I’m looking for some good advice before spending some money please?
I’m a competent flute player, and have played the whistle for around 15 years now.
I have a Clarke original high D whistle which I rather like, but my daughter has managed to drop it twice now causing some minor damage. As I need to replace it I’m looking to upgrade to something better and have no idea what to go for - someone has recommended a tuneable Elf, but there are so many different makes/models on the market now that I don’t know what I’m looking for online. I’m happy to pay around £60-£150. Play on my own and with up to 5 other people in a group.
Also, I have a Howard low D whistle. Despite having very long fingers I find it quite painful to cover the bottom hole properly - probably more practice on my part would overcome this, but because it’s not pleasant I struggle with it. The tone of the Howard is nice, but just wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction of what might suit me better? I’ve read that both the Chieftain and Susato have closer holes at the bottom, but no idea whether they are actually nice to play and still have a nice tone.
There are several players on C&F that will recommend another Clarke, it is a nice whistle.
My low D whistles are Overton, Dixon, and Howard. Each has a different voice, and I enjoy playing all three. The Howard was my first, and I did go through the same struggles as others. After many hours of determination that are over now, it was worth it. There are a few players that cover the bottom hole with the small pinkie finger. Just a little muscle memory adjustment. Also there are some that found a neck strap to hold some of the weight of a low whistle to be helpful. The simplest is a small DIY hook that hangs on to the end, and a saxophone strap, or whatever can be found.
About Low D, i sent a post about Ian Lambe whistle yesterday.
As a beginner, i should face many problems playing it, but i don’t have any.
I own a Dixon Duo head, and i make some low Ds in PVC (just for myself).
I find this whistle very good; but I don’t know if you can find them in a shop.
Regards
About the fingerhole position on Low D whistles, you can go back and search the many previous threads on this issue.
Bottom line is, if a Low D’s holes are all in the acoustically correct position to create an evenly strong and in tune scale the holes are too far apart to be played, while if the Low D’s holes are placed comfortably under the fingers of a normal person’s hands the holes are so far away from their acoustically correct position that you get an uneven scale with some notes being unacceptably feeble and/or an out of tune scale.
So, every Low D represents a compromise between the laws of acoustics and human ergonomics. EVERY Low D. No maker can escape the laws of acoustics, no matter what they claim.
So, it’s a tradeoff. How comfortable is acceptable to you? How even a scale is acceptable to you?
What helps tremendously is using the “piper’s grip” which allows the spread of Low D’s to be managed quite comfortably. If it’s not comfortable you’re not doing the grip correctly.
But I’ve played many Low D’s out there (but not all by a long shot) and I prefer the Burke “Pro Viper”. The best single Low D I’ve ever played is a certain MK I tried. To many players (but not me) the Overton is in a class by itself and is the best Low D by far. Ask ten players and you’ll get at least ten different answers.
As i read in some books, the are so many variables in making wind instruments, that probably a deep knowledge and experience is required to make a good instrument. But probably even some “plus feature” not everyone have.
I’m glad to read pancelticpiper found MK whistle the best he played.
I’m in Misha Sommerville’s list, and i hope i’ll receive his “masterpiece” in some months.
However, I think I was lucky, and i know i’ll never leave Ian Lambe’s whistle in a corner… I’m a satisfied customer, but i also had not so lucky experiences before (i won’t ever report).
However, having played acoustic guitar for about 45 years (not continously) i finally found a rule so easy I could have known before: if i want a good instrument i have to pay it enough.
And i have to play it before buying it. There isn’t the best brand or the best maker, but just the instrument that fits my needs at that moment. Every instrument differs from another.
I was happy when i found my Larrivèe LSV11E and since then i play much better and I enjoy in playing much more, while before i was hurted by the little defects in intonation and in the tone i had with other guitars…not because i was a great player, but because with the time my ear had improved.
I saw this simple rule verified with the wistles..even though if you don’t live in a “ITM area”, you cannot check directly what you buy, just (sometimes) send it back to the maker.
But if the maker is correct (she/)he’ll get it back and refund your money.
About Misha, i heard that if the whistle is not at the quality level he wants, the instrument is not delivered. So you can wait more, but the result is really an MK whistle as it’s supposed to be.
You are correct.
Will a conical bore have a more comfortable hole group, and play better?
Lets mention the makers dilemma of developing a hole pattern with large or smaller holes. I have read preference in both ways. Some players like large holes they can tell when their finger is covering it, and they write a small hole is to hard to find.
And the preference for the small hole is that it is easier to cover.
I’m a satisfied customer, but i also had not so lucky experiences before (i won’t ever report).