So I have come to the realization that my whistle collection is expanding at an increasingly alarming rate, and am looking at getting just one more before I take a break from buying, at least until I can play a bit better.
I have just been looking for one that I really like, not knowing the major differences anyway
I was just hoping someone would like to share their opinions with me, I am looking at getting a susato, but the website listās something like 9 different seriesā, any ideas which one(s) are good? By good I mean, relatively minimal with requirements for breath (I am āin the processā of quitting smoking, which the whistle has been a great assistance to me for, but like I said I am āin the processā) also something in the middle of the road area when it comes to volume, but volume isnāt a major factor, well now that I think about it, there arenāt really any major factors, so I guess
What is your favorite series / key of susato?
Itās been a longā¦ very long day, sorry if the post is a bit %&@!
What keys?
Iām having a great time with my SB Dublin D (for about a year). Itās not an air-hog, has great projection, but is untunable. Iāve heard good things about the VSB Kildare, but you better wait for the real Susato officianados to chime in.
For perspective, I usually play Generations, a Mellow Dog, David OāBriens, and a new Victoria maker (C and low D).
BTW, Iām also quitting a pack a day; get a low whistle as a reward!
I have a number of Susatos. The V series (originally referred to as VSB) has a smaller size bore than the S series. I have a V series Kildare in D which I like quite a lot. It has less volume than the S series, but I wouldnāt consider it a āquietā whistle. I would consider the V series D middle of the road in terms of volume, others might disagree; I think the question of volume is sometimes subjective. Anyway, get the Kildare if you think you might want whistles in additional keys later on, since the bodies are interchangeable. Of course, the Kildare is also tuneable, and that increases your flexibility in playing with other musicians. Iāve never played the Dublin series; I would expect them to be similar and much cheaper, just not tuneable. Susatos have excellent intonation, as good as any whistle out there.
I have most of the Susato high whistles but not the Db or the F yet. For me Susato whistles were very useful as I played for some years in a church where the music was āloudā. Having reliable loudish whistles in lots of keys was great.
Favorites of mine now are the S series B and C whistles. Most of my Susatos are the tuneable ones but that is not such a big deal as there is only a very small margin for tuning.
Outside of my loud church band environement the D whistles are rarely played as they are not to my ear the best Susato whistle keys. The VSB sound is too thin for me and I donāt like the S series in the upper part of the 2nd octave.
I have a susato dublin v series (VSB) soprano D. Itās not tuneable, but thatās not a problem where Iām located.
I really enjoy playing it, it has good volume and itās in tune. The material seems quite durable and it doesnāt clog. The shape of the fipple(beak) is unlike anything else Iād tried, itās pretty short and stubby. I wouldnāt hesistate to purchase it all over again.
I have also been doing, what seems to be, more buying lately than playing. Itās time to purchase just one more and then devote myself to listening and practice.
Well, it ultimately depends on what key whistle you want. I would suggest getting a Kildare (tuneable) ā theyāre not that much more expensive and it makes it easier when playing with others.
If youāre thinking about getting a high D, you might want to get the āVā series whistle (Very small bore) ā it has a sweeter sound, a little thinner than the āSā (small bore) series and has a lot less back pressure and requires less air. However, that being said, I think the āSā series D whistle has the better sound, especially in the lower register.
Only a few whistles come in one choice or the other I believe. You can get a Bb in an S series or M (medium bore) series ā I really like the S for that one. And the D comes in a couple series. But Iām not sure if anything else does.
This thread really intrigues me !!! Like most of us , Iāve heard some really bad things about Susato whistles and I hadnāt purchased one , until recently. I own a lot of high-end whistles but , my most recent purchase included a Susato A. I was a bit astounded at the quality of the sound that came out of that whistle. It was truly a lovely whistle !!
So , like Eddie , Iām planning on buying more Susatos. My question is the same as his. Come clean !! What are your favorite models and keys for this line of whistles ? Inquiring minds want to know !! lol Have a great day . my friends and enjoy the beauty that comes from within yourselves.
SB high D Kildare model - it has a nice solid sound, gorgeous sounding whistle, able to withstand a bit of breath pushing that a lot of whistles Iāve played canāt do (others just overblow)
VSB high D Kildare model - sweeter sound, a little weaker in the low register, but the high register is just beautifully sweet; I like this one better for slower tunes and some of the tunes that stay in the high register, plus itās just nice to occasionally have a different sound that my usual whistle (usual = the SB high D)
SB Bb Kildare model- I havenāt tried the M Bb whistle, but I adore this one; I just wish I had more use for it!
M A Kildare model - lovely husky tone, great for tunes in D that stick below the D, also great for accompanying singers in D and A
I also have a SB C Dublin model (need a Kildare for this ā I donāt like the Dublin that much), VSB E Dublin model (sweet sound like the VSB D, but I donāt like its not being tuneable), M G Dublin model (my first Susato ā much like the M A model), and a W D Dublin model (still trying to get the hang of that one ā the low D stretch is tough for me!).
I think thatās all the Susatos for the moment. Now I just need to get the rest so I can have a complete set of Kildare models!
I have both a C and D Dublin SBs wich I like very much. Tuning is bang on A=440Hz throughout both octaves on both, so unless you play with someone who is out of āconcert pitchā tuning, non-tunable isnāt an issue. When I got them, I had the chance to try the Kildares and Dublins side by side (I bought both in two different instances and each time, chose the Dublin over the Kildare), and found the Dublins to be easier to play and more āstableā for some reason. Hard to describe, but if you can, Iād recommend you try both as there is in my opinion a difference between the two in terms of playability. Would I recommend Susatoā¦ most definitely.
Hereās a recording of my Susato Low D - (One-piece Dublin āL seriesā) which I made earlier today - it might help you get the hang of the sound it produces. (I try to record as naturally as possible - depends on my mics)
I find that if I donāt play it with the thumbrests on, it soon gets slippery and just impossible to hold in my hands - maybe thatās my personal problem who knowsā¦
Getting to a the Dā or Eā in the 2nd octave is sometimes problematic from certain lower or higher notes - youāll have to get a hang of the breathing to make it sound right.
I kinda like its deep chiffy sound, which can somtimes remind of middle eastern woodwinds - depends on the way one plays.
