I was thinking this could be made a sticky. A place for people to post if they’re selling on ebay, have seen something on ebay that might interest others or have seen something on ebay that they would like to ask the community about before deciding whether to place a bid.
The design of the head looks unusual to say the least with what looks more like a labium obstacle rather than a labium ramp, and that’s the shortest windway I can remember ever seeing. And what is “ethnic copper” anyway. Not sure whether to take these seriously at all.
Interesting whistles. Go to http://www.ethnicwind.com/ for the makers info. They have some nice looking patterns if you like that sort of thing. The clips sound good. His Bass low A looks impossible.
hi, I am the maker of the instruments at ethnicwind.com. so I"d be happy to answer any questions you have about them. The mouthpiece design is slightly innovative, yet still very similar to many other whistles. I have been a whistle player for 15 years and have been making them since 1998.
oh, and I guess the title was misunderstood, or mis written by myself. The copper is not the ethnic part. My web site and whistles are all using the “ethnic” name because all the other good names for whistle makers and whistle store were taken, and I wanted something that people would remember easily as a name, so that’s what stuck.
I also noticed the whistles on eBay, and browsed the web site. The enamel prevents the whistles from turning green, I take it. Does it have to be re-applied every so often? You must have some old whistles; how have they held up?
Copper is a fairly soft metal, and judging from the sound clips, the whistles have a correspondingly mellow tone. Are they pure copper, and if so, is denting much of a problem?
I have to say the painted low G looks and sounds gorgeous.
the copper is softer than aluminum (more pliable) but denting usually isn’t a problem unless you like to sword fight with them, then yeah you’d get a few dents. I once dropped a bass A (the big one) on the pavement and it did dent the lower end a little, but I was able to use a tool to un-dent it without too much trouble. Now I have had a lot of other whistles that I accidently stepped on and had to have a memorial service for after that (mostly high whistles made out of brass, and even one susato plastic one) I keep a messy studio and sometimes my daughter comes in there and throws whistles everywhere and I sometimes accidently step on them. the copper has held up under my weight just fine, but I flattened a little black Walton’s whistle completely the other day.
As far as the finish goes, yest the paint was to preven oxidation because they would get very dark and slightly greenish after some time. The copper reacts to skin moisture almost instantly. When I polish the copper I have to be careful not to touch it at all with my skin otherwise it leaves finger smudges until it is painted. The paint as held up pretty well. I use the toughest enamel I can find. It will come off if abused. My 1 year old likes to grab whistles and bang them together and so I got a few little chips in the paint of a few of mine, but other than that normal use hasn’t had an effect on the paint jobs.
The sound is a little mellower than some whistles. The copper does give it a sweet pure tone that is less shrill than aluminum. I have played hundreds of different tpes of whisltes and I liked an O’riordan best, although I never was able to purchase one, and they don’t seem to be available anymore. My go to low D has been an Overton for years, but I am happy to say that now it is dusty and hasn’t been played in months since I came up with my current design of the low D. I actually like it better. Now I am not saying my whistles are better than an Overton, just different, and I really like my low D. Overton’s are great Instruments, and Colin Goldie was the consumate professional in my purchase from him. I was very sad to hear of Mr. Overton’s death.
You are right about the low G. I have found myself playing that one more than almost any other whistle.
