Susato D.
No question about it
I have to say, the more I play, this whistle gains the day
I have 39 whistles.
Comments?
I’ve never tried one, but I recently saw a great band called the Fenians and the whistlist(?), who played both a Thin Weasel and a Water Weasel for the show (not to mention sax, flute, Irish flute, piccolo) said he doesn’t care for the Susato as it sounds too much like a recorder. As for inexpensive whistles, he said he likes Feadogs, Clarkes, and a ‘good’ Generation.
Anybody agree with the recorder comparison? I’d really like to know.
Also, something interesting, he showed me his collection of whistles, which was considerable, and all of them were tweaked with Scotch tape partially covering some or all of the holes as a means to make them more on tune (even the Schultz whistles). Does anyone else do this?
On 2003-02-20 22:07, Conley wrote:
I’ve never tried one, but I recently saw a great band called the Fenians and the whistlist(?)
Hmmm…the word “whistler” comes to mind. 
I’ve owned two Susatos and didn’t like either one, but when I heard Lunasa play them, they sounded great. I do prefer Feadogs, Gens and Clares, for myself.
I happen to like the sound of a recorder, but I don’t think the Susato sounds very much like one. The regular small bore Susato is a fine whistle, and it has a nice full, round tone, but for a good balance between responsiveness and stability, nothing beats the very small bore model, IMHO. BTW, there’s no need to use tape on the holes to get a Susato in tune.
On 2003-02-20 22:22, blackhawk wrote:
I’ve owned two Susatos and didn’t like either one, but when I heard Lunasa play them, they sounded great. I do prefer Feadogs, Gens and Clares, for myself.
Hmm, don’t remember seeing Susatos when Lunasa played here. Kevin and Sean play Grinter low-F whistles. The Low Bb that Sean played looked to be either an Overton or a Chieftain. I saw others that were also aluminum Overtons or Chieftains.
Conley,
I’ve been contemplating doing something like the scotch tape tuning tweak, but using aluminum foil duct tape (which is pure aluminum metal with an adhesive backing).
Did you happen to notice how the tape was oriented on the tone holes the whistler of the Fenians band had tweaked?
Did he cover the tops of the holes, or did he cover the sides of the holes (if so, which side, towards or away from the palm), etc.?
Best wishes,
Jerry
P.S. It is my understanding that if one plays concert whistle with a symphony orchestra, or classical music written for the whistle, that person is called a whistlist. If one plays whistle in sessions or with a band, or if one plays traditional or other non-classical music on the whistle, the person is called a whistler. It’s like the difference between a harpist and a harper.
Depending on what music one plays, one could be both a whistlist and a whistler, which would then be combined for simplicity into whistlister or whistlerist (whistlerist being the more common, preferred form). These terms are helpful for the sake of clarity when talking about different kinds of music and different performance settings.
[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-20 23:20 ]
On 2003-02-20 22:56, msheldon wrote:
On 2003-02-20 22:22, blackhawk wrote:
I’ve owned two Susatos and didn’t like either one, but when I heard Lunasa play them, they sounded great. I do prefer Feadogs, Gens and Clares, for myself.Hmm, don’t remember seeing Susatos when Lunasa played here. Kevin and Sean play Grinter low-F whistles. The Low Bb that Sean played looked to be either an Overton or a Chieftain. I saw others that were also aluminum Overtons or Chieftains.
I had heard that they did, but I couldn’t imagine that it was true. Then last September I saw them in concert here and I sat on the front row. Before it began I noticed that their whistles were all laying on the stage right in front of me. Sure enough, the high whistles were Susatos. That’s actually what prompted me to buy the second Susato, after having given away the first one because I didn’t like the way it sounded. The second one sounded just as bad when I played it, but boy it sure sounded great when they did.
I don’t think the Susato sounds at all like a recorder.
I’m trying to envision a whistlist/er with a symphony orchestra (or, for that matter, classical music written for the whistle) and coming up blank.
Redwolf
Jerry,
Thanks for the whistlister/whistlerist info. That was great.
About the whistler. I wish I would have taken a better look, but if I recall correctly, it seemed like the tape was around just the edges of the holes and appeared to be oriented at various angles. I remember thinking, “Gee, he must have had to experiment quite a bit to do that.” I think some holes may have even had two pieces of tape, but I’m not 100% on that. Good luck with your tweaking!
Thanks, also, to everyone who posted about Susatos. That was really interesting.
