s were my own doing and not the whistle’s. I’d be careful about recommending them for a newbie, but as a second or third set of whistles for loud sessions they work well for me.
My first whistles were Susatos (still have 'em): D, C, Bb. Every once in a while I dig them out and play them. Other than their piercing volume, I like the pure tone.
I played the Bflat one for a Breton piece - once!