I thought it might be fun to post our own top 5 personal whistle lust lists (“WLL” for short). We all know we have them–well, maybe except for Loren who seems to already have every whistle made!
Here is my top five:
Older style “good” Generation D. Let’s face it, these whistles are like the holy grail-- almost impossible to find but legendarily good if you do! My older style Bb Generation is a wonder. I want one that good in D! Unfortunately, therte is no simple waiting list I can place myself on to get one. So I lust in vain.
Lon Dubh whistle. Sounds really nice but pricey. But can all those All Ireland champs be wrong?
Anything by Pat O’Riordan!
Silkstone Alloy D. The recordings I have heard of this whislte sound great and it seems to impress those who have them. Plus, it just looks so sleek and neato.
Laughing Whistle by Noah Herbison. Seems to sound good and telescopic! How can one go wrong?
Thats it for me. Any great whistles left off the list may be because I already have them!
You do realise Tres that you’ve just created the profiteer’s reference thread.
Apart form wanting to fill a few gaps with good whistles—Db, B, Ab, low F#, low E, low Db, I have at least one very good whistle in every key and I’m not hanging out for others. Forgetting these keys, and forgetting older Generations, here are the whistles I’d most like to add to my collection.
Sindt Eb
Any O’Riordan that is affordable.
Outstanding Copeland low A and/or G … I find Copelands a bit inconsistent but when good they’re great.
Rose high D
Le Coant low whistle, any key.
Burke composite low, perhaps in one of those unusual keys.
no lust for more whistles. i have enough whistles below,
no need for more. but not enough tunes yet…
-burke low D EZ composite
-burke low G composite
-burke high D composite session
-burke high DBPS
i’m one short
-it’s not a whistle, but a priceless rogge practice set, arriving next year
Wombat, just email Mike Burke and order the low-E composite. It’s one of the most wonderful whistles I’ve played.
My list is quite short these days. A Grinter low-F. I ordered it a year ago, along with either an A or G. Once those come, I’ll probably order whichever (A or G) from one of the other woode makers (Schultz, Bleazey, possibly Abell).
The Loon Dubh is awfully tempting, too, but I probably won’t bite until I’ve unloaded some D’s.
Sweetheart Professional Model (in the birch laminate). We’ve been so pleased with the little Sweetheart piccolo I got my hubby for Christmas, I’d really like to own one of their whistles.
Water Weasel. Been wanting one for ages.
Something from Alba, though I haven’t decided exactly what.
Another Elfsong or two…perhaps one with a delrin fipple, for comparison
A Syn (because everyone needs a little Syn in their life!)
I want to keep this list short. It seems my favorite whistle is the one I’m playing. If I get too many, one of them won’t get enough play time. So anyway:
Sindt D
Tully Session D
Copeland Low D
I have an Overton low D, and grow more fond of it with time and increasing competence.
I love my Alba Bb, though it challenges me to attack upper register notes with gumption…if I don’t really mean it it will drop down with a “cuckoo” kind of sound which I take to be Stacey laughing at me for not having the balls to hang onto those notes.
I’m awaiting…a Burke D composite NB, and an Abell C.
And then, as they say, my family will be complete.
(4 kids, 4 whistles…well, guess I shouldn’t leave out my little Clarke, though I lost the Gen D ages ago.)
If someone decided to give me an whistle by Ian Lambe I’d hardly complain…they’s awfully pretty.
Hmm, that’s a tough one. I just got a metal Syn yesterday, so that’s off the list. My new Alba Q1 is currently winging its way to me from Scotland, so that’ll be off the list sometime this week. The Alba Low D World Tour Experience is currently winging its way to me from California, so in a couple of days that’ll be off the list for 3 weeks, but then I’ll probably really want it back. I really want for very little right now in the way of whistles. I guess I’d have to say:
a really good Gen D, perhaps a Jerrytweaked.
the gorgeous 19th century cocus flute listed for sale on Brad Hurley’s site yesterday. For some reason, my wife isn’t thrilled with the price tag.
1,2,3) Sindt C - I’ve already done something about this-Ann Sindt placed me on the waiting list this week! I’ve also ordered a C# body (for the whistle head,NOT for me!!)and a B body to add to my Bb/A set.This means that I’ll be able to play along with all of those ‘flat set’ Uilleann Pipe c.d.'s,and hopefully get a handle on what the players are doing!
4)Alba low Bb.
I love my Alba low ‘C’- considering that I have small hands,this horn is very easy to play-I have often wondered if I could manage the Bb-I am sure that it has a haunting sonority (‘haunting sonority’? WHERE did I get that from?-come on Stacey or Zub.-what ARE the hole/fingerstretch values for the Alba Bb? !!).
5)A low Eb whistle-very Jazzy-Most probably an Overton anodized all Blue(s),by Colin Goldie.
AND… Drones for my practice U.P. set of four weeks! Mesmerising,tantalising and sometimes downright FRUSTRATING at present,but it’s VERY early days in that musical journey yet!
The only whistles I still think about now are a really fine Copeland C to finish the line and possibly a Low E Burke composite; I’ve never played that key and have heard many good things about the composite.
#1 on my whistle lust list… A 40 gig Ipod! Wait! That’s not a whistle! (voice from the crowd of whistlers… “Hey, how did that guy get in here! Let’s get him!”)
And #2 One of Olwell’s new Blackwood 6 Key Soprano D whistles!
