I was given a D some four years ago and NEVER played it as I thought the second octave unbearably ugly and loud. Recently however I stuck a blob of blue tack in the windway [in the ‘window’]narrowing it by about 1 mm. The susato has become quieter and the octaves are very well balanced after this operation. I still find the tone lacking in character but it works actually fine, I even play it every now and again since.
I have two Dublins (high D, low D) and two Kildares (A, Bb-C-D set). Given a choice today, I’d not buy either. The Dublins were bought because they were cheap. For the price, they were no bargain. I bought the A and the set was thrown in on a private purchase I made of a set of Water Weasels.
Were I spending my own money on a cheap whistle now, it’d be a Dixon (plastic) or Acorn (metal). In my honest opinion, even a Generation sounds better in my hands than the cheap Susatos (can’t comment on the newer VSBs).
The reasons I keep my set of Susatos around are 1) They come in handy for their sheer volume playing along with congregational singing; and 2) they work well in combination with recorders. One solo I use in church has a middle verse in Eb - nasty to play on an alto recorder (in F), but lays in nicely on an Eb Susato. It’s recorder-like tone makes a great transition between the alto and the sopranino…
i just recently purchased a susato high d and i love it! it is my favourite whistle now. you can’t go wrong. i even tried the susato low d with the angled neck and i thought that sounded fabulous as well.
Dublin v. Kildare?
My Kildare C seems less likely to squeak than my Dublin C
My Dublin VSB D (skinny) seems more likely to squeak than my Kildare RB D (three body one head set) and it is almost too quiet for group play, but it doesn’t hurt my ears.
The material in the Dublin ivory feels like pvc, but the black Dublins feel like ABS.
I don’t want to buy any more pvc whistles because I am learning more about persistent organic pollutants. I am thinking about getting a Burke composite for my next nonmetal whistle.
I agree that all the Susato people are very professional to deal with. All my Susatos get played.
Lisa
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-06-08 19:40 ]
Redwolf:
Gonzo914 is correct:the Susato whistles do get their name from the the Flemish composer Tielman Susato. I pronounce Susato the way you do and have never heard it pronounced differently.
I am a fairly new whistler, having picked up a cheapie Feadog at a souvenir shop at a theme park and then finding that I enjoyed learning it. But I found the Feadog to be very hard to get good tone with any notes above the second octave E and grew frustrated. So I bought a Kildare VSB, based on the recommendation elsewhere on this site, and I love it. I can easily play to the G and often the A and I suppose the rest is just my lack of technique. But since I’ve gotten it two days ago I can’t put it down. It sounds really nice to me.
BTW, there is a file in the Clips file where someone plays the same song on a Sausato Small bore versus a Very Small bore. I think the VSB sounds a little better.
On 2002-06-08 21:36, FJohnSharp wrote:
BTW, there is a file in the Clips file where someone plays the same song on a Sausato Small bore versus a Very Small bore. I think the VSB sounds a little better.
Thanks for mentioning my comparison clip, I hope it proves useful in this debate.
I might as well jump in the fray…
I have a two piece Susato Low D that I got From my aged mother for Christmas. I have only been playing low whistle since then. I have founf that it took a while to get a decent sound out of it, but now it is quite easy to play. I don’t think it sounds overly load atall. When the whistle is all the way in it is tuned to A=450, you have to pull it half way out to get it in standard tuning. It is the same tuning as my 1830 flute…
I recently purchased a two piece high D Susato and love it! It is really mellower then my Oak that I love dearly. 
jon
But I found the Feadog to be very hard to get good tone with any notes above the second octave E and grew frustrated.
I have the same problem with my Feadóg. I don’t think it’s just my abysmal lack of skill, since my (tweaked) Acorn has a very sweet second octave (but an abominably weak D and E in the first octave). Anyhow, the brown truck should arrive with my VSB on Tuesday, and I’m hoping for two good octaves.
On 2002-06-08 01:49, Redwolf wrote:
Here’s a related question: Does anyone know the origin of the name “Susato”?
I spoke to George (Kelicheck) last year and he told me that the USA in sUSAto is purely a patriotric gesture, emphasising his country of ‘adoption’ and how proud he was of it. I think he did tell me about the S,T & O, but it’s gone from my memory.
Steve
On 2002-06-09 00:26, Ridseard wrote:
my (tweaked) Acorn has a very sweet second octave (but an abominably weak D and E in the first octave).
I should mention that on my VSB, I was surprised at how hard it is so get good tone on the first D compared to the Feadog. You really have to nail the breath just right and the volume is fairly soft. The E is a little easier and the rest are a dream. But that’s part of learning.
About the VSB/SB thing, I recently posted a little mini-review right here.
Generally I find it difficult to mix playing the Susatos with other whistles, like Gens or Feadogs, because of their stablizing-sixth-finger pecularities and because they are comparatively finnicky when it comes to quick fingering. It’s a problem I notice more as my fingers are getting quicker, obviously, and I don’t want to make them my primary whistles.
My expierience was with a Susato Kildare D…
It gave me the inpression that it took a large amount of air to play, but then I figured out that the guy who owns it doesn’t wash it out or anything…bleh!
-Ross
Oh, Tilman Susato was a 16th century composer. If you get the Tune Book 2 from Kelischek, there are a couple of his pieces in there. I think he was French.
I always thought that was why they were Susato whistles. Funny thing is how many people are surprised that they are made in the USA. They hear the name and think it is Japanese like a Yamaha recorder or the Suzuki method of learning violin.
-Patrick
I think T. Susato was from Flanders, which means that these whistles may be named after someone who is Phlegmish.
Note: The above statement is intended as a linguistic pun only and is not, in any way, to be construed as commentary, either positive or negative, on Susato whistles or the good people of present day Flanders.
No phlegm was harmed in the production of this post.
ROFL, Gonzo. 