I came home from vacation a few days a go and waiting for me where the last two whistles I will ever add to my collection.
I had WHOA bad (and I believe it is an illness) and within a year time brought (and later sold or returned) the following whistles
Silkstone PVC D, C, Bflat and G/A combo and Alloy D
Overton Soprano and Low (tunable) D plus Alto G and A
Hoover PVC Soprano and Low D, brass Narrow Bore D, regular D, C and E
Burke AlPro Low F
Kerry Pro Low D and tunable soprano D
Kerry Low D
Shaw F, Bflat C, D, Eflat and E
Sustao Low D, G A and Soprano D
Dixon A
Water Weasel D
Parkhurst D
Chieftain Low E
Howard Low C and D
I decided to go with just your basic Generation type whistle (metal body/plastic mouthpiece) and started tweaking various models and trying Walton Little Black mouthpieces on various models (they sound very good on Feadog’s and O’Gradys). I also made some of my own whistle using brass tubing and plastic mouthpieces from other whistles. I made a couple of A whistles using Bflat mouthpieces, B whistles using C mouthpieces and E whistles using D mouthpieces. All of my new and tweaked whistles sounded good and I enjoyed playing more than ever.
I did miss playing low whistles and since Generation does not make one yet I again tried the Kerry Low D. I brought three used ones from broad members and since I have become comfortable tweaking soprano whistles I tried to improve the sound of these whistles. I added Teflon tape around the barrel under the mouthpiece (to reduce the buzz) and file/dulled the blade a little and the sound was as good as a Kerry Pro or Overton but easier to play.
Phil now only makes the Kerry Low D but at one time made other keys, so the hunt was on to see if I could find any. I found a Low/Alto G at http://folknotes.com. I found a Low C, Eflat and F (and they still have 1 C and 1 F still in stock) at http://soundoftheharvest.homestead.com. Then to complete Low Kerry collection I was able to obtain a low E but I was sworn to secrecy about how and you gave it to me.
That Kerry Low E and a two piece Doolin where the two whistles waiting for me when I got home from my vacation. Now I will not buy another whistle (or even make one) and concentrated on learning some new tunes.
Well, Joe, let’s see how you are doing about a year from now I smoke/quit off and on and one or two years as a non-smoker who swears never to go back just about does it.
Good luck, anyway, on your maybe having beaten WhOA.
Did you keep any of your mid-high-end whistles? It would seem to me that relieving oneself of every non-plastic-fipple whistle is every bit as much a disorder as WhOA (especially considering how wonderful some on your list are). I propose this be called HEWED: High-End Whistle Evacuation (or ejection) Disorder.
If you kept a few, which ones and how did you decide?
Strange… I don’t have it yet (it’s on order) but, I think even if I got rid of most of my whistles, I’d keep the Hoover… but then, I have housemates who find it distressing when I play after midnight on my current whistles… here’s hoping the quietness of a hoover is good enough for the thinness of our walls…
OTOH, a full set of keys is really all anyone needs, I suppose… unless you wanted to have them to lend to friends so you could play together… so, maybe two sets of all keys… err, but what if two friends are over and didn’t bring their whistles, or only have D whistles? Better make that three sets… but wait…
LOOK AWAY FROM THE MONITOR, JMSSMH! Thom Larson is trying to hypotise you into buying MORE WHISTLES with that weird glowing rectangle of his!
What the heck is that thing anyway? Or have I been away from the board too long to get the symbolism?
I have a nice, morderate collection of whistles and stopped buying them after last summer, when I bought the Dixon from The Whistle Shop. I like whistles, but have been wanting to try different instuments. I’ve been since slowing saving for a guitar. I guess that’s one way of curing WHOA.
There’s no shame in giving in to WHOA, as long as you enjoy your purchases. What are we supposed to do, collect tea cups?
I have divested myself of all high end whistles except a Sindt D (really a mid-range still, no?). Other than that, my “fancy” whistles are a Dixon B-flat and a Larson tweaked Clarke. My playing has neither improved nor deteriorated.
I can’t get on thewhistleshop.com. I have a burning need to spend my money there, but the site must be getting so many hits right now that it’s jammed up. Is that unusual for this time of night?
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about
Fnord!Fnord! (Psst, Thom, you forget to wrap your hypnosublimnivertisment in the Fnord, so people are seeing it directly… please be more careful!) Fnord, Fnord, you do not see the Fnord!
I smoke/quit off and on and one or two years as a non-smoker who swears never to go back just about does it.
