Thinkin about a good tuneable wooden whistle. I’ve got a maple O’Brien, great for the money, but now want to look at $200-400 range. I’d do a search but I’m a lazy bum. And I was hoping for some up-to-date info.Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
Paul Busman comes immediately to mind as does Fred Rose. They both
make beautiful wood whistles.
-James
A Stor Mo Chroi
Chris Abell’s are the best I’ve ever played.
I hear from folks whose taste I share that Bleazeys are good, too, though perhaps not great for total beginners on the whistle.
I second the vote for Abells in that price range..
Though my favorite wooden whistle is my Abell, I cannot recommend them, because current ones are too loud and harsh (in the second octave) for my taste.
Bleazey whistles are very loud in the second octave, as are Swaynes. Boisvert whistles aren’t being made anymore, and, though they play well, every one I have owned has needed refinishing (which I did).
I recommend a Rose.
eed check your p. m. please.
Ronaldo
I would also recommend a Rose whistle.
M
In that price range, I’d also have to recommend Abell, Jessie’s recent experiences notwithstanding. You can tell Chris what you’d like and he’ll try to accommodate. I have an A/Bflat blackwood set that has just the loveliest tone and is balanced between octaves and very sweet in the upper octave. A bit of air and moderate volume. These were second hand and I did not discuss them with Chris beforehand, obviously.
If his delrin whistles are any indication, you should be happy. I think he himself prefers wood, but I’ve had him make 3 delrin whistles for me and they have all been super. One D I traded for a great old ns Copeland C; I recently got a D/C set that are just right for me - solid volume, well balanced between the octaves, very responsive with nice chiff (to me, that popping sound upon striking the tone holes, not air throughout the tone), and a bit of air (I don’t like air and it’s not enough to bother me). The cosmetic beauty and workmanship is about the best I’ve seen.
Paul Busman also makes nice wood and delrin whistles, will work with you and firmly stands behind his work. He also keeps up with some really interesting and exotic materials.
I played a Rose once but never owned one and really couldn’t say; others seem to really like them.
Philo
I believe that David Boisvert, Greenwood whistles, are still going to be available. He is overcoming some health problems and I have a cocobolo whistle in D that I love. I also have a Bb blackwood on order and have been comunicating with him and his wife although it sometimes takes a little while get a response.
I would hate to see his orders completely dry up because of an illness that is not permanent.
Please before giving up on his whistles as a choice, drop him a lone and check with him.
His e-mail is:greenwoodpipes@unique-software.com.
Take care,
Kurt
It would help if you’d say what kind of sound you’re looking for or what your favorite whistles are.
Abells are really easy to play; I’ve never been crazy about the sound or feel – I never got over the stubby little mouthpiece
Bleazeys are wonderful instruments, in my book there’s nothing else like them. But as has been said, it takes a lot of patience to become good on them. You have to love leaning into a whistle to play the Bleazey properly
Busmans are really easy to play and possibly the best-balanced across the octaves of any wooden whistle I’ve played
The Greenwood is not unlike the Bleazey in that it takes awhile to learn to play it properly. Nice fat warm sound.
I found the Rose to be heavy both in the way it felt and played; extremely pure sound, neither my wife nor I could tell the difference between a Rose and Susato hearing the other play
I found the Swayne as close to a perfect whistle as there is. Mine was nicely balanced in both feel and sound, extremely easy to play, pure but warm with just a hint of chiff.
The one I’d recommend above all others is a Thin Weasel, but good luck finding one.
Oh, get over it already, Charlie! 
Philo
I would also suggest Abells, Busmans, Lon Dubhs, and Bleazeys. Each one is for different people, but all are made well. What are you looking for in a Whistle?
Some of us who have extensive experience with various whistles are disagreeing strongly here. I think it’s because these whistles are handmade and they vary from one to the next.
I guess if I have to describe what I would be looking for it would go a little towards the softer, warmer tone if that makes any sense.
Rose, though they vary, too. My Abell and Lon Dubh fit the bill, but others I have played do not. Good luck.
Yeah, they work fine if, like me, you’ve got a stubby little mouth.
My problem with Abells, which I like very well, in fact,
is that I feel they really want to be playing Mozart.
I mean, you want a whistle you wouldn’t
be embarassed playing in a pub.
Thank you for the site address Marcus. Those are nice looking whistles.
Gee Marcus-- why did you hafta go and show us those for? 
Beautiful instruments indeed!
Oh my God, those are pretty. We should start another thread to find out if anyone has any experience with them. I’ll do it…