I’d like to get a low G whistle but have never played anything except a soprano D. I would greatly appreciate any advice on a reasonably priced low G whistle with fingering that is manageable for a rookie and a reasonable sound.
Go raibh mile maith agat .
I talked with Colin Goldie yesterday and he just finished a batch of low G’s. I don’t know if they are all spoken for or not, but you can’t beat an Overton.
Hoover.
Longfellow! I mean, Burke! 
Yes.
in a pinch, i bought a susato low g for a wedding i was playing at last fall. man, i loathe that instrument. do not get a susato. itwas cheap, but worthless…
if you got dough, of course a copeland would be great. but i bet an Abell low g would be an utter delight. [oh you said low priced…sorry…]
Wow, lot’s of advice on just one data point: I want a Low G whistle.
It would help if you would describe what it is you expect from the whistle:
Backpressure? Air Requirements? Responsiveness? Timbre? Volume?
What do YOU want it to do? There are lots of things that can affect your choice of whistle.
I just went through a LOT of low D whistles to find the ones that were for ME!!! Turns out the Overton (metal) and Bleazey (mopane wood) were those whistles. You may need to do the same thing, be prepared for that.
Case in point. I purchased a particular whistle recently. I TOTALLY hated it. Airy, raspy, air hog of a beast with AWFUL finger spacing and feel. Did I say I totally hated it? Well, I sold this whistle to a person that was willing to take a chance on it even with my less than stellar review.
HE LOVES THE DICKENS OUT OF IT!
I am by no means an expert on low G whistles, I have only owned two of them and currently do not have any. If you have the opportunity you really MUST try before you buy (see my example above). On the other hand, unless you are lucky you will need to take risks and, unless you are TOTALLY lucky, expect to go through at least a couple before finding YOUR instrument. Fortunately, it is usually an easy matter to cycle them back out into the market if one just does not suit you.
Keep in mind that just because another does not like (or like myself and feadog39 DESPISE) a certain key or model or whatever, that may just be the thing for YOU!
I’ve got a Water Weasel Low G that I’m very fond of. The holes are quite large, but it’s an outstanding session whistle, pure, and loud.
I’ve also played the Alba Low G, and like it quite a bit. It’s an easy player, perfect tuning and has that slight “airy” edge to the tone unique to the Albas. The one aspect I really like about the Alba is that they are practically impossible to clog.
I’m with msheldon – if price is an issue, you can’t beat a Water Weasel. I think they’re $82, and Glenn usually has a few lying around.
oops, well, there seem to be two low g whistes threads around at the moment. Here is what is said in the other one…
i like a whistle to be in tune with itself and to have a tad more of that lovely whistle ring that the non-plastic ones tend to have. (of course, the abell would probably be an exception here; but i’ve never played a low anything of abell’s…)
I’ll second this recommendation. Glenn Schultz does wonders with a piece of humble plumbing pipe. The sound is indeed pure, but with a touch of reediness that makes you forget you’re playing PVC. The large sound holes are actually a good feature in my opinion since they make half holing f natural, g# etc nice and easy. For some reason, this whistle always makes me want to noodle on Blues tunes. It has enough back pressure that you don’t blow out your whole lungful in two measures. This is one of my very favorite whistles.
I like the Chieftain low whistles, FWIW,
and I think the price is good.
My all time favorite is the Copeland,
as others have said, above.
There are a bunch of fine Low G whistles around and I happen to love that key. The two very best whistles I’ve ever heard and played are Copeland and O’Riordan Low G - the former very expensive and the latter impossible to obtain readily. The Copeland is the most resonant vibrant sound I’ve heard in a whistle; a bit reedy with a killer bottom end and good balance into the upper, with no shrillness. The O’Riordan is totally different, with small tone holes and a velvety smooth tone through both octaves - totally different and yet my two favorite whistles on the planet.
That said, the Overton Low G is also terrific. My Susato Kildare is also fine as is my Alba - the Alba has a unique lovely tone, but is a bit breathy or airy. I haven’t played a WW LOw G, but if it’s anything like the Bflat and A, it may well be the best bang for the buck. It will also likely have relatively large tone holes, if that’s a problem for you. The new Burke black tip soprano D and C whistles are wonderful - real workhorses with no weaknesses; you might ask whether he’s also successfully extended the design to the Low G.
I can hear Loren somewhere in the background groaning that I never met a whistle I didn’t like. That may be true, but remember that Chieftain Low G I stuck you with years ago, Loren… 
Regards,
PhilO
I think Cskinner had a Copeland low G for sale not too long ago and it was priced very well. I don’t know if she still has it or not.
My experience with the Overton low G
was that it was hard to blow in the upper
register–took great power to get the
high notes. Maybe I could do it now.
Or perhaps there are easier blowing
models. Best
Ok. Thanks everyone for the feedback. This is very helpful and has significantly narrowed down my search to 3 or 4 models, at least for now. I might end up having to buy one and try it out, sell it off if it doesn’t pan out, buy another - but at least I have a hot-list of the likely best bets.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh arais.
Mike
i take that all back about the susato low g. i do loath it after all. i cannot get it in tune. if i the get the low register in tune, the high register goes irrovocablely flat. it’s impossible.
anybody want this whistle? if you pay shipping, i’ll send it to you. for free. IM me. i’m serious.
I’m pretty sure that’s ben sold.
I have an Overton which is great if you want a traditional … eh, is there a tradition already? … low whistle sound. For a pure sound I have a Burke AlPro. I love both. I also have a Copeland on the way. They should cover any needs you have until you can find an O’Riordan or you decide you need wood in which case I’d recommend Grinter.
Wombat, you can’t just stop WhOA by buying a Copeland…
There’s Le Coant (Zub?), Grinter as you said, Bleazey.
And there’s a question of which wood…
And…
Back to the original question though, how about trying a Mid-East cane low G? One advice; you MUST bind it tight, let’s say, five seconds after it’s out of the box. Mine (A)cracked before my eyes (literally) after five minutes, so the earlier the merrier; the better and safer. And the key was in fact in Ab at first; it was after the cracking and the binding the key ‘returned’ to A… I’m ordering some more to se if I can tweak’em.
Agreed, Tak, although none of the brands quoted above fill the original requirement for “reasonable price”. This is dream-whistles realm.
When in doubt for wood, go for African blackwood, cocobolo, then the proven varieties of “rosewoods”… While sound is always arguable, durability and very low maintenance are the prime qualities of these exotic timbers, if properly dried and cured at the manufacturer’s.
I never played the Grinter in G; if it is on par to his 2003 batch of cocobolo F, it is an impressive alto whistle.
Now, Tak knows I’m partial to Le Coant, and this I know in G for sure: low air requirement, pure tone, very responsive, unequalled finish. Reedier tone in kingswood, purer in blackwood.
Well, here’s just for those who didn’t see it when first posted:
And more here: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=15215
