I’m looking into getting maybe a Walton’s or a Generation, or maybe a Soodlum whistle. Any opinions on these whistles?
I have a Waltons “Mellow D” and I must say I’m not very fond of it. The sound is too breathy for my tastes, and it doesn’t seem to be in tune with itself (and it’s definitely flat compared to my other D whistles). Never tried any of the regular Waltons.
Do I recall that Soodlums and Waltons are the same company? Not sure if there’s any difference in their whistles. I’ve never played a Soodlums either, so can’t comment on them, really.
I do have three older Generations (a brass Eb, a nickel Eb and a brass F) and I love them, but I understand the newer Generations aren’t up to par…people here have said there are real tuning issues (though a lot of people seem to like to buy them and tweak them).
My two favorites are my standard Feadog and my Cillian O Briain “Improved” (basically a tweaked Feadog). The O Briain is an especially pretty sounding whistle to my ear…it’s the one I’ve been playing most regularly since I got it a few weeks ago.
Redwolf
I always thought that Waltons was formerly Soodlums.
Whenever I buy a Generation Eb, it always has a really good tone. But then I carry it around in my pocket and the mouthpiece breaks. It’s still has the same sound, but, you know…it’s broken.
Whenever I buy Generation Ds, they’re alwyas bad. I’ve learned the hard way to stay away from them.
-Ross
Thanks. Basically I’m trying to find an inexpensive whistle (preferably under $15) that is very responsive and sounds traditional, as well as being able to hold its own with other instruments. Also one that I would probably not have to tweak, although I have no qualms about tweaking.
So far I own: 3 Clarkes (2 D’s and 1 C), 2 Feadogs (MK II, one ruined by tweaking), a Susato Kildare D, and a Weltmeister D (really, really out of tune).
I like the responsiveness of the Susato, but it is a smidge loud, and is a hair too mellow for my taste. I really like my Clarkes, the sound and responsiveness is great, but I would want a whistle that isn’t quite so tempermental (I took them on a recent trip to the Oregon/Washington coast area, and they got all squeaky on me for some reason, and then when I got back here, they’re fine… go figure.)
[quote]
On 2002-06-24 15:14, The Whistling Elf wrote:
Thanks. Basically I’m trying to find an inexpensive whistle (preferably under $15) that is very responsive and sounds traditional, as well as being able to hold its own with other instruments. Also one that I would probably not have to tweak, although I have no qualms about tweaking.
Then your problems are over. Get a Sweetone. I have never heard a bad word about them, “right out of the box.” And they are about $8.00. I love mine.
I have a Generation, a Feadog, a Walton’s, an Oak, an Acorn, all D’s, and they are all garbage. I know there are good ones of all those varieties, but I’ve had bad luck with them.
maybe try a little black whistle head with the sticky tack tweak on your feadog. I got LBW heads from The Whistle Shop. I have both Susato bores in D and I end up playing the tweaked feadog lots more with our group. It’s a bit sharp, so I had to use some teflon tape to keep it snug when I tune it down. I’m very happy with the tweaked feadog sound, but it doesn’t sound good enough to keep me from yearning for a Copeland or other high end whistle…
A Sweetone?? I always thought they were quiet whistles…
Dang! And I had the opportunity to get one at Beacock’s Music while I was in Vancouver and I passed it up!!!
[quote]
On 2002-06-24 16:24, The Whistling Elf wrote:
A Sweetone?? I always thought they were quiet whistles…
***It depends on how hard you blow, I guess. They’re not as loud as Dixons, but you wanted a cheap, reliable whistle…I can’t think of a better one than Sweetone for the money.
Dang! And I had the opportunity to get one at Beacock’s Music while I was in Vancouver and I passed it up!!!
***They’re available everywhere!
uhh… not everywhere. Where I live there are no music stores, and in the next town they only handle Feadogs and orig. Clarkes.
On 2002-06-24 15:59, blackhawk wrote:
Then your problems are over. Get a Sweetone. I have never heard a bad word about them, “right out of the box.” And they are about $8.00. I love mine.
You would probably do better with a Meg which is pretty much the same thing, only about $5 cheaper.
-Ross
On 2002-06-24 16:41, The Whistling Elf wrote:
uhh… not everywhere. Where I live there are no music stores, and in the next town they only handle Feadogs and orig. Clarkes.
Then you can probably get them to order a Sweetone for you. If they’re already dealing with the Clarke company, it would be fairly easy for them to order a Sweetone (or Meg).
-Ross
On 2002-06-24 16:41, The Whistling Elf wrote:
uhh… not everywhere. Where I live there are no music stores, and in the next town they only handle Feadogs and orig. Clarkes.
uh…I meant the Whistle Shop, Shanna Quay, Lark in the Morning, Song of the Sea, etc.
On 2002-06-24 16:46, rossmpfc13 wrote:
On 2002-06-24 15:59, blackhawk wrote:
Then your problems are over. Get a Sweetone. I have never heard a bad word about them, “right out of the box.” And they are about $8.00. I love mine.
You would probably do better with a Meg which is pretty much the same thing, only about $5 cheaper.
-Ross
Heh
I meant that to go to The Whistling Elf, not Blackhawk.
-Ross
I haven’t played a Soodlum. I did try one Walton’s in a shop I was in not long ago. Didn’t like that particular whistle. But I did pick up a Generation D there, and I have rapidly grown quite fond of it. As has my partner :-/. I love having both of us play the whistle, but it has its drawbacks 
.
Reading this board, I think I really lucked out and got an older Generation. It has the line down the middle of the fipple, the fipple looks like it was broken off from something it was attached to during the manufacturing process, and looks kind of like a squished . . . oval, I guess. So if you can find a Generation in a shop that doesn’t turn them over so fast, you might have yourself something!
TK
I have a Walton’s Guiness and really like it. But I strongly suggest a MEG (free from ShannaQuay with an order, or $3 from the Whistle Shop). I really love mine.
Hey! The least expensive place I’ve found that sells Sweetones is Elderly Instruments. You can mail order them for about $3.50. They carry them in both C and D versions in the painted and natural metal finish.
They also sell REALLY expensive guitars.
Happy tooons to you…
The reason why I’m considering a Walton’s is because I
- Heard a guy playing one in D and it sounded so sweet, pure, with just a hint of chiff, and just… well,… great!
and
- I had the opportunity to play a whistle in C which I suspect is a Walton’s/Soodlum from the mouthpiece style, and it was phenomenal! So responsive with the perfect tone quality… a total joy to play.
Or, what about the Feadog Mk III’s?? They any good?
I have a Feadog III. Its absolutely wonderful, but it took a little breaking in before I really started to like it.
So, would any one of you on the board recommend my ordering a Generation D? Or even a Walton’s/Soodlum??
(I’m planning on ordering it from Melody’s)