I presently play a Sweetheart Pro-Mello which I like very much. My wife wants to get me an even better whistle (maybe she thinks I’ll sound better). I like the characteristics of the Sweetheart, and would like to get something along the same lines. I prefer that pure tone with little if any chiff or breathyness. I am concidering Rose, O’Brien, Bleazey, and Busman. Can any of you comment on which (in your opinion) you think has that pure tone. Do you think the money spent will get me a whistle that is that much better than the Sweetheart? Should I consider getting a wood whistle in another key (other than D)? I have a few Generations, and a few Sustatos including low whistles, but really don’t want to get a wood whistle that sounds just like my Sweetheart. Also does anyone know about the Pay O’Dwyer whistles. A google search turns up nothing. Part of me says I should leave well enough alone if I’m happy with my Sweetheart, but those woods look soooo pretty!!! Maybe I should just put the money towards a new banjo…I only have three of those lol.
Get an 0Z before the price hits the ceiling. Just ask Mtch to voice your whistle the way you want it. Cheers, Cyril.
I’d advise on the “leave well enough alone” choice. You have a very good whistle already. Get out and play. It sounds like you don’t have any gnawing complaints with the Sweetheart. And you don’t seem to be looking for anything else in a whistle as far as timbre, dynamics or other playing characteristics go. Play some other whistles and see if there is something out there that fits your needs better or gives you a sound you have to have. You’ll run into something you want that way for sure - and you’ll know why too.
And please don’t ask me if the money is better spent on a banjo -oh boy! At least whistles take up less space in the music room.
Oh, and welcome to the forum.
Feadoggie
Agreed. The Sweetheart is a very good whistle, on par with all the rest you mentioned.
If your money is eating a hole in your pocket, get a matching C whistle. I remember playing one at the Northeast Whistle Gathering and that is one of the best whistles I’ve ever played.
Mike
Since I’m not your mother, I say get another wood whistle! Have fun, enjoy life! Check this link: http://www.tonyhinnigan.com/moviedl.php?group=29# scroll to the bottom of the page and view Hinnigans review of the oZ whistle. It will blow away a Sweetheart (I sold mine) .
Yep, my first choice is the oZ followed by an Abell. Best, Cyril
From Tony Hinnigan’s test of the Oz-whistle, one would expect all whistlemakers to start getting nervous. “A whistle without faults . . . all good”. The high-end whistles I’ve encountered sure have had their faults, no matter the cost and no matter the maker. Great work Mitch . . . great work.
I have an O’Brien that is now my favorite whistle. It does NOT, however, have the “pure tone” that you want. If I want that, I play my Burke. I even did a test with my wonderful (but non-musical) wife and asked her which sound she liked better - the O’Brien won!
I second the above opinion - dance with the one you brought!
Pat
Thanks for all the good advice and the warm welcome. At this point I’m not going to rush into anything, but I have shot Mitch at Oz wistles a couple of e-mails with no response. I imagine he’s a pretty busy guy these days.
I have had good response with: mitch@ozwhistles
his telephone:
+61 2 4784 2105
+61 412 961 236
Also, he has been attending a lot of events and may be out of pocket.
Best, Cyril
Thornton whistles aren’t all wood, but they do have a little bit of wood and it is really pure and sweet sounding.
A whistle without faults is boring. The one whistle I owned that I thought was as close to perfect as is possible was a Swayne, which I sold.
If the one thing you’re after is a pure sound, you want a Rose.
I dunno, as far as Soprano D whistles go my old Abell really doesn’t have a weakness, and of the hundred or so whistles I’ve owned and sold, it’s the one of the few I never sold, no matter how tough times got. I’m quite glad I didn’t part with it.
If the one thing you’re after is a pure sound, you want a Rose.
Agreed, either a Rose or a Recorder 
Loren
No one needs to get nervous 
certainly none of the makers mentioned above.
Perfection is not a word I am comfortable with; it is more the target, less the bow, and a lot can happen to the arrow along the way. Acceptable might be a better word - and that depends entirely on what the player accepts.