As I’ve been reading through these threads, I’ve noticed that if somebody asks an opinion about brands or whatever (this was brought to mind by the best whistle outdoors thread), one person’s favorite make of whistle is another’s bane. I really absolutely and totally love my Waltons Guiness IBW, and there were as many posts against it as for it when I made my little review.
Well, I don’t know exactly where this is leading but it seems a comparison of HOW we play - the mechanics - compared to the whistles we like might be both really interesting and informative. For instance, I bet there are as many different way-to-play styles as there are interpretative styles among the people on the board. I tend to blow very softly into my whistles, and to shape my mouth and blowing just a little bit harder to play the 2nd octave rather than just blowing harder. The Waltons are more responsive to low breath pressure than my Generations, so I like the Waltons better. Also, I can get dynamics on the Waltons since they are more responsive and support a wider range of breath pressure per note than my Generations.
I also wonder if the “personalities” of our favorite whistles tend to match our own. Do you suppose there are Type A and Type B personality types among whistles?
Part of it could be quality control, Kendra. The Walton’s Guinness whistle I have is very nice. The feadog I have is terrible. Back when I had reviews on my website (years ago), and gave a negative review of my feadog, I got several letters where people told me that the feadog was their favorite instrument. My answer: I could only review the one I’d played. The fact of the matter is that factories aren’t perfect, and when these things come off the line, with no voicing or other hand-crafting as part of the finished product, you’re gonna get lemons (sometimes more often than not, depending on the brand).
I also wonder if the “personalities” of our favorite whistles tend to match our own. Do you suppose there are Type A and Type B personality types among whistles?
I really absolutely and totally love my Waltons Guiness IBW, and there were as many posts against it as for it when I made my little review. . .
I tend to blow very softly into my whistles, and to shape my mouth and blowing just a little bit harder to play the 2nd octave rather than just blowing harder. . . .
I also wonder if the “personalities” of our favorite whistles tend to match our own. Do you suppose there are Type A and Type B personality types among whistles?
I definitely agree with you – I think quality control has much less to do with it. I’ve spent hours in HMT playing dozens and dozens of whistles: Gens, Waltons, Clarkes, etc. I found most of them somewhere between absolutely unplayable and simply really crappy sounding – in my hands. I learned on a Clarke original (D and C), and a few months ago I got a SweeTone (I handpicked it) because so many people on the Chiffboard love them, and a Clare. The Clare is the only cheapie D I still play.
You pointed out that a lot of people on the board don’t like Waltons, I’ve found the same thing with Susatos, although they’re kind of the opposite of what you point out about the Waltons. The need to be played aggressively: they take both pressure and volume. Kind of type-A whistles, although I’m a somewhat type-B personality. Actually, I guess my favorites, Weasels, are type-A, too, don’t know about Burkes, my other faves.
It does kind of bug me when people call whistles crap when the real problem is not quality but that the whistles are just not what they’re looking for.
I think I’m a type A personality,
so I like demonstrative sounding
whistles which are expressive.
Copelands are my favorite, for
that reason. (I’m shifting to
high end whistles, here; please
remember that I’m an old fart,
have paid my dues, and worked
my butt off to buy them.)
The Abells are the opposite, in a way.
They’re elegant and restrained, quieter,
almost classical. You can play
Bach on an Abell and it will sound
like a classical instrument, in
fact. I like them, too, which
suggests I’m schizophrenic.
Of course low whistles are something
else entirely. Best
but it seems a comparison of HOW we play - the mechanics - compared to the whistles we like might be both really interesting and informative. For instance, I bet there are as many different way-to-play styles as there are interpretative styles among the people on the board. I tend to blow very softly into my whistles, and to shape my mouth and blowing just a little bit harder to play the 2nd octave rather than just blowing harder. The Waltons are more responsive to low breath pressure than my Generations, so I like the Waltons better. Also, I can get dynamics on the Waltons since they are more responsive and support a wider range of breath pressure per note than my Generations.