Ok, there’s what purports to be a Copeland sterling silver C whistle on e-bay that was up from a lister for 3 days without a single bid and has been relisted. I’m suffering with a bit of a head cold right now and feel a bit groggy, but has Copeland fallen out of vogue entirely, has the cure for WHOA been not only discovered but universally applied…or am I just missing something obvious here…What’s up?
Philo wants to know
It’s a tough and sensitive question. When C&F started, there were a small number of reasonably well-known high-end whistles. Since C&F and, to be honest, I think largely through C&F, the high-end market has blossomed and so there is more competition. In addition, I think the people at Copeland suffer a bit from their own improvements in efficiency. Years ago, Mike could not meet demands and so the Copeland mystique was tremendous. They now appear to keep up nicely with demand due, I guess, to better shop management. So, while I’m not sure that demand is down (it may be due to to competition), supply seems better and prices aren’t lower.
Well that in part answers it; I thought the price was a bit low for a sterling copeland and the close up pic was a bit too far to be sure - but the lister has now corrected that it’s nickel not sterling.
Thanks Dale. I still have all my Copelands which includes the entire line but for a C. The same folks who used to complain that there was a great deal of inconsistency in the whistles (there was), now complain that they’ve sort of been “dumbed down” or standardized so as to take away at once both the inconsistency and the occasional greatness of a masterpiece.
Some really terrific and less pricey makers have come around and, discussions as to whether and how much of a whistle is “custom” or “hand” made versus machined or production line notwithstanding, these new whistles have satisfied my needs completely. I look to the finished product, i.e., materials, sturdiness, appearance, and most of all how does it play for me; I don’t really care whether the tubing is cut by use of CNC computer etc., because these are generally individually hand voiced anyway.
That said, if you put a gun to my head, I’d fight for my Copeland low G - an older model. That thing is alive…
Philo
I think there’s a special magic in the Copelands in the middle range.
I’ve got a Bb that I’ve already killed two men to keep. (And, in one of these cases, I actually used the Bb to kill the guy. I still have the x-ray of the business end of the whistle, imbeded in his frontal lobes.) The Low F I have is also 2die4. Years ago, I auctioned off my Low D to raise money for a charity thing one of my daughters was doing. I’m not sorry I did it, but, boy, do I miss it.
Then, again, the high Eb Copeland I have is perfect. I mean perfect.
Dale
So guys, what do you think about the vintage on this Copeland C (4 years old). I too noticed it yesterday, and today relisted, since nobody bid on it. Now there is a bidder (is that you PhilO?) so it will find a new home soon.
matt
Not me Matt. But, I’ll tell ya, along with playing third base for the Yankees in the seventh game of the world series, sitting in Michael’s shop and playing all the whistles in different keys as he turns them out, well that’s as good a definition of heaven as any. 
Philo
Well, part of it may be that it’s a C, also…
not as much use for a C in session music..I myself only know 2 tunes that are played on the C whistle in session. So, when I see whistles in C, I don’t give them a second thought, no matter the maker. I’m sure I can’t be alone in this. For instance, I’d pay probably 5 or 6 hundred bucks for an O’Riordan in D. But I just can’t get worked up at all over one in C.
Not to mention, I think D irish tunes transposed to C generally sound like crap. I am pretty sure I’m not alone in that opinion either 
PhilO, I was hoping to get an “opinion” on the Copelands produced 4 years ago. I know the seller has commented that this one is good, and perhaps I should leave it at that. But I have heard enough posts here on the variation during certain time periods, that begs the question (at least to me) 
Greg, I was typing my message when you posted yours (hehe), but I get your point, and it is a great point. This may be why the whistle is being sold. I have a Hoover Whitecap D/C set and I actually use it as a C whistle. I don’t play in sessions, but I find it quite enjoyable to play as a quite whistle, and rarely put the D body on, since I have other D whistles I prefer. By the way, I’m gettin’ excited about that Greenwood D . . .
matt
I hear different opinions
I wonder how many others share your view of flat pitch piping. Come on folks; now’s your chance to come out.
I was thinking the same thing.
C whistles are handy here for playing for some of the singers. I’ve used my Abell, but its voice is too strong, so I switched over to a Walton that is warmer and quieter. My Burke C tends to buzz in the midrange if there is a hint of condensation (a real disappointment for me) and the O’Riordan is flat out overpowering.
Bwaaaa haaaaa haaa ha!!! 
Man, you really gave me a good laugh there buddy. Hand voiced, hee hee hee, Good one!
Well, everything is relative I suppose. :roll:
BTW, I have to claim some responsibility regarding the Copeland C : Having seen the original ebay posting, I asked the seller if he/she was certain the instrument was Sterling, rather than Nickel, since it’s an easy enough mistake to make. The owner replied that, after checking, the instrument was indeed Nickel, and so the the seller relisted the item with a lower opening bid. Which I think reflects quite well upon the seller.
You’d better scoop this one up Phil, ‘cause once I’m back in the black, I’ll be buying up every frickin’ (older) Copeland Nickel C on the planet, in an effort to find one as good as the one I let get away.
Loren
Wow, that’s amazing, my Abell with the C tube could never be called too strong. Just out of curiosity, what’s the serial number on your Abell headjoint?
Loren
Hey Loren, what’s up? I don’t know which end of the hand made - mass produced spectrum Mike Burke or John Sindt are closer to, but they make some really fine whistles. The Burke black tips in soprano D and C and E are outrageous as well as the Viper Low D. The Sindt C is a classic.
Copelands - well I have the best whistle ever made in Low G, as well as magical Bflat, A and Eflat whistles.
If you’re ever in NY, you can try em - of course, you’ll be subjected to a full search by professionals on the way out.
Philo
Clarke originals, are, in fact, individually hand-voiced. I’ve seen it with me on eyes.
Dale
Re ‘D’ v ‘C’.
Uninterestingly enough,I was playing a variety of whistles this afternoon(my first great whistle bash of 2005),and amongst the contenders were my Copeland low ‘D’ and Alba low ‘C’.
Both very individualistic,and different, instruments.
I must admit that I didn’t used to be all that keen on 'C’whistles (though my only previous ‘c’ was a Gen.),but I DID enjoy the Alba today-very manouverable,easy finger stretch,wind in the cosmic drainpipe tone, etc.
Didn’t my guru-Micho Russell-play a ‘C’ whistle quite a bit?
I’m currently waiting for a Sindt ‘C’,after hearing all the ‘killer-diller’ spiel about this being the ‘best’ Sindt.
We’ll see (incidentally,my Eb Sindt was in the play today-lovely whistle!)
As to the “usefullness” of C whistles, a while back I sold a Copeland C to a Boarder in Germany, who I believe plays in a band and in sessions, although I don’t know if that’s what he used it for.
I was playing C whistles all day today - Burke, Sindt, O’Riordan - each different and lovely fun to play.
Philo
Of course I just know that I’m not the only one who doesn’t like D tunes played on C whistles. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if other people had other tastes. But I mentioned that I was sure I wasn’t alone in that opinion, because several people have told me the same thing. So, I do know it’s not just me
Everyone has different tastes and all, which I certainly recognize. But I do know that every session I’ve gone to, C whistles end up being pretty neglected. I certainly wasn’t knocking them..I was just trying to provide an answer to the question, which was “why hasn’t this thing been sold?”