Is there a whistle shop in the Minneapolis area that carries a variety of whistles? I have found several music stores that each carry one type of whistle, Sweetone, Oak, and Generation.
Thanks!
Hi Greg,
One of our moderators, Nano, may know more than I do but, I don’t know any music stores in the cities that carry any real inventory of whistles. The closest place that I know of that carries any kind of selection is Hobgoblin Music in Redwing and even their selection is pretty limited. I have never shopped there and don’t know what their policy on trying whistles is either. Here’s the link;
http://www.hobgoblin.com/
As I said, Nano may know more but for me, almost all my whistle shopping over the last 4-5 years has been from a number of the on-line shoppes and makers you’ll find on this board.
Peter
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The largest whistle shop in that area is in Red Wing Mn. about twenty miles east of St Paul. www.hobgoblin-usa.com
There is another shop close to the mall of America, but I don’t remember the name of it now. Also an Irish shop in the Mall of American has Waltons. That is where I bought my first one.
Or you could see if David Boisvert has a Greenwood available. www.greenwoodpipes.com
What Tommy said. Hobgoblin’s probably your best bet for variety if you don’t mind a scenic jaunt and would rather not shop online. Most of the other shops seem to specialise. You can get Gens at The Podium in Dinkytown, MPLS; Irish on Grand in St. Paul has Gens, I’m told, but I don’t know if they have others. A call would let you know. Homestead Pickin’ Parlor in MPLS is worth a try. You might give Groth Music a call, but workers in shops that don’t specialise in Hibernalia or folk music might not be too knowledgeable.
To be honest, I don’t shop for whistles much. If I need one, I check out The Podium and grab a Gen. 
Thanks for the information. Next time I’m out htat way I’ll have to check out Hobgoblin.
Greg
Good news!!!
There’s a Hobgoblin in Minneapolis, now: 211 Lowry Av NE. Call 612-333-2005 for store hours and if you need directions.
I’ll be nipping over to there tomorrow, myself. There’s a low-end Dixon D with my name on it calling me.
Nanohedron, Thanks for the heads up! I’m looking forward to getting to check it out.
The shop’s closed Mondays and Tuesdays at this time (went there only to find the shop closed, but at least I know how best to get there, now), and open from either 10am or noon until either 5pm or 7pm depending on the day. Dunno if this is to be for the long term; everything’s in a sort of transitional state at this time.
Went and got me Dixon:
(Didn’t find this lower-end model - tuneable by way of a sliding head - listed on his own website for some reason…)
Very happy with it indeed. Also got Ceol Rince na hÉireann #3, and ordered a Susato Kildare B and The Compositions of Paddy O’Brien.
Apparently shop hours are scheduled to expand sometime in July when the manager stops having to commute from Red Wing and moves in. Very nice people, there. Hope business will be good for them.