Comments about wooden D/C whistles. Good /bad experiments comparing to metalbody ones, maintenance vs timbertype etc.
Cheers,
Mikko
Well, obviously, a wooden one can break easier than a metal one.
Whereas, I have a cheap three dollar sweeone that I’ve bent back into shape nine or ten time, that I can take to the pool and play (while actually in the water…)
But as for tone, nothing can top wood, if you ask me. Theres a reason we call them woodwinds! I absolutely hate the noise that passes for a C on cheaper, metal whistles. 
Wooden whistles are far superior in tone to most low end metal whistles… to my ear that is.
Each piece of wood is unique, so each wooden whistle will be unique. IMHO, nothing is prettier than a wooden whistle, but I’m prejudiced. The only downside is that they are a bit more fragile, and require a small bit of common sense care.
Some of us are just not designed to own high maintenance whistles. 
I would love to have one … I love the look, the feel, and especially the sound… but… I know that I would forget to oil it and it would die.
I did get a chance to try one of Mike Burke’s Composit ones - it’s a mixture of wood fiber and a polymer I can’t recall the name of right now… anyway, that has a very nice woody sound without the maintenace needs… I’m probably going to get one of those and just continue dreaming of real wood.
The bodies of Abell whistles are turned pretty thick (compared to other wooden whistles I’ve seen) and stand up to abuse/neglect fairly well.
You need to be gentle with any high-end whistle unless it’s all metal (like a Copeland or Burke)…especially the blade.
I really don’t think you’ll find most wooden whistles to be that much more care intensive than high-end whistles made from other materials. However, they do usually cost about twice as much as one made from non-wood materials (in most cases) so your loss would be greater if you damaged one.
-Brett
Not to toot my own horn, so to speak, but I agree. Forgetting to oil a whistle will NOT kill it. Regular oiling is more important in the beginning but once the wood has a pretty good load of oil in it, it really won’t absorb much more since oil doesn’t evaporate. The main danger with wood is sudden temperature extremes. Leaving a wooden whistle in a closed car on a summer day is a no-no. If the whistle has been out in the cold for a long time (eg your car in winter) let it acclimate slowly when you bring it indoors. Otherwise, no biggie.
I spend about 15 minutes, once a month, oiling all the instruments I have. I also usually do the duponol regimen at that time.
Other than that, I have a swab I bought at a music store, and I swab them out when I’m done playing them.
They’re just little habits you have to get into, and while it adds some maintenance, really doesn’t add that much. They’re instuments, and deserve respect (don’t just throw them in your car), but they aren’t eggshells…you don’t have to baby them like they’re cars on their last legs.
I’ve had a few Abell whistles since the 1980s, haven’t oiled them in at least 15 years, and they still look and play as well as the day they were made. I’ve never had a crack or any other problem with them.
That said, I have gradually come around to preferring the sound of metal whistles. I play a D Sindt and a C Generation; the only wooden whistle I play regularly is my Bb Abell. There’s something in the sound of the Generation (and the whistles modeled after it) that you just can’t get with a wooden whistle…maybe it’s a certain plaintiveness, maybe it’s the tuning, or maybe the wooden whistles have too “pure” a tone, but whatever it is I find the sound of the simple cheap metal whistle to be more appealing.
Second Brad’s post, entirely.
The Abell is a tough whistle, with
a beautiful sweet sound, but
a good metal whistle perhaps
better suits jigs and reels.
The Abell is sort of an instrument all its own.
Really?!? I wonder if yours is different in some way, as my Abells have just about the thinest bodies I’ve ever encountered on a wooden whistle. Interesting. I do agree that Abells are unusually durable for wooden whistles - mine have been through conditions that cracked more than one flute 
But in the case of the Abells, I believe it has much more to do with how well (and long) the wood was seasoned, as Chris has quite a stash of billetted wood, and so, is in a good postion to use highly seasoned wood, which many makers can’t do until they’ve been in business for some years, and some never do, because they never buy enough wood to season for a long time.
The thickest body wooden whistles I’ve seen (as far a good quality whistles go) would be the O’Riordans. However, I haven’t bought new whistles in several years now, so I haven’t seen stuff from any of the really new makers.
In general, a good wooden whistle shouldn’t be diffiuclt or time consuming to care for.
As for tone, that’s clearly a personal taste thing, and I like both metal and wooden whistles, for different reasons. I cannot agree with Jim though: It’s the player, and not the whistle, that makes a tune sound authentically “Irish”, although I will agree that certain metal whistles do sound more “traditional”.