On 2003-02-21 01:17, Redwolf wrote:
I don’t think the Susato sounds at all like a recorder.I’m trying to envision a whistlist/er with a symphony orchestra (or, for that matter, classical music written for the whistle) and coming up blank.
Redwolf
I don’t know of any ‘Whistlists’ playing with Orchestras,but I do have a tape(picked up for a pound!) of the album’ Irish Traditional and Baroque’ by the trio,Dordan,featuring the sainted Mary Bergin on whistle(and some flute work),Kathleen Loughnane on Harp,and Dearbhaill Standun on violin(or is it fiddle?).The Baroque material consists of pieces by the likes of Bach,Purcell,Mozart and O’Carolan,and whilst not really my cup of tea,is quite pleasant and an interesting change from Irish ‘Trad’. I suppose that the material was probably originally written for recorder or Baroque flute,but the whistle sounds o.k. in this context(well it IS Mary Bergin!).I admit to being a ‘Good Gen.’ fan.
Generation. There are none like them on the market…provided that you may have to buy’em Gen’s by dozens just to find one good ‘Gem’…as many points this out.
Redwolf, I agree with you. I have a Susato
Low D and I ‘could’ make it sound like a cheap, straight-outta-elementary-school recorder, but also if I try (well, if I do) then I can produce a flute-like tone, too.
…I wish. LOL I personally do not think Susatos sound like recorders.
Strange that I’ve never heard anyone say
“What?! ‘Nat Whilk Baroque Recorders’? Yuck, they really sound like tin whistles and flutes, I abso-recorder-lutely loathe’em. Man, wonder who on earth would buy those kinda stuff!”
Another thing, I’m looking for a whistle that ‘sounds like’ pipes…just kidding.
<><
Tak (Not associated with Taco Bell)
“It all is relative, people.”
[ This Message was edited by: Tak_the_whistler on 2003-02-21 07:34 ]
I’ve never seen a Susato, except in pictures.
Redwolf, et al.,
You do know I’m pulling your leg, yes?
Best wishes,
Jerry
P.S. Conley, thanks for the clarification.
P.P.S. Based on the information Kevin has provided, it may be that Mary Bergin could be classified as a whistlerist. However, we would have to resolve the question of whether a person who plays classical music on the whistle, that was not specifically written for whistle could be classified as a whistlist. (I believe they would, but others’ opinions on this may differ.)
[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-21 08:42 ]
Whistler, as in love-her, photograph-her, rock&roll-her and Gustavmal-her
recorderist, as in integr-ist, commun-ist, baroqu-ist, artsy-fartsist and–nobody’s perfect–Franzl-iszst
Whistlessohn
Oh, yes. Thanks, Zoob for reminding me.
A person who plays non-classical, non-artsyfartsy music on the recorder is technically classified as a recorderer, the term recorderist being reserved for the more high-brow categories.
I’m glad to have had a chance to clear that up.
Best wishes,
Jerry
You’re welcome, Freeman, and I’m glad you won’t take my water for what ah said.
But you knew already it’s not the instrument (f.i. Stradivarius) that makes the violinist or fiddlle-her.
And of course,
There are some accomplished players of the violin who perform both classical and traditional music. These are known as violiddlerists or fiddlelinisters, violiddlerist being the more accepted usage.
Best wishes,
Jerry
[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-21 10:01 ]
Hey Conley!
Another whistling Utahn! Welcome! Whereabouts in Utah do you live? There are a few other whistlers here–me, Sunnywindo, Brian Lee, Susanfx. Did I miss any, guys?
Again, welcome!
On 2003-02-20 22:56, msheldon wrote:
The Low Bb that Sean played looked to be either an Overton or a Chieftain. I saw others that were also aluminum Overtons or Chieftains.
They’re Kerry Pros.
Regarding the Susato recorder sound, it can sound just a touch that way to the player but not to the listener. It’s something to do with where your ears are in relation to your mouth - in the same way that your voice sounds different to you as it does to others (though for additional reasons too in that example). That’s probably why they sound better when Lunasa play them, in addition to the fact that the guys are rather good players too.
On 2003-02-21 08:34, Jerry Freeman wrote:
Redwolf, et al.,You do know I’m pulling your leg, yes?
Best wishes,
JerryP.S. Conley, thanks for the clarification.
P.P.S. Based on the information Kevin has provided, it may be that Mary Bergin could be classified as a whistlerist. However, we would have to resolve the question of whether a person who plays classical music on the whistle, that was not specifically written for whistle could be classified as a whistlist. (I believe they would, but others’ opinions on this may differ.)
[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-21 08:42 ]
Ya got me! 
Redwolf