Just how many wet, whistle players are there out in the whistle world. and I don’t mean the ones standing in the rain!
Wizzy
With a name like Wizzy, I shudder to think exactly what you ARE thinking of… 
I’m a pretty dry player, but one thing I have noticed is that enjoying that traditional accompaniment to Celtic music, (namely beer)during a session definitely contributes to the moisture problem. Don’t drink and play!
Err,I give up..how many? Peace, Mike
By wet, do you mean tuning, as in accordians??? Personally, I have never thought of my whistle as being wet-tuned or dry-tuned. But now I come to think of it though, some tunes do require a more wet approach than others… for example tunes such as “Rainy Day”, “Morning Dew” “Lakes of Sligo” “Out on the Ocean” etc.
Do you mean new whistlers, droolers, horny (sorry) whistlers, people who whistle in the shower, or some technique I haven’t heard of? If you meant the 3rd one you can just turn your wizzy little bum around and get out… otherwise I’d be very interested to hear your answer.
I whistle in the shower if that’s what this thread is about. It takes two seconds to warm up a big beefy aluminum whistle plus the accoustics are great!
Beer isnt great but tea drinking really causes the juices to flow. I have to make a choice when i get home from work, my habitual cup-o-afternoon-tea or whistle. Easy choice. Tea consumption has gone way down.
Such a cryptic post from a prominent whistlesmith seems rather puzzling.Whats up? Peace,Mike
A beer usually helps to wet my whistle.
Haven’t a clue as to what he might mean, but Jameson is my libation of choice. Can’t stand the brew at the local brewery/pub, and the one I can stand (and is free for the musicians) gives me migraines. Two whiskys and I’m a very mellow player.
I have found that playing in the bathroom, while the shower is running, really makes an inferior whistle sound great, which may lead to a new post about “How many whistles do you have in each bathroom”?
JP
Well there must be thousands, as I’m always hearing of {me whistle keeps cloging up}.
I think its a lot to do, with flat narrow wind ways.
Maybe Dewhistle has something to say on the subject as it would seem he has a fixation.
[ This Message was edited by: wizzy on 2002-09-06 03:43 ]
[ This Message was edited by: wizzy on 2002-09-06 03:48 ]
I know that the Yamaha recorders with rectangular windways get a lot of “condensation,” whereas I’ve never had problems with “condensation” building up in their curved windway recorders. The windway is as narrow on both, but the curve tends to block the moisture.
Well John, I generally keep my Overton low D and my Chieftain Gold A in the bathroom. Both by no means inferior whistles…but they sound even better when “singin’ in the rain”. Seriously, though, a blast of hot water and a quick blow-out and they’re good to go. I usually play in >5 minute intervals several times during the day when things permit (not always in the shower). Plus, if you’re in the shower, nobody bothers you with, “Can I go to Jessica’s house?” or “Hey! Whatcha doin’?” or “When’s dinner gonna be ready?” or “My life sucks because…”
Cleanliness is next to godliness,
Eric
STOP THE DISCUSSION, LOOK NO FURTHER, HERE IS YOUR ANSWER!
There was actually a discussion of this on the IR-TRAD list not too long ago. Using Terry McGee’s S.L.I.M.E.E. (Salivation Lubrication Inconceivable Metric Extrapolation Experiment) formula we were able to come to a fairly accurate worldwide estimate of:
7.3
I hope that satisfied whatever twisted fascination it was that prompted you to ask this question.
Chris
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisLaughlin on 2002-09-06 09:59 ]
Elfin wisdom
I have experimented a lot with expanding and contracting the airway in search of the elusive moisture free whistle and have come to the following conclusions.
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Dirt attracts moisture. Keep airways clear.
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Some people have more spit than others and some people have thicker spit than others.
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I think that metal mouthpieces attract condensation more so than plastic as metal is colder (totally my theory here) Just like a pop can verses a plastic cup of pop, which one seems to have more water on it? Metal has a beautiful tone, but there are some trade off’s.
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Eating M&M’s on stage contributes to moisture build up.
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If your whistle is going to clog up, it will when you are in the middle of a show piece and the audience is actually listening to you, but never when they are ignoring you or the guy who hired you is in the other room.
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The best way to avoid moisture build up is to:
a)Always blow your whistle out before playing a tune,
b)keep the M&M’s in their bag until your break
c) Have a pipe cleaner in your bag incase your whistle seems dirty. A quick swab can work wonders!
d) Did I mention the M&Ms?
About metal condensing more:
I agree with Sandy to the extent of what I have played. I have six Burkes, including the kind where the delrin wraps around onto the mouthpiece. The latter never clogs. The metal ones with delrin block do condense, alum more than brass. The wraparounds still condense moisture but it doesnt stick.
I have , in particular, a problem with the high B on the metal ones. Sometimes, the alpro D is already cloggy on that note before I have even played (on foggy Bay Area days). I have tried soap but not Jet Dry or duponol (on the hunt for those products).
Ideally, I would have the combo design on all. But I don’t know how or why Mike chooses which for that design. Low A and G, and high E are combo, of what I own. Ds and C are not.
On 2002-09-06 03:41, wizzy wrote:
Maybe Dewhistle has something to say on the subject as it would seem he has a fixation.
Look here, I only meant the “wizzy little bum” comment for you if you were asking about my third option (a crude one, after all). I apologise if it seemed like a snub, but seeing as how it was a JOKE and one which I only mentioned ONCE it would hardly qualify as a fixation and it appears to me that you are being too sensitive and not using your sense of humor.
Next time clarify your question or be prepared for the sort of flip speculation, which I and OTHERS were indulging in.
Thanks to all of you who took my question in the way it was ment.The ELFIN wisdom is perhaps the best, but its also wise to leave out the Crisps [potato chips}.
When I’m at shows, as soon as I open a bag and have, one somebody all ways wants you to play a tune!.NEVER FAILS.
Wizzy
ps All fogiven Dewistle.
Pps.How can you tell a wet blower ,they are the one standing in a puddle.
Cheers. 
DW