I’m looking to acquire another Susato* to my collection and B-flat felt like the natural choice.
The dilemma: There are two different B-flats available. The S-Series and M-Series. I know their heads have sweet spots and was wondering which one would be the best between the two series.
I already have a C and D in the S-Series. If there’s not any major difference between the two, I would take the S-Series since I could share the head (essentially get it for half priced )
*disclaimer: I know about the love-hate relationship of Susatos here and I don’t want this thread to go in ‘that’ direction.
I can only speak of the S-bore, which I have. I think the sweet spot in the S series is the C whistle (a remarkably nice whistle by any standard, Susato fan or not). But I quite like the Bb, too. It’s a bit on the quiet side, I’d say comparable to a Gen Bb, and pretty sweet. It can actually be pushed to its limit even on top without breaking eardrums, and is very well behaved.
I guess the M-bore would be more robust for sessions, and similar to the Susato A. But Bb tends to be more for personal playing. And if you’ve already got the S head, I think the Bb body for half the whistle price is a very good “value proposition”.
I’ve got the Bflat S Series - a nifty one I picked up in Kenmare with a white fipple inserted in the usual black head joint; it’s one of my favorites of any whistle - moderate volume, responsive, well balanced.
I also have an old style A in the S series when they made them with a head that had extra ring. Essentially this head would flatten any S series body by 1/2 step meaning that this was on a body that actually plays in Bb when you put a regular head on it.
The M series beats this set up by a mile. Truly a great solo instrument. Or if you have lots of opportunities to play in Bb with a group this would be a formidible tool.
Say, Philo, I have one of those heads, too! With the white fipple block in a black head. I think they were sold for only a short time. I forget the backstory Mike K. told me - a supplier glitch, or some such thing. It’s my “atomic” Susato head - tight and crisp and loud. With my 2 other S heads - one fairly open and mellow, the other kind of “fuzzy” - I’ve got an interesting palette of Susato tones to chose from.
I have an S and an M (why does this sound slightly weird?). Anyway, as you might expect the S is soft and the M is loud. But the M is the more interesting. It gets a big powerful sound almost like a Boehm flute. It takes alot of air, especially in the upper second octave, but is still pretty playable. I like to play jazz tunes on it because of its’ power and the fact that Bb whistle makes playing in keys such as Bb, Eb, and Ab (common in jazz) easier.
The three really nice whistles in the S series are the Db, C and B and I’d recommend them as the best of the Susato whistles, along with the Eb VSB. I have the S series Bb and A but their tone is softer and lacks the bite of the Db, C and B. I can’t comment on the M bore whistles above G as I don’t have any.
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