Hey folks, I’m looking for an outdoors whistle. My current favorite is my Jerry Freeman Bluebird, it’s got a beautiful tone and I absolutely love it for sitting down and playing in a room, but when I take it outside the sound kinda disperses and it’s pretty unimpressive. I’d like a louder whistle for outdoor busking to compete with the racket my banjo makes. Any suggestions?
Susato Kildare S-Series.
Yes, a good suggestion. The Susato can be played loud, it’s rain-resistant, and more wind-resistant than most - I once tested it by playing directly into a fan. You can rotate the head 180 degrees if you’re playing in a stiff Atlantic breeze on the bow of the Titanic.
Yeah, it’ll do the job. You might get shot though.
I thought it was luthiers that were shot.
Yup. I’ve had a “traveling” Susato for years. They’re very durable. Nearly indestructible, except for the blade (yes, protect the blade when stuffing into a knapsack . . .). Plus, they’ve got about the loudest, clearest voice I’ve ever heard.
And, of course, great pitch and modest price.
trill
It occurred to me while posting to another Susato thread that the newer model Susato, the Oriole, could also serve the purpose quite well. I keep forgetting about them. Same durable material. Similar volume and playing characteristics. Slightly different head design. And they are priced below the Kildare models.
Hmmm? Do Kevin Crawford or Cormac Breathnach have to wear bullet proof vests when they play?
Feadoggie
Not if they’re playing the C or B. I’ve yet to see someone seriously play a D S-series in an indoor setting without some wincing.
I’ve done it often (Dublin one-piece D) and nobody’s winced yet. In fact sometimes with folk busy talking they didn’t even notice I was playing!
Is £40.00 ‘modest’ for a plastic whistle? A Tony Dixon tuneable plastic High D can be purchased for around £25.00.
I thought Susato would come up as I’ve heard they’re fairly loud and piercing, but I didn’t think it would be a consensus. Susato it is! Thanks to the responders. I don’t think I’ll need a bulletproof vest for this one as I’ve got no plans to play it indoors.
I had a Chieftain High D that was shockingly loud. However as I never played it outdoors I cannot vouch for how ‘wind resistant’ it was.
Unfortunately, whistles in general don’t sound very impressive outdoors. The sound pretty much disperses instead of being reflected back at you from walls and other hard surfaces.
Unfortunately, whistles in general don’t sound very impressive outdoors. The sound pretty much disperses instead of being reflected back at you from walls and other hard surfaces.
I don’t know about ‘impressive’ but they can carry a bit.
My wife assures me that my Susato carries exceptionally well for quite some distance outside…I apparently can never be far enough away to make her happy.
I agree that they can carry well, but they never sound as good as they do indoors.
We visited The Cliffs of Moher this summer and I"m impressed that anyone could play a whistle there at all. The wind was terrific. I had a whistle in my pocket to play the tune named after the cliffs on site, but gave up the idea.
The name of that tune ought to be ‘Whistle No Moher’