Are there any wooden Low D’s out there? If so, who makes them and are there reviews anywhere?
Hi!
There is a previous post about Swedish whistles bellow that you can check out.
Why not try one of Alban Fausts low D whistles. He’s a skillful and well-respected pipe maker and I’m sure his whistles will meet the same quality.
Also, the exchange rate is quite favorable right now. Last price I got for a Faust low D was around 190-200 $, use to be 300 $.
You can check out Albans website at:
http://home.bip.net/alban_faust</a](http://home.bip.net/alban_faust">http://home.bip.net/alban_faust</a)>
Cheers!
/MR
Jonathan Swayne of the UK makes some nice ones. All of his whistles (that I am aware of) are of boxwood. They are pricey but worth it. See expensive whistle listing on C+F.
Michael Grinter, an Aussie flute and recorder maker, has been known to make the odd low whistle. After purchasing one of his flutes (which I’m very pleased with), I subsequently ended up with a low D and F whistles from him. They’re dear but well worth the expense, IMHO. Paddy Keenan has been playing a Grinter low F for a while now. I sussed it out when Paddy had a gig here in New Jersey last year. One word of caution ,though, if Ottawa is as dry as New Jersey is in the winters, you’ll need a humidifier for all your wooden whistles or you’ll end up with some very expensive toothpicks. As I go through the same routine with my guitars I use a guitar humidifier called a Dampit for the whistles. It’s relatively cheap (about $12 U.S.) and works great. Good luck in your search.
Gerry - I went on a year-long search over this one. Basically, IMHO the no.1 wooden low D whistle is the Rose blackwood - or to be exact, WILL BE (Fred Rose is still at the drawing board stage!)
I therefore investigated the alternatives, and came down to three: Grinter, Merbeth, Swayne (there are about 3 other makers in France in addition to Peter Merbeth, but he was the only one I got through to). My verdicts were:
Swayne - nice, bit pricey, boxwood only, looks more like a recorder; Merbeth - impression from the photo is that it more looks like an afterthought from this excellent flute maker; Grinter - looks top draw in the photo, made from Sth American blackwood, has a VERY impressive clientele (Paddy Keenan, Sean Smyth [Lunasa], Seamus Egan,etc), several of whom place repeat orders.
And that did me. My Grinter is due July/August - I’ll post first impressions when it arrives
Nick
Thanks for the feedback y’all.
I looked on the Sweedish site - not sure if I was supposed to see whistles there but I didn’t. The Grinter sounds like a good option. Anyone know the price? However I am probably going to wait for Nick’s review on this and also see when Fred Rose decides to bring his out…I am currently waiting for my high D from Fred. It should be here this month …
Hey Gerry,
I’m not absolutely sure but I think Phil Bleazey may make a wooden low D. I think his website is listed under “Expensive” or “High End” whistles on the C&F website. Never played one though.
Vinny
The Alban Faust website has pictures of whistles, but no prices. Look under Instruments, then page forward through the pictures to the last page - the one with whistles, moraharpa and nyckelharpa. They’re not on his pricelist, as far as I could tell, but I’m sure you could contact him directly.
Tim