What is a good session whistle?

Whistle
1

I have a clarke sweetone, but I was wondering what a good whistle for playing with others at the local session would be? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Ben

2

My $.02 worth:

Depends on the session, how big it is, what the others play, and your idea of what you want your own participation to be.

You can’t go wrong by checking out the equipment of any whistles who play the session. Go to listen and while you’re there chat up the whistler(s). Find out what they play.

I’ve never met a whistler who didn’t enjoy talking about / demonstrating his or her whistles!

If it turns out they play something ungodly expensive, then I would say your best inexpensive bets would be Oak, Feadog, Acorn, or for a little more, Syn.

I would stay away from louder or more exotic whistles for session play until you know that particular session well enough to know why you’d want a louder whistle.

I recently saw a whistle duet between Paul Smyth and Michael Cooney as part of their concert with Ged Foley. It looked like one was playing an Oak and one a Feadog. Sounded pretty durn good, too.

–James

3

If you DO want loud, the I have heard that the Alba SE is quite good and loud also. I saw one for sale on the boards recently.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=23185&highlight=alba+se

My Bleazey High D is my loudest whistle, but falls under the “more expensive” catagory.

Sometimes loud is not required to be heard though. A good, clear sounding whistle can penetrate the session, sometimes better than a loud, mushy sounding one can.

4

Loudest isn’t necessarily best, of course. I know of two whistlers around here who play Sweetones in sessions effectively.

Trisha

5

Agreeing with the latter part of NorCal’s post.

Trisha

6

One that’s owned by someone who knows how to play it and how to fit in with other players I reckon.

A couple of months ago I was visiting a town, and heard a whistle somewhere. Took me ages to track it down through the busy Saturday morning crowds and traffic. A busker playing a Sweetone. The High D range cuts through more than you think.

7

I haven’t played nearly as many kinds of whistles as others on the forum, but I really like the Burke Brass black tip Session D whistle, aka “DBSBT.” Pricier than Gens & Oaks, but well worth it in my book.

8

Thanks a lot for the advice. The next time the session takes place I’ll definately be talking to the whistlers!

9

I’ve had a Burke, a Water Weasel, a Sindt, and a Humprey plus I now have a Freeman Tweaked Gen and a Clare. All these whistles were very good with the Sindt being my favorite. They would all make great session whistles.