upside-down ramp on whistle blades?

Whistle
1

Have any whistle makers tried building a whistle with the ramp on the bottom of the blade instead of the top? Would this have any effect on the sound/playability of the whistle? I realize it would be harder to make in most cases.

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instead of

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2

I think it would force far too much air into the whistle, rather than dividing the inside/outside air stream.

3

Just as an interesting continuation on the same line of thought, the blade of my Alba Q1 looks like this:

     
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That’s right, the crazy thing doesn’t really have a blade exactly, just a chunk of blue metal with a square end where the blade would be.

The odd thing is this is an oustanding whistle, with a moderately soft, very traditional tone, and is wonderfully responsive through two octaves.

Go figure.

–James

4

It depends on how the airstream intersects with the ramp.

You could also have:

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The complexities of the duct, window and blade interact with each other. One item standing alone cannot be perceived as good or bad.

5

Very true-- even tiny variations in measurements in this region of a whistle can make HUGE differences in sound.

Regarding blunt blades-- my Overton A has a blade with a nearly vertical edge, with little ramp to speak of, and it plays like a champ. On occasion while voicing a whistle, I’ve tried playing it a bit before filing the ramp and it sounds surprisingly OK.

6

There are whistles made like that but the end is closed and it has no tone holes. Just plays one note so you need several to play a tune. The notes are more steady and very consistant and you would not be able to raise or lower a note by speeding the air flow or slowing it. Works the same way a pan flute does but you don’t have to shape your mouth to play it.

7

A good many “regional” bamboo whistles are constructed like this:

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The plug need not be slanted, as it’s played in a vertical position, which gives it a de facto slant at the top.

8

Actually that is a good design which I have used with pretty nice results.

My borrowed computer isn’t letting me input pictures, but I can describe it in an email message if you want.

9

Native American flutes have that type of ramp, and there are some oriental bamboo ones with the same thing.