Susato was not the first whistle I bought, and when I got one (actually a set of three), it was because there was an opportunity to get a couple of new whistle keys for a very inexpensive price.
What I found after playing them awhile, was that they were loud enough to be heard over singers, percussionists, and even a piano. Are there other whistles that produce as much volume?
The whislte also happens to be in excellent tune. Though I’ve heard discussions that the tuning slide isn’t very long, neither is the whistle. Thus, I have never had a problem bringing the whislte into tune with other instruments.
The tuning of these instruments is unaffected by temperature, which is a welcom relief to a guy who mostly plays flute & sax.
Although I have a dozen or so high whistles from various makers, I always end up playing Susatos during performances. (Never played their low whistles, by the way; am quite happy with the low whistes I have.)
Though I understand the concern that they are not “traditional”, they have some great attributes.
After reading the C&F “users poll”, and realizing I wasn’t the only one happy with my Susato whistles, I was wondering what the opinions of others who like them.
This is from another former sax playin’ Mark, Mark.
I love my Susatos as well. I’ve got Burkes, Water Weasels, Hoover, & couple dozen feet of homebrew whistles and when I’m playing with three guitars, two to three fiddles, electric bass, mandolin and banjo for a contra dance I NEED my Susatos. Other than sheer volume (which isn’t that big of deal for me, we’re all miked) the thing that really gets me to reach for the Susato is the tuning. This thing is the most dead on perfect pitch whistle I’ve ever played followed closely by the Water WEasel and Hoover (I love the whistle Mack but did you see the list of instruments above, they are miked too!).
I agreee that the Susato is well in tune(due to the slightly reduced bore end hole that brings the 1st and 2nd octaves into matching alignment).
The curved labium ramp and matching windway give less clogging and more volume too.
I prefer the Susato as a solo instrument though. Whistles are supposed to be “background” and are not supposed to blast over vocals,pianos etc.
Musicians should always try to make their playing blend in with those around them,not claw at each other for the spotlight. Like in War,escalation is always the wrong path to take.
Thomas Hastay.
Note: I suggest that Susato players reinforce the band of the upper tuning slide. Every Susato I’ve owned has split from even moderate bending.
Nothing is impossible! We just haven’t learned how to do it yet!
[ This Message was edited by: Thomas-Hastay on 2002-03-15 15:53 ]
I have three Susatos. Sopranino D, Soprano D, and Low G. I can’t seem to put mine down. I do finger stretching exercises on my drive back and forth to and form work in anticipation of the Low G. My Susatos have such a mellow tone in my opinion.
Craig
(Is that a pennywhistle in yer pocket or are ya glad to see me?)
I prefer the Susato as a solo instrument though. Whistles are supposed to be “background” and are not supposed to blast over vocals,pianos etc.
Musicians should always try to make their playing blend in with those around them,not claw at each other for the spotlight. Like in War,escalation is always the wrong path to take.
Thomas Hastay.
I agree Thomas, though it may not seem so from my reply.
I should have mentioned that the only instruments I listed above that are playing the melody line are me, one guitar sometimes, and onetwo fiddlers. I’m usually miked pretty soft but if it’s a tune that only me and the fiddler know then unless we can be heard over the wave of chord playin’ strings, the dancers get a bit tired of the set after 10 repeats.
Loud doesn’t equal good.
Besides, after playing quena for years I can barely hear myself think!
It was not my first; my first was a Feadog, and it was a good one as well. But when I bought my Susato, it was soooo much better! The tone is pure and clear with a hint of chiff in the lower octave, and despite the ‘it sounds like a recorder’ jive, I have my own opinions. I think that in comparison to other ‘whistly’ whistles, it is quite mellow, however, it sounds like any other self-respecting whistle should.
I’ve gotten lovely comments on it when I perform; the intense sound, clarity, ect. Granted, I still like my Feadog, but when it comes to performances, group, or solo playing, my Susato is IT.
My Susato Kildare D is the first whistle I reach for when learning a new tune, and the one I’m most likely to pack when travelling. I have a set of Water Weasels that I adore, plus a bunch of Chieftains, but I find that the Susato is a more forgiving instrument. Once I’ve got a tune down, I’ll start playing it on the other whistles.
