What is it about certain whistle keys from makers that makes that whistle distinct? I love a generation Eb, I despise the C. I think the Chieftain F (God I really wish I had one) sounds incredible and reacts the way you really want it to, but I’ve found the higher whistles a bit tougher.
Is it bore diameter to length ratio? A magical recipe only held by God himself…and potentially Dale.
I wonder…
magic and fairy dust.
Generation Cs are exceptionally horrid (in nickel and brass).
Walton Cs are exceptionally great (in nickel or brass).
It’s just how it is.
It has a lot to do with the materials and mouthpiece design… a particular material and wall thickess may work fantastic at one range or length, however the longer / shorter you get, the less / overly, voiced / responsive you get.
Perfect example: I use a rather thick walled aluminum (not rediculous, but still, quite a bit thicker than say, Generations or similar thin wall whistles is what I mean) now then… at the diameter tubing I use for High D and C it works great, however if I try to go lower and lower than that, it becomes very quiet and horribly less responsive… I tried a high G and it was so piercing it would’ve shattered glass!! I had to increase the diameter of the tubing for the low whistles of course, and I’ve not yet ventured into the smaller tubing for something above high D.
Obviously, all whistle makers make the distinction between High and Low whistles whith various sized tubing, but the point I’m trying to make is that all whistlesmiths are going to have their own personal “sweet spot” as far as the sharp-eared customer is concerned in my personal opinion, and that it will vary greatly depending upon what the material and design is.
Take care,
John
P.S. : This is only MY opinion, based on my own personal experiences, and a few other persons agreements.