Who’s whistle in the key of A do you recommend: Susato’s and Shaw’s (can’t afford a high-end whistle)? I’ve searched YouTube, but as “A” is very common English word (now that’s a nuisance!), it has been impossible to find a video demonstrating any of them 
All I know is that Susatos are known for being loud.
I have a Dixon tunable that I like really well. It has a beautiful, mellow tone. It takes a lot more breath to play than my Dixon in D but I guess that is to be expected since it a bigger whistle. It is quite reasonably priced, too. I think it was about $50 - $60.
I have a tweaked Shaw A, and a Hoover A.
The Shaw has a very chiffy, breathy tone. The finger spread on the right hand is surprisingly far apart, which would be a problem if I weren’t already accustomed to a low D.
The Hoover has a much sweeter tone. Mack had built this one for another whistler, and it is somewhat louder than his usual construction, though just moderate. Finger spread is very easy on the Hoover.
I had a narrow-bore Susato A that I didn’t like at all, found the octave jump very temperamental and the tone thin. Other players love Susatos - me, not so much.
Mark
I’m a Susato fan and have the narrow bore A which I find delightful. It’s perfectly in tune, rich, mellow and plays nicely even up into the 3rd octave without screeching. I doubt that I would be happy with the medium bore A.
My Chieftain A is super whistle with a lovely flute like tone and they are not hugely expensive.
Hmm… I wonder how much Tommy charges to make an A whistle.
Get a Gen Bb and pull the head out a semi-tone. You may need a bit of tape over a couple of the holes, but it makes a decent mezzo-soprano A. Guido makes some nice cheap mezzo whistles too.
My Hoover A is also a very nice whistle. I have the PVC version which I suspect may have a little more complexity to the sound than the Whitecap/Blacktop versions. Wish I had both.
All the Shaws I have heard were very much on the breathy side and I would not want that sound for a primary whistle.
See, this really puzzles me. I’ve had the narrow-bore A, and a low F, and didn’t like either of them. I usually find things that I like about most whistles. Someday I’ll need to give Susatos another go, so many people do like them, and the assortment of available keys makes them handy.
I recently found a whistle-manufacturer called Ethnic Winds (http://ethnicwind.com/). Haven’t heard their mezzo A, but their Amhrán Dubh Low E sounds marvelously good (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0h6ATmkjWk). After listening to some samples on their website (sadly, there’s no mezzo A sample), all I can say is: wow! And they can even customize them for you for a next-to-nothing fee. And their prices are extremely reasonable! Anyone who can confirm that this manufacturer is as good as it seems?
I want to get a whistle in the key of A, my price range is about 125-150 $.
I’ve done some research, and the ones I can find are Abell, Goldie, Susato, Shaw, Chieftain and Dixon. (the first two being completely out of my price range).
Are there any others that I should know about?
Sindt.
Best wishes.
Steve
Hmm, only 5 months waiting (not too shabby compared to some other makers).
this is Nick; he’s on this board sometimes (i emailed him to see if he wants to respond directly). i’m thinking i might get one of his copper g whistles; he makes sets (one head multiple bodies) of e, f, g, and a.
i’ve heard good things about them, if you search this board you should find some opinions… i remember someone just recently bought one of his g whistles and recommended them:
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/new-ethnic-winds-low-g-whistle/68994/1
he’s the only seller of metal mid-range whistles that i’ve heard of… as far as other pvc/plastic types, there is dixon, susato, and also shearwater:
http://www.shearwaterwhistles.com/#/whistles-prices-etc/4528261495
and the afore-mentioned Mack Hoover:
http://www.mackhooverwhistles.com/ordering.htm
i’ve never tried his pvc whistles, but i have his blackcap and it’s great. 
good luck!
I’ll second the nomination for Dixon tunable A. I’ve got one and like it very much.
trill
I second the recommendation for Sindt. Buy an “A” head, and you can get B and Bb tubes for it for almost nothing.
–Blake
I have a tuneable Chieftain A which I am enormously fond of.
Burke. I’ve got a composite A that I like very much.
I recently found a whistle-manufacturer called Ethnic Winds (> http://ethnicwind.com/> ). Haven’t heard their mezzo A, but their Amhrán Dubh Low E sounds marvelously good (> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0h6ATmkjWk> ). After listening to some samples on their website (sadly, there’s no mezzo A sample), all I can say is: wow! And they can even customize them for you for a next-to-nothing fee. And their prices are extremely reasonable! Anyone who can confirm that this manufacturer is as good as it seems?
Well, since I am the manufacturer I think the whistles are as good as they seem. I try to make the best whistles I can for reasonable prices. The wait time right now from when I recieve the order is about 2-3 weeks (I’m trying to get it down to 1, but people keep ordeing whistles) I’ll see if I can get you the sound samples you want. Just let me know which model you were hoping to hear, and I post a sound clip for you.
Thanks!
I’ll also agree about the Dixon A. I have a polymer one and I like the breathy tone.
Geoff