But I have to add that I have a Dixon low D that is just wonderful, and my Susato may be replaced in the future with a Dixon high D.
I seem also to have a fondness for plastic – I have a Burke WBB D and a Hoover narrow-bore D, but I don’t tend to play them that often. It’s the Susatos and Water Weasels that I like best.
Having said all that, I think the best whistle to start learning on is a SweeTone (talk about forgiving!), and then move to a Susato after a couple of months. I am even now trying out this plan on my 8-year-old niece.
What I found after playing them awhile, was that they were loud enough to be heard over singers, percussionists, and even a piano. Are there other whistles that produce as much volume?
The next logical step would seem to me to be Water Weasels. Loud, a bit chiffier, and most would say more whistly sounding. They’re about 3 times the price of Susatos, and, in my book, well worth it.
BTW, I own four Susatos and am a fan, esp. of the C.
Though I understand the concern that they are not “traditional”, they have some great attributes.
I don’t quite understand what you mean there Mark. Have you ever heard Sean Ryan a very respected Irish whistle player? He plays Susato’s. In fact he has a whole bag full, which he has rattling around with him. They are also a very popular session whistle in Ireland. Probably because they are cheap, in tune, responsive etc.
I personally prefer Generation’s as the Susato is too loud for me.
I think it is a matter of control and someone of Sean Ryan’s calibre can make the Susato sing instead of shout.
Though I understand the concern that they are not “traditional”, they have some great attributes.
I don’t quite understand what you mean there Mark. . . .
One of the main complaints of people on the board is that Susatos sound like recorders – not very chiffy and kind of sweet. But, as you point out, the sound that comes out of it in the end is largely a result of the player.
I like Susatos for some of the same reasons you do, Mark. The intonation is fabulous and I like the unique sound. I also like the wide variety of keys, as well as the availability. A great whistle at a great price.
I don’t like Susatos so much. I’ll agree that they are a good whistle at the price, and I’d recomend them, too. But they are not right for me because they require just quite a bit of getting used to. That is a problem for me because I don’t want them as my primary whistle: too loud, not the sound I want. Also I am used to leaving the bottom hole covered on many notes for balance, and that really messes the Susato up in the second octave. On the lower Susatos I don’t like the hole spacing very much. Also, on all of them the mouthpiece feels really large in my mouth.
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-03-16 14:40 ]
On 2002-03-16 12:54, The Whistling Elf wrote:
I’ll have to disagree on the ‘sounds like a recorder’ thing.
I’ve heard them (wood and plastic), and the Susato sounds NOTHING like one.
Oh, I meant to include in my post that I disagree with the characterization, too. My wife has quite a few recorders, and the Susatos sound nothing like them. I suspect that, just as Sean Ryan makes a Susato sound much like “traditional” whistles, Michaela Petri could make one sound like a recorder (if it were chromatic).
I have a Susato and I’m just not crazy about it. To me, it has a sort of buzzy sound. But I’ve noticed that of the whistles that I have the ones with straight bores, like the Susato, are my least favorites. I seem to prefer the conicals. My favorites are my Clarke original and my Copeland.
Sorry it took me so long to reply to your questions about the Susato Sopranino. In the Susato catalog, they call their very small bore (VSB) Sopranino sizes. The Soprano is a small bore (SB) , Alto is a medium bore (MB) and Low whistles are large bore (LB).
Yes, I think that finger stretching exercises helps me with my Low G fingerings. Kinda like finger yoga!!!
Craig
(Is that a pennywhistle in yer pocket or are ya glad to see me?)
I just wanted to add that although my Susato isn’t my favorite whistle, it’s a good solid whistle and does get used in performances quite a bit. It’s too loud for extensive practice at home though…it yields headaches and an unhappy spouse.
As far as Susatos, or Ralph Sweet whistles, or any other whistle I’ve ever heard, sounding like a recorder: they do not.
I have some very fine recorders, historical replicas of Terton instruments, and they do not sound like Susatos or any whistles. The tone is far different.
For the curious, there are samples of these recorders on my site.
–James http://www.flutesite.com
