After a recent thread about tweaking Gen Bb whistles, I decided to try the Sweetone D head/Gen Bb tube mix, and I love the way it plays! Definitely a keeper. However, the tube needs to be shortened to be in tune, and I’ve searched as best I can, but I can’t find anything that tells me how to figure out EXACTLY how much to saw off. I want it to be accurate. I assume I need to measure from some part of the fipple to some part of the tube, but what parts?
About {----} is enough. Remember it’s the top end, not the bottom.
The best route would be to trim off a small amount, test, and remove more if necessary. Much more time consuming than cutting off one piece but unless someone here has already done it and knows the exact measurement it would be a lot safer.
I did it. About a quarter inch. If you cut too much, just slide the mouthpiece out a tad. It’s off the top end.
Hi
Does this tweak apply to the Clarke MEG head as well because on another thread the impression was that apart from some slight looseness everything was spot on ?
D
It should. My understanding is that the whistles are the same in design, different in manufacture.
So, are you saying that you shorten it at the mouthpiece end, because the mouthpiece can’t slide down far enough?
V-Bunny is correct in trimming a 1/4’’ off the Generation Bb tube. I have just completed mine. I trimmed it twice and think I took off about 5/16’’ total. I used masking tape on the tube so it would fit in the Sweetone head. Both heads will now work on the Generation tube. Both have a good tone but there is room for personal preferance.
The measurment you asked about when making whistles is done from the fipple blade edge to the end of the tube for the first note and then from the fipple blade edge to the top edge of the tone holes. But you must do some math before drilling to add enough to drill the center of the hole.The tone is made from the fipple blade edge to the top edge of each hole.
Thank you V-Bunny for the measurement
As V-Bunny said the cut is made at the top end of the tube where the fipple is.
Yes.
Brass tubes are a bit easier to cut. Use a hack saw and a small file. Really makes a good whistle. I meant to try it with a C head, but gave it away befor I did. I’m sure it would take more tape.
I used scotch tape. About half dozen turns. And trimmed it at the bottom so you don’t see it. Doesn’t look half bad either.
If you use a Meg head insted of Sweetone, you’r only out about ten bucks and have a really decent Bb whistle.
Thanks, everyone! I guess I’ll start with a quarter inch and see what happens. Worst case scenario is I’m out 6 bucks. Now to find someone with a hacksaw! I’m sure my dad has one; he’s one of those fix-it types who has everything.
I do remember someone else saying the tuning was accurate as it is, but mine is way off, by almost a half step.
Would a tubing cutter work better?
Dazzle and jen: I was the one for whom the tuning was accurate as is, but that’s because I have a flat Gen Bb whistle. If yours is in tune on its own, then adding the smaller head is going to mess up the intonation.
You could use a tubing cutter, but it will be hard to cut off such a small amount. Not impossible though, depending on the cutter. I’d ream the inside edge afterwards as well.
When I cut thin tubing with a hacksaw I put the tube in a carpenters mither box on the side closest to me. Than put the hacksaw in the box slots, and drag the hacksaw backwards to cut. If you go forward with a thinwall the saw will tear the tubing.
Check out http://www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/flutomat.html
It’s the best site I know of to get the measurements for tube length and hole placement.
Good luck,
Angelo
Yall are making this too hard.
Just stick the mouthpiece on with some tape to get an idea of how it will sound. Afterwards if you like it, cut it the best way you can without losing a finger. The cut edge will be covered up with mouthpiece when you’r done. If you don’t like it, you can stick the old gen head back on, just don’t push it down all the way.