After reading a recent post about Tommy Dion’s whistles, I started investigating them a bit more and read several very positive comments about Tommy and his craftsmanship. Always on the lookout for a good wood whistle that won’t empty my bank account, and intrigued by the photos and reviews, I contacted Tommy and began what has turned out to be one of those rare C&F connections and friendships. After a couple PMs, I ended up calling Tommy with the intention of hearing some of his whistles over the phone as well as learning more about them, and talking with Tommy was like talking to an old friend. We hit it off immediately, enjoyed a nice conversation, and Tommy has some great stories. Those of you who’ve had the pleasure of dealing with Tommy know how easy-going and accommodating he is. He loves talking “whistle”.
Anyway, he was kind enough to play several wood whistles for me made of various woods and I ended up going with Teak wood and brass fittings in D. I received the whistle a few days ago and it’s a beauty with brass mouthpiece, tuning slide, and tube ends. The fipple plug is white Delrin. The Teak wood is a rich medium reddish-brown and nicely grained. Craftsmanship is top notch in all respects and it plays wonderfully with a unique full, round, open, clear and pure tone with good volume, balance, and response. Easy to play, can take some push, and the high A and B notes are effortlessly hit with no screaming…just nice solid sweet notes. Tuning is accurate and the c-nat is good using 0XX000. 0X0000 is also very usable. The whistle is very light…on the order of a Burke aluminum session. It’s right up there with the best I own.
Tommy is obviously a talented, experienced machinist and craftsman, and great to deal with. After I’ve had more time to spend with this whistle, I may do a more in-depth review.
A quick search would have revealed these recent posts, answered your question and provided more detail about Tommy’s whistles. Start with this one and just follow the links.
Yea, apparently Tommy had some left over from the yacht he’s building and thought “what the heck”. Seriously, like you, I thought Teak was an interesting choice of woods and have never heard of it being used for whistles, but then…why not. Teak is a strong, naturally weather-resistent wood so should hold up well. It does make a beautiful, great sounding whistle - thanks to Tommy.
Looking forward to showing it off at the session tonight.
And Whistler Bard, thanks. I am enjoying it! The more the play it, the more I like it. BTW, the second link is what started it all for me.
UPDATE: After reading my write-up here about his Teak whistle, Tommy just sent a message saying, “You can also have bragging rights that it is the first one I have made of teak. I have some others bored but not turned down yet.” Soooo…there are others in the works, guys.
Thank you for the compliments Bally, Bard, and Feadoggie. When Bally called me on the phone it only took a few minutes for me to realize that he is very knowledgeable of whistles, and how they are made. He also has perfect pitch, and was able to to hear the subtle differences in each whistle. I was amazed that he could do this over the phone. I felt honored when he said to send the teak to try, and more so when he kept it. I am sure other makers of whistles feel the same pride in making an instrument that is going to be part of someone playing music.
Seriously, like you, I thought Teak was an interesting choice of woods and have never heard of it being used for whistles, but then…why not. Teak is a strong, naturally weather-resistent wood so should hold up well. It does make a beautiful, great sounding whistle - thanks to Tommy.