Has anyone heard anything about this whistle? It’s on the Song of the Sea website. It says "Sweetheart Wood Whistle, in “D” Made by Ralph Sweet. Two piece, tunable. " It lists for $135.
I wouldn’t necessarily mind wood, though I imagine it could be more affected by temperature and humidity. It’s supposed to be much quieter-says that you can even play 3rd octave notes without eardrum damage.
The only thing is whether is could be used satisfactorily for Irish Traditional music, since that’s my real interest in terms of what I play.
I have one and it is extremely loud and the top hand octave notes need a ton of pressure to keep the cuts/rolls from sounding very strange. I will sell you mine for half that price, shipping and handling included.
There are different versions of Sweethearts. I’ve played the older version, but the newer laminate version is supposed to be vastly superior in playing ability and because laminate doesnt need the care that ‘real’ wood does, but I can’t speak to that because I’ve never played it. Do a search for laminate Sweetheart, and you’ll get lots of results.
I have one in blackwood with a silver ferrule, from the discontinued Kilhoury line, which was unique because you could get it with one (G#) or four keys.
It is very loud, with a very pure tone, and a very strong, warm, bell note.
It has big holes allowing easy, clear half-fingerings, but plays quite well the standard cross-fingerings.
The higher A and B do require some push, but Ralph Sweet offered to modify it at no charge. He says he alters the windway in the manner learnt with the new, conical bore, “Professional” line.
I like the Sweetheart mouthpiece, with its roof made of wood and not a metal tube like most other American wood whistles.
The only other whistles with an all-wood windway I know of are not American: the Rose (the metal tip is only a ferrule around the wood, make it slimmer to avoid the “recorder-like” tulip shape), Grinters (supposing his high whistles are built like the low ones), Bleazey and Swayne.
And Yvon Le Coant, of course
I’ve seen several Sweet whistles and flutes over the years, and they seem to vary from instrument to instrument. The good ones are quite nice indeed. If you have return privileges from Song of the Sea, it is worth considering. Some dealers will send you several instruments at a time so you can pick and choose and then send back the ones you don’t want. They bill them all to your credit card, then credit you back for the returned ones. Ask about that option.
I have the old style Sweetheart in blackwood, and the new ‘pro’ style in rosewood, and there is nothing quiet about either.
I think very highly of the new model, and find it a reliable, fairly easy blower all the way up into the second octave, but it is loud. I like the slight flare of the headjoint, and have played it in session numerous times and had other musicians play it with no silly comments. The old style was not pleasant on the high A and B, and Ralph took and modified it until I was happy, but the weight and balance of it isn’t to my liking.
Yesterday I spent the day playing my Grinter and Sweetheart ‘pro’, and preferred the Sweetheart in all aspects.
I also have one of the old Sweets in some kind of wood i don’t remember now. It has a very good sound for playing loud. Very nice in a loud session, but not something i’d play at home very often.
I also have one of the old Sweets in some kind of wood i don’t remember now. It has a very good sound for playing loud. Very nice in a loud session, but not something i’d play at home very often.
If it’s the same one you got from me, it’s walnut.
Is fillbert spelled the wrong way? See, I’m not that intelligent.
I don’t want the whistle back, it’s like…waaaay too loud and I was always loosing it’s head . I just tend to remember every single thing that ever happens and I remembered it was made of walnut.
I just want to borrow it for a few weeks! Honest. (And if you ever do sell it and don’t call me first, I’ll…)
And I have a low D for you, when are you going to claim it, Tygh?
Anyway: I’ve played both the old-style Sweethearts and the new Pro style. Ralph himself wasn’t happy with the old style, particularly the upper part of the upper octave: some were good, some weren’t and he couldn’t get the reliability he wanted.
The new Pro style, which I played in several proto types, is amazing. Very nice and a great bargain at the price. Plays beautifully, is suited well for Irish music, and is expressive. But it is on the loud side, not quite Susato SB, but not a Clare either.
Well, the search continues…at least I know not to buy it! Loud is good at the local pub or at the beach, but not at home. Thanks for the input, everybody.
I thought peanut, hazelnut, Fillbert…
