warning to all

Whistle
1

I just retired (again)from a long career in law enforcement and then City government; ergo, I will have more time while mulling over what I want to do when I grow up and enjoying my pension, to lambast you all with sometimes idiotic and once in a great while pithy postings.

I am already spending time listening to new (to me) cds recommended by Loren and wish to publicly thank him for that. Steam and Fusion are wonderful. I got these as well as others from Amazon used - that’s right used. I thought I’d never get audio used for obvious reasons, but Amazon has a marketplace of affiliated sellers that are bound by Amazonian rules and who list condition of cds that are so far accurate. I’ve purchased as new at half price and noticed no difference whatever. I’ve been happily surprised at both quality and level of service, in case anyone’s interested.

Bill(Serpent)/Chris, I too engaged in a bit of hyperbole in posting a while back about the Elfsong. Most of us here I think engage in and love hyperbole.

Chris I’ve played all but a handful of the whistles you listed and some others as well (including some cheapies that are real good)and, while the Elfsong may not be “sweetest whistle,” it is a wonderful whistle in all respects with tremendous bang for the buck.

In a recent thread we talked about favorite whistles and in another best whistles, etc. When I give such opinions, they are based on several relative variables as well as a view of the totality of the whistle as a whole, felt somewhat as an instinctive attraction.

The first superficial judgments made of course are as to appearance and heft and physical comfort. The most important to me are how it sounds and it’s playability. Durability and ease of maintenance also play some role for me.

That said, when you get a whistle like the Elfsong and come to realize that the cosmetic beauty is not just fluff, but rather an enhancement to a wonderful sounding, easily playable, comfortable and durable (so far)whistle, at a very fine value, you get a bit moved to hyperbole.

Finally (for this morn), as Loren periodically accuses me of fickleness or forgetfullness in my assessments of whistles I’ve played and owned, I’ll set the record straight. He’s absolutely correct.

In any event my absolute favorite whistles by key, cost notwithstanding, of those that I’ve played, and subject to change without prior notice:

soprano D - Copeland, Abell (delrin)
C - Silkstone PVC, Walton Golden Tone
Bflat - Abell (blackwood)
A - WaterWeasel (PVC)
low G - O’Riordan (anodized aluminum)
F - Grinter (lancewood)
D - Copeland

Notes:
1.Also terrific are many whistles in sop. D because there are so many more of them produced and available and sought - Grinter, Elfsong, Burke AL-pro, Busman, Sindt.

2.Perhaps the greatest all-around whistle I’ve ever played, key notwithstanding, is the O’Riordan Low G.

3.I’ve only played a handful of Low F whistles.

4.With respect to Low D and all the requests for recommendations that center around this key, I’ve played a bunch of them. I think perhaps this is the clearest opinion I can give - Copeland is like none other and simply the finest I’ve played. I have medium sized hands and there is no problem re reach or hole coverage. I guess price is the consideration, but, IMHO, well worth it.
I believe others, like Jessie, could expound further having played an even wider range of low whistles.

OK, you’ve all been warned.

Regards,

Philo

2

Or in other words: Blah, blah blah, blah blah. Or something to that effect :laughing:

Happy retirement dude :slight_smile:

Loren

3

Each morning I awaken and say:
‘Aaaah! Another day of not
explaining obscure ideas to
uninterested people!’

Congratulations! I second your
praise for the Copeland low D.
As far as money goes, well,
you can always sell the whistle
for more than you paid.
It’s an investment really,
I tell the wife…

4

I have to remind myself to be charitable and well-wishing to people who tell me they just retired or have been retired. It’s my ultimate goal in life and a long way off. I have no strong desire to be rich, other than it would allow me to retire. I’m happy living in the small condo, don’t need a big house, etc. The point is to have more time to play whistle, goof off, etc. When people tell me they got bored with retirement and went back to work for something to do, I think they’re crazy. (I actually like my job as far as it goes, but it sure cuts into my time.)

Congratulations, Phil. I’m genuinely happy for you. (No, really.)
Tony

5

I second Tony. I can think of sooooo many things to do, even if geezerized. Whistling, whistling, whistling, whistling, guitar playing, harmonica playing, gardening, , woodworkin, hikin, reading, writing a real letter, seein more of california.

The other side of the coin is that some people have found professions they really love and do resent having their plug pulled. I get that too.

Happiness to all.

6

Congratulations, Phil, on your new retirement.

I do have one question, for Phil or anyone else who thinks Abells are wonderful: What’s wonderful about them? I have one that I’m not crazy about. It takes somewhat more wind than most high-end whistles, and the sound is breathy, too – kind of reminiscent of a Clarke. Is that what they’re all like, or are there significant variations in them?

It’s not without its redeeming qualities – it’s a wonderful playing whistle, extremely predictable and even across the octaves. I’m not saying it’s bad, just not my cupo’.

