Which whistle would you choose if someone offered to buy you one whistle as a present and you could choose any whistle on the planet whether it’s a current model or a historic one. You can make your choice based on the quality and playability of the instrument or historic value or whatever. It does not matter whether the whistle is available on the market or not.
Note that for the purpose of this thread, you would never be allowed to sell the whistle. You would have to keep and play it or give it back, so choose a whistle you’d like to own, not one you’d like to sell so you could get your greedy hands on the cash.
Single whistles or sets with one head and several bodies are allowed. Multiple whistles would be considered greedy, but you can always list a couple of different ones in order of preference.
PS. Let’s make it clear that I am not buying you guys any whistles! EDIT: It would be nice if you give some background on the whistle of your choice and explain why you want it. And, Bloomfield, the title of the thread may be possible to misunderstand, but I do say “Tin Whistle” at the top of this post…"
I think my own choice would be an O’Brien set of three piece wooden whistles in Bb, C, D, and Eb.
I’m not sure whether he’d be able to make one head span all four keys as I’ve found getting a single head to play well with three keys has been a stretch with my homemade PVC whistles. I’m hard pressed to decide whether I’d go for Bb, C and D or C, D and Eb if I had to choose only three keys, but I think the Bb would win the day.
I made myself a three piece D PVC whistle that slips nicely into a pocket and I never go anywhere without it. It plays well and sounds good, but it’s nowhere near as pretty as an O’Brien wooden whistle.
The whistles look completely different, but both are beautiful and very well made. The Hudson Winds is easy to play and sounds full and rich. I think it makes me sounds better than I am. On the other hand, the Thornton makes you work some and when you have it, man it’s awesome. Bright, a bit chiffy and just about perfect.
I’m in love with the characteristic, unique sound of Overton, but I don’t play it myself (yet) as far as the high whistles is concerned.
I play Gen, Sindt and Impempe. I’m in love with my Impempe D. It’s extremely solid, beautifully simple-looking and with a complex, somewhat flutish sound. The magic of this South African whistle is in the volume. It is known to be a quiet whistle. But at the same time it can be heard very well from 50 yards as if it was next to you. It’s a good whistle to play inside and my loudest whistle very fit to play outside and very, very responsive and in tune. And what’s more: it’s cost is $40,-!!! It’s just incredible that it’s not more popular! I also have a C, Bb and an F. And what’s more, Ian Turnbull, the maker is the kind of guy that sends you a whistle just to try and you can send it back if you don’t like it and pay if you keep it.
