“Polly-mer” by Serpent
Soprano D
Non-tunable
CPVC w/Delrin plug
$30 + shipping
Tone: A bit breathy, chiffy, sounds like you expect a whistle to sound. Medium volume, average air requirement, but requires strong air pressure. For folks with a halfway decent diaphram.
Tuning: I don’t have perfect pitch, but it sounds fine to me. Internal tuning, at least, is good, as always with Serp’s whistles.
I have one of Serpent’s old D-shaped windway copper whistles, and I must say that the new curved windway design makes all the difference in the world. This is a COMPLETELY different whistle. Doesn’t sound a thing like or play anything like the old one. It isn’t that totally pure-sweet my old Mr. Slithers is, but it’s louder and stronger. The old whistle had zero backpressure, but this one has more than most whistles. It really “pushes” back at you. You play with this whistle, not just on it. I personally like this in a whistle, I hate whistles where it feels like the air is just falling straight through it.
Another major improvement is the fact that the bell note doesn’t constantly want to flip up an octave like the old one. It’s still slightly touchier than many whistles, but it doesn’t get frustrating like my old one would, especially in cold weather. Thankfully, the fact that it’s plastic fixes the temperature problems all together. It only clogged once in a half-hour of playing (easily fixed by slinging it out into my room-mate’s side of the room), and I’ll admit I tend to be a slobberer sometimes.
Personally, I don’t think you could do much better for 30 bucks…
Oh yea, almost forgot. The paintjob rocks my socks. I have the sparkliest whistle on the block! I got the holographic bit, it dances in the light
I saw one of these when I ran into Serpent at the KC Ren. Fest. It was a very nice looking whistle. Didn’t ask him if I could play a quick jig on it because, well, I thought it might be rude unless he offerred, but there is a part of me that regrets not taking advantage of the opportunity after reading your review!
I’m just pushy enough that I did ask to play one when I ran in to Serpent on the Scottish weekend at the Ren Fest. Now, after running into him again at the Irish weekend, I have one of my own, so I thought I’d just bump this and add a couple of coments.
I’d agree with TSam’s assessment – breathy and a tad chiffy, but with a good sound, and it’s in tune, including the cross fingered C nat. But it does have to be played with authority. I normally play a Dixon, and the Polly-mer requires markedly more diaphram pressure. I don’t know if I’d recommend this whistle to a beginner, but for someone who already has developed the breath control to play reliably in the second octave, it’s rewards the extra effort with a nice sound, especially in the top end. I played both it and a Dixon for mrs. gonzo, and she described the sound of the Polly-mer as “richer and more interesting.”
And if your lungs have the scoot, this thing will hit a at least a G in the third octave, although significant electromagnetic disturbances result and the children become frightened.
All in all – a good value, especially with the Serpent email list discount.
And in closing, I would add that the Serpent is a damn fine busker.
I got my Polly-Mer (tunable with exterior brass tuning slide) Friday.
Summary:
T-Sam’s review is spot-on for the tunable, too.
Longer review:
I had some adjustment issues at first - this whistle has a lot more backpressure than any other whistle I own; though it doesn’t really need too much air, at first it feels that way because of the need to lean into it.
Once you adjust, though, it’s a lovely whistle - over the weekend it went from “eh, I don’t know if I really like it” to my default D whistle, the one I carry around the house with me. The tone is very different from most of the cheapies - the only one that seems even remotely similar is the Clarke original, but they’re very different beasts to play - besides the much greater backpressure, the Polly-Mer seems to have much more dynamic range - it can be played as quietly (or quieter) as the Clarke or at considerably more volume. And the tuning is spot-on. And though overall tone is very chiffy, there is no extra chiff or pop, no matter how fast you (attempt to) finger or ornament.
Right now, it’s one of my two favorite D whistles, along with the Oak (talk about a study in contrasts!), but I notice that the Polly-Mer is the one I usually pick up first.
