So I had hoped to enter into this new obsession without having to learn to ‘tweak’ or modify any whistles. Now I love my Jerry Freeman tweaked Gen D. In fact, I’m kind of afraid to say this, I play it more than the Bluebird.
I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to be completely dependent on another, so if for some reason Jerry went out of business or was on hiatus and something horrible happened to my Gen D I might like to a know a thing or two about whistle tweaking.
I’m considering purchasing a few Generations and fooling around with them. I think I can spring for two or three so that in the very likely event that I ruin one I can try again.
I have made use of the search function but the trouble with the search function is that, with such a general thing as tweaking I have a hard time finding specific information.
I would like to ask, do you tweak? What do you tweak? Do you have any tips on what or what not to do? Are Gens tricky or is this something I might have a chance at?
For all but the simplest, most reversible mods, start by being an experienced player with a good ear and feel for the instrument. Not just because you might ruin the whistles otherwise (at least Generations are cheap!), but because you need that ear and feel to evaluate your work.
Tweaked a Claire C, Generation C, Susato Kildaire Low D and Dixon DX003 Low D.
Lowered and lengthened the beak/sound blade on the Claire, Changed the Gen barrel for a Claire and smoothed the barrel edges, did the poster putty/Blu tack thing on both. Added a piece of aluminium to the beak of the Susato and reduced the length of the beak by a few microns. Narrowed the windway, widened the window by a few microns and built up the beak with aluminium on the Dixon.
Okay, if Jerry went on hiatus we’d find out why and cure whatever the problem was since whatever caused it couldn’t be worse than the suffering we’d all endure. Jerry can’t go out of business and he can’t retire.
Read the thread on tweaking thoroughly. Screw up two or three whistles before you get one right. Then just buy a couple of extras from Jerry like the rest of us do.
Don’t scare us like that. To even suggest Jerry would not be around…
