I thought I would start thread on the various synthetic polymer materials used on commercially available whistles. I appreciate the said materials because of their wood-like tone quality and their almost maintenance free nature.
As of the moment, the synthetic high Dās I own are a delrin rover by Oābrein whistles, a tuneable CPVC by Mack Hoover and the ever so popular polymer Tony Dixon. I always have the rover next to me due to portability. I really like the sound and playability of the Rover and the Hoover due to the low volume and pure sound quality. I like quieter whistles that are easy and nimble in the second octave and sensitive/touchy in the first. (Preference of breath control over breath support).
That brings me to my question: Which synthetic polymer whistles do you prefer? I have been eyeing Walt Sweetās Black Pearl but I fear that it maybe too loud in the second octave. What are your opinions on the volume of the Black Pearlās second octave? What synthetic whistle models might you suggest that would full fill the quieter second octave requirement?
Donāt get me wrong. I read that the Black Pearl is an excellent instrument. Itās just that they are sometimes described as āpowerfulā and that intimidates me a bit. Iām keen on finding out if there are any other totally synthetic whistles out there; like the all delrin construction of the black pearl. Even the tuning slide is delrin.
Polymer whistles that I think would agree well with my playing style are the Lon Dubh and the composite Burke. Sadly those arenāt readily available. That being said if you have either of those you are willing to give up, please email or message me
I donāt know about wood-like tone. I played a number of Lon Dubh injection moulded ones off the display when they were for sale here in town. At the time I felt they sounded plasticky. They played nice and easy but I didnāt feel I wanted to pay ā¬80 for one. I didnāt feel however they sounded like a wooden whistle, or perhaps how Iād expect a wooden whistle to sound. And for full disclosure Iāll have to state wooden whistles present no attraction to me at all at all.
I have never really played the injection moulded Lon Dubhs. From clips I have heard, I had the assumption that they sounded purer than what is traditional. They reminded me of a much much sweeter susato-esque sound. Based on what I have read, it seems that they fit well with my preference quieter, nimble second octaves and touchier first octaves.
What draws me the particular whistle is that they are completely plastic. I like the simplicity of that. Hehe, maybe itās also because of their elusive nature that makes me so drawn to them.
And for full disclosure Iāll have to state wooden whistles present no attraction to me at all at all.
I love playing my Walt Sweet Onyx. The ease of playing and clarity in the second octave is noticeably better than either my Goldie or MK pro. While all three are spectacular whistles they are also very different from one another. I do agree with your assessment that synthetic whistles have a more wood-like sound. Their resonance has no metallic ring. This can be good or bad depending on what you are trying to achieve.
I am getting ready to order an OāBrien three piece Rover Do you have any clips with you playing it?
Yes, Walt sweets instruments are great. I love the Onyxās sister instrument: the Shannon flute. What I worry about the Black Pearl is that the sound is sometimes described as powerful. While that maybe good for some, my hearing and tinnitus problem might say otherwise for the upper range.
Yes, I do have a new clip of my delrin rover itās on YouTube. Although I did put a light reverb and equalized the sound to compensate for my terrible recording equipment. I think it still shows the character of the whistle well though. Hereās the link: http://youtu.be/M66VjSY9y1M
^itās a bit of a modern rendition of āHave A Drink With Meā -my crappy webcam mic clips the audio a bit especially at the high notes though. IMO, the Rover sounds much better when you get to hear it in person.
If you like your whistles sweet, woodsy, clear and nimble like I do, Iām sure you will be happy with the OāBrien Rovers
Ahhh! Thanks for that. Just the sound I was looking for. I was also looking at the Black Pearl and have been stalling for similar reasons. I donāt need a strong instrument for what I do plus from the very few clips I have listened to, it seems to have a bit more chiff in the second octave than I like. What can sound great on a low D can quickly become abrasive on a high D.
The one I tried and sent back was too nimble, sweet and (to use Rubenās other word) touchyā¦ so tender the second octave couldnāt be kept down to pitch at enough volume for some of the notes to speak. And, yes, I have the ābreath control over breath supportā to know!
As a fan of whistles such as the Hoover narrow bore, I have yet to encounter A whistle that I think is too touchy. Maybe my preference stems from living in a tiny condominium and my sensitive hearing.
Maybe the the Lon Dubh would be enough to knock off my stubborn preferences, reading the experiences of Mr. Duggan. Thanks for pitching in Peter!
I was disappointed because I had high hopes for it as, yes, a delicate whistle, and cannot believe that the expensive original wood or turned polymer versions suffered from the same flaws. Struggle even to equate what I found with the moulded Lon Dubh ādesign flawā I suggested when others whose opinions I respect (not least Mr.Gumby) found otherwise and seem to have found some consistency between the samples they tried, but what I can say beyond any doubt is that the one I tried was as I described it. If that second octave had been playable down to pitch even at the slightest breath pressure I could have controlled it and would have described it as such.
I read your post on the previous thread. I thought that your experience with the whistle is rather odd. I have encountered whistles that go flat in the second octave, but I have yet to try a whistles that goes sharper as you go up the scale. Interesting.
That being said, octave intonation is a big deal for me. That might be enough to settle my unrest of wanting a Poly Lon Dubhā¦
While conventional wisdom/physics/hearsay is against it at least for the cylindrical bores, Iāve encountered a few including the two Impempe high Ds Iāve tried, of which I sent one back and kept the other (which suffered less) but subsequently sold it on. But Iāve also had whistles to extremes in the other direction including an Alba high D where you just had to keep blowing harder and harder as you went up and it could take it but was an uncomfortably physical effort when you might think of the average whistle as more something you almost just breathe down! So, yes, my moulded polymer Lon Dubh experience was bizarre both in itself and for not squaring with some of the others reported, but absolutely as described.
Been away from the forum for some time, good to be back.
I assume that this thread is mainly about high whistles? I mostly play low Dās, although I do play others ( A, Bb, C, D and F).
I tend to agree with the above quote. My Dixon DX003 and TB003, Susato Kildare sound nothing like my Garvie Cocobola. They do have their own sound, just how one would describe this for me would be difficult. As mentioned on this topic, āHorses for Coursesā.
I love my Dixon high D Polymer. It has a true Irish sound, but not as harsh as brass would be. Truly a great instrument. Play it where there is reverb and it is magical. I also like PVC for making whistles for the same reasons.
As I mentioned, the dixon is one of the three synthetic high Dās that I own. I agree. The tone sits in between old traditional and the mellowed down tonal qualities of polymers and wood.
Infact, I was playing a one piece polymer Dixon when I began to really fall inlove with ITM. I havent gone wrong with a Dixon since.
i have played the Dixon whistlesā¦ love 'em. I have a Parks D/C setā¦ amazing.
butā¦ hands down, my favorite delrin is my Oz Vambrace. simply amazing in every way. If I could afford to get the Vambrace in C, i would be all over it, alasā¦ i canāt afford itā¦ so i am in search of a good delrin C whistle.
That being said if you have either of those you are willing to give up, please email or message me 