Loren
I wish I could risk it, as I know I would love a Busman… but you are talking to the proverbial ADD poster child here… I just fear I would ruin it, not only wasting my investment, but your beautiful work… and that would be a tragedy! Of course, since it would likely be one of two I would play most regularly, mayhap I could manage it… I just know that although I can do almost anything reasonably well, there is a limit to what I can take on responsibility for… hmmm… must think even more seriously about this…
I recently had my first chance at a Delrin Busman* and am quite pleased with it.
Sounds and feels like wood and requires zero maintenance or kindness.
That would be a great solution for someone looking for a wooden whistle but not looking for the anxiety that may go with it. Though I agree that the anxiety is over-rated. I have historically taken terrible care of my wooden whisltes and they were always happy as clams. 
Doc
* Doc Jones does not sell Busman whistles or represent Busman whistles in any way. He has no bunyuns, hammer toes or ingrown toenails and therefore has no reason to be buttering-up Paul Busman. He just happens to really, really like Busman whistles and really likes Paul.
Playing Busman whistles does not cause bunyuns, hammer toes or ingrown toenails if used as directed. If it did, I’m sure it would be covered in Paul’s warranty anyway. So quit worrying so much and call the guy up and buy one already!
OK then.. I have officially taken the Wooden Whistle Plunge… I got one of the Sweetheart Pro’s that Sheryl Coleman offered for sale a week or so ago.
I LOVE it!
I was thrilled to come in after a day of much work and find this beauty waiting. I was amazed at how different it feels… warm in the hands, so smooth and beautiful to look at as well… nicely grained, I really like the two toned effect of the the “mis-matched” woods, and the shape is lovely. I especially like the slight flare at the bottom of the whistle. The sound is so different from my other wistles… I think I have a much better feel for why everyone who has wood seems to like it so.
Thanks for the pep-talk folks!
Alas, the first tune I tried, one I’ve never played on whistle, The Rose of Sharon Waltz, in D, needs a low C! Now I really want a Busman D+ … must start saving some cash.
I own a Concert D/C O’Riordan Kingwood set. These are absolutely the finest
whistles I own. I also own Traveler sets in E/Flat/D and D/C, but the
wood set has a sound and character all its own. I think that a person
really needs to hear these whistles “live” to appreciate the sound that
they are able to produce.
-James
A Stor Mo Chroi
Unlike with my aluminium whistles, which I tend to clean after almost every time I play them, I don’t need to clean my wooden whistle, because it absords the moisture. And the best of all: Wooden whistles (at least my Weston C) never clog!
All you guys posting about how easy it is to care for a wooden whistle are NOT helping me develop will power. Please, someone quickly post a story about cracked wooden whistles in the horror story thread.
Must… pay… off… car… first!
Jennie
“Comments about wooden D/C whistles. Good /bad experiments comparing to metalbody ones, maintenance vs timbertype etc.”
I have some wooden whistles and some metal body ones…
I wouldn’t say that one is superior over the other. I guess it is personal preference. A wood tube is thicker and the holes are generally larger, except for the Fred Rose whistle which is smaller. I don’t think the responce is quite as fast on a wood whistle. The tone of different makers varies from clear to chiffy just the same with metal whistles!
Anyway, buy somthing wood and somthing metal just for comparison and then you will know for yourself. If you think "man, I really like this wood whistle, then take your life savings and buy everything wood, and you will be an afficianado of wood whistles like the rest of us (just kidding). If you decide you like metal whistles then take half of your life savings and become an afficianodo of metal whistles.
At this point I would go with the metal whistles. I don’t think wood whistles have better or more musical tone, but after all it is just my opinion and you will have to find out for yourself.
And yes wood whistles have to be swabbed out after you play them and oiled periodically. I don’t swab out metal whistes.
Yes, Personal Preference is the biggest thing. Ask 10 whistlers the same question and get at least 5 answers.
Well… you can spend as much as you want on either, or both, as metal whistles can be pretty darned expensive too. I would suggest that you get on a wooden whistle tour or bribe someone to allow you to try theirs. I just bought a relatively inexpensive wooden whistle, a Sweetheart, and am quite happy with it, though I’m not about to give up any of my others. I will have to do some serious money manipulation to get a higher end wooden whistle, and that will take considerable time. My kids have this annoying habit of wanting to eat, and the hubby insists on having a roof over our heads… narrow minded lot!
Hmmm… at our practice last night everyone noticed the difference in tone and volume between my usual (good) whistle and the new one. They liked it very much.
All whistles should be swbbed out after playing! Some really yucky stuff can build up otherwise, even in metal ones. disgusting when you get around to cleaning it out!
I don’t think any material intrinsically makes a whistle have a superior tone quality, albeit perhaps one preferred by some. I personally prefer metal whistles and point to Copelands to dispel any doubt that metal whistles can be crafted to have individual personalities, some of the highest possible tonal quality (that is strong, focused and resonant).
That said, I’ve found blackwood to be about as care free as metals.
Philo