Thought you guys may be able to help. I bought a Feadog (D) from a person on line that was selling cheap. I told them it probably did not play well because of tuning and that was why they were selling so cheap but that was ok. I needed to experiment anyway. I packed under the fipple area that is a cavity and think that may help with some of the squeaking but still have major issues even after multiple adjustments on the head piece. This is what I am getting. Numbers represent cents .
Low D = +25
E = +10
F# = 0
G = +15 to 20
A = 0 to 5
B = 0
C# = -15
High D = +25
What kind of advice can anyone give me to help improve this a little? Does anyone have a system in a logical manner to open any of the holes that is if that will work. Not sure so any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Scottie
Don’t open anything!
Assuming your readings are accurate and consistent (you don’t state to what temperament), your tube needs to be a tad longer at the foot end to flatten the Ds (try some overlapping tape on the outside or rolled-up plastic film on the inside to see) and maybe tape B3 a fraction smaller if that doesn’t bring down the E too. Tape B1 if you want to flatten the G, but I’d say your C#'s fine when most folk expect it a bit flat and opening T1 could spoil your cross-fingered C nat or affect your OXXXXX D.
PS Might add that that’s pretty contentious!
Consider this …
Whistles aren’t necessarily tuned to equal temperament.
A just intonation (perfect) third is fourteen cents flat to an equal temperament third. See what happens when you tune that F# fourteen cents flat to what your tuner calls “F#.” Also, you should have ten cents’ or so control over each note by using more or less breath pressure. I’m inclined to think you’re blowing the D and E a little too strong. It’s not unusual to see a pitch profile of two experienced players on the same whistle, but with rather different pitches for the same fingerings.
Yes, listen to Jerry! Which is why I questioned your readings, advised you not to open anything (taping down being 100% reversible) and found your apparent statement to the seller contentious…
My remark to the seller was not intended in any way to be contentious Peter. It was the fact that both the seller and I knew the possible flaws of the instrument which are quiet normal and experienced by most on such a mass produced instrument. I bought it just to see what I could do to make it playable and used Jerry’s suggestions in previous post of filling the lower fipple chamber with wallboard putty and trimming the end by 1/8". It has improved and I will still be working on it from the advice of others more experienced than myself and appreciate all advice. Thanks and have a great day.
Also, Thank you very much for your information Jerry. I am sure it will be a great help. I really appreciate having you on this forum.