TIA, Charlie

7

Charlie,

Abells can vary from fairly loud and pure, to somewhat quiet and cloudy sounding. It sounds like you got one of the latter type maybe.

I have a few questions for you: How old is it, what key, what material is it made from, and are you the original owner?

I’ve played about a dozen Abells - every key from High F to the Low A, and all of the “standard” materials - Delrin, Blackwood, and Madagasar Rosewood. If you want to send your Abell to me for a few days (since it sounds like you’re not playing it much) I’d be happy to give it a whirl and tell you how it compares with the others I’ve played.

Loren

8

Charlie - Loren will give you most expert/experienced feedback. My experience with Abells is somewhat limited. But here goes.

I have a delrin D which is very pure and has a nice round or bright tone.

I also have a blackwood Bflat/A set with one head purchased second-hand when they were fairly new and in wonderful condition. Oddly, I like the Bflat a bit more than the A. The Bflat plays very much like the D but has more timbre to it, which could just be the key.

I also purchased a used older set of blackwood Eflat, D, C Abells which I returned because I found them somehow uninspired, flat or dull in tone combined with more airiness.

Overall, I find that the stubby mouthpiece with the narrow blow hole takes getting used to; but then they do seem to play better over time.

They’re very beautiful, well-made and both the delrin D and blackwood Bflat feel like part of me every time I play them.

My long-winded way of saying pretty much what Loren just said; but I do have more time…

Regards,

Philo

9

Loren/Phil: Thanks for your responses. I am not the original owner, who has another Abell that is quite cherished. Phil, it sounds as though I have one similar to the ones you returned; it’s blackwood. I don’t hate it by any means, and some days I like it more than others.

Loren, if you want it for evaluation/as a loaner, I’d be glad to send it for a month or two. Mail me offlist.

Charlie

10

I still have my Abells Charlie, so I was just offering to satisfy your curiousity as to whether it was more likely you, or your Abell that’s not quite right :laughing: I don’t need a loaner though, but thanks.

Phil,

The Bb Abell tube sounds stronger than the A tube because Chris optimized the mouthpiece and tubing diameter for the Bb whistle - the A tube, like the Eb and C tubes that fit the Abell D headjoint, are “accessory” tubes which are a bit of a compromise…Ideally each whistle would have it’s own unique mouthpiece and different diameter body tubing, but very few makers are willing to go to that trouble. Still, I find that I like the quieter tubes for practicing when I want something that won’t carry so much and disturb others. And the Eb tube is a little firecracker! It would be a great session whistle, if it were in the right key.

Now if I could just find a killer deal on a used Abell Soprano F whistle…

Loren

11

Hey Philo-- congrats on the retirement! Just one word of advice: stay BUSY! In my 25 years of Podiatry practice I’ve seen all too many people retire early and get old VERY fast from sitting back and watching Oprah and soaps every day. Sounds like you have enough interests to keep you occupied. One suggestion might be taking your musical skills on the road, as it were, and playing as a volunteer for people in nursing homes, etc. They love it!!

12

Thanks everyone. It’s a small part scary (conceptually), a bigger part exciting, and mostly a relief at this point! Thanks for the support and suggestions. People on the job have always said nobody would believe this stuff, you oughta write a book…

Philo

13

One thing to try before deciding about the Abell. At one time I began noticing my blackwood D was sounding more muffled and dull. I eventually convinced myself it wasn’t my imagination. I ran a strip of business card through the windway and I’m embarrassed to say what came out of there. (That’s why I never suck condensation, I cover the windway and blow.) Anyway, it changed the tone dramatically for the better.
Tony

14

Philo, congratulations on your retirement! Trust me on this, it can be the beginning of an altogether new and better life. In order of increasing satisfaction and pleasure, the high points of my life have been (1) graduating from high school hell, (2) getting my Ph.D., and (3) retirement. I don’t understand why some people get dissatisfied and want to go back to work. They must not have had much of a life outside of their job. (Or maybe they just need an excuse to escape from a nagging wife.)

15

Happy retirement, Phil! Maybe you’ll have a whole other 'nother career, too! Can’t imagine you just sitting around on yer butt and toodling. Way ta go!

16

Well, I’ve just gotten through recording myself on seven high-end wooden whistles,* and the Abell sounds really good. It’s odd how: 1) whistles that sound NOTHING like each other to the player are pretty similar to each other on tape (only the Rose stood out as significantly different); and 2) there’s not a very good correlation between those I like playing the best and those I like hearing the best. I would put the Abell among the top three on tape, but in the bottom two the way it sounds to me when I’m playing.

My wife says the tape doesn’t really do them justice, but that in general they are more similar to the listener than to the player.

Charlie

*Abell, Bleazey, Busman, Grinter, Rose, Thin Weasel, and Wilson