Tony Dixon one piece tapered bore low d whistle?

Whistle
1

Hello,
I am new to the forum and also new to the whistle world. I have played a bit on alto whistles and would like to try my hand at the low d whistle. With this in mind, I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the Tony Dixon tapered bore one piece low d? I am considering this whistle because of its very reasonable price, which appeals to me as a beginner. Any insight that anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time and trouble.
All the best, Jeff

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Welcome to the forum Jeff. Re info on the Dixon taper bore low d, try out the search function (at upper right of screen) to access the historic and collective wisdom of the board. My search on your topic to get you started:

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/new-dixon-tapered-bore-low-d/76285/1

Again, welcome.

Briant

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Thanks very much Briant–I really appreciate your help.
All the best, Jeff

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You might also want to try some “mezzo” keys (e.g., the F, G, and A in between high and low D) – I have a G and an A from Jerry Freeman (these are modified generation Bb heads on brass bodies created by Jerry) that I really like and are a lot of fun (especially the A) and are in the inexpensive range you’re looking at (I paid less than $50 for each – not sure what they go for these days). These keys start to get into those lovely lower ranges, and the finger reach and the breath requirements will be easier for a beginner than a low d. Good luck.

Briant

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I met Tony at the NAMM Show in Anaheim in 2011. He had a prototype of the conical bore one-piece. Here’s what I posted at that time:

"Saturday I went in the morning and Tony and I went off to a quiet room to put a Phil Hardy OS Low D, my MK Low D, and the prototype Dixon conical one-piece Low D through their paces.

The new conical Dixon Low D is very special. It plays unlike either of the other Low Ds, probably different from any Low D whistles. When switching back and forth between the MK (still my favourite Low D) and the conical Dixon there was the distinct feeling of switching between types of instruments.

Tony said that a two-piece tunable conical Low D would be available within a couple weeks."

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Hi jgalbraith,

I’m new to the whistle world, too, and also like mezzos and low whistles. I think the Dixon would be a great low d for a newbie (and beyond–I mean, it’s a good quality, relatively inexpensive whistle!). I have a couple Dixons that I’m quite satisfied with, though I don’t own the low d.

I (somewhat foolishly, in hindsight…) disregarded much of the advice in the forum about working your way down to low d and skipped from a Dixon G to an Alba D… and it was REALLY tough at first. Now, I LOVE my Alba, but I have very small hands, and it took quite a while to even get a consistent sound from each note–let alone play any tunes!

I finally had a chance to try out a variety of different whistles a few weeks ago at a music festival and found the Dixon low D to be MUCH easier to reach, and easier to play than my Alba-- and it sounds good, too.

Anyway, good luck with your choice, and have fun!

-Alli

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I’m curious, Richard, where was Tony? Was there a Dixon booth, or was he with another company? I was there that year and I don’t recall seeing him on the program. Of course, it’s easy to miss far more than one sees at NAMM …

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Thanks for all your help everyone–I really appreciate it.
All the best, Jeff

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Here’s my thread about it

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/namm-show-report-dixon-booth/74543/1

and here we are! As you can see it was the Hobgoblin booth, but it pretty much was a whistle booth, with rows of Chieftans and Dixons and the man himself holding court! It’s hard to see it, but I’m holding the prototype conical one-piece Low D.

I’ve since acquired a two-piece Dixon conical all-plastic Low D and it doesn’t play as ‘flutelike’ as I remember that prototype playing. That one-piece prototype was very impressive, by far the closest any Low D has come to playing like a flute (coming from somebody whose primary Irish instrument was flute, for over 30 years).

Both of those all-plastic conical Dixon Low Ds were by far the most ergonomic Low Ds I’ve ever played. The combination of conical bore (which brings the fingerholes closer together), narrow tube, and extremely light weight makes for a very comfortable whistle.