I just got a Cosmic Drainpipe (thanks vaporlock!) and it is such a gorgeous thing. Plays like butter and I like it better than the Chieftains, Kerry, Silkstone, Burke Al Pro and better than the two Copelands I’ve played in the past (but hey, they weren’t silver, so that may be why).
Anyway, I am in a trance of delight. Or maybe I am just hyperventilating.
I noticed, however, that on the high b (and not on the high a also, like on Susatos), putting the sixth finger down to stabilize the whistle weakens the tone. The tone gets a bit murky and prone to breaking or dropping. I don’t get that effect on the hi D, C or A that I have… And I recall Colin telling me that putting the sixth finger down is good and the thing to do.
Overton Low D players out there: Is it just me? Am I not blowing hard enough? Is it just the Low Ds and not the other Overtons? Is it just this particular whistle? Why couldn’t they have given me a soundproof office at work?
Thanks & happy new year!
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-12-31 16:30 ]
I don’t know if it answers your question, but I don’t use my sixth finger for high B on my Overton and it works fine. I just tried it and it actually sharpened the note, but didn’t have any effect on stability.
Erik
edit: sharpened as in took it way out of intonation.
[ This Message was edited by: ErikT on 2002-12-31 16:56 ]
On 2002-12-31 17:07, E = Fb wrote:
Hi Bloomfield,
I take it this Cosmic Drainpipe is in fact an Overton Low D. I also take it that you like it. Am I correct? Should I buy one?
Tom.
Just my $0.02, but I love my Overton Low D (with slightly oversize holes, to make half-holing easier). Wouldn’t trade it for… well, it would take quite a lot
Can’t help you Bloomy-pie.
When I attempt a high B, I gotta blow til my eardrums bleed, or tongue the note as a manic fetichist, and I don’t notice the difference in sound, whether I attempt to stabilize the darn tube or give up and face the event of it falling down.
I guess that is what you mean by 6th finger stabilizing ?
I can’t help you either, Zoob, but the recent advances in full-time psychiatric care are remarkable: check it out.
In the meantime: By stabilizing I mean covering the sixth hole: The hole furthest away from the fipple. As in: xoo oox
And anyway, Zooby-Dooby: Shouldn’t you be eating live oysters?
Tom: You are right, the “Cosmic Drainpipe” is indeed an Overton Low D. Dale’s term.
Do I like it? I love it. According to folklore it was the first low D, and imho it is the best. Such a phantastic whistle that I don’t even know where to begin to praise it. (And as a special bonus, when you play one, you know that Colin & Brigitte Goldie made and sold it, and they are amazingly wonderful people.) The Oveton Low Ds play so sweetly, although you do have to learn to play them: They want to be blown with conviction. The sound of the Overton Low D is special. It is the original “haunting” low D sound. The sound is the greatest thing about them…
Bloomfield,
Give it a couple more weeks (or months perhaps). Play it every day. Practice breathing from your diaphragm. Don’t be afraid to really push that whistle. Soon it will really sing.
Best,
Chris
Second Chris. The sixth finger down
stabilization will either go on
affecting the B note or it won’t.
Either way you’ll have your answer.
I’ve run into this phenomenon
too, but I can’t remember if it
was on the Overton. Many whistles
have a small quirk or other. Of course,
if it doesn’t go away, you can
use your pinky. Best
On 2003-01-01 22:24, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
Bloomfield,
Give it a couple more weeks (or months perhaps). Play it every day. Practice breathing from your diaphragm. Don’t be afraid to really push that whistle. Soon it will really sing.
Best,
Chris
Trust me: I’m pushing. I like Overtons, because the breath support & breathing from your diaphram is easy for me. Played tromebone for years and years in the dimly remembered past. I have tried all sorts of levels of air pressure, and at high pressures I have also gotten the “b goes sharp” phenomenon that Erik described above.
I can live with it, and it’s not even much of a problem. I am just surprised by it, because it doesn’t seem to happen on other Overtons (again, I have a D, C, & A apart form the low D). So, I guess I am just wondering.
Thanks for the responses. Boy, it is so hard to put those Overtons down. I want to play the A and the low D all day long: it’s getting me in trouble at home, too.
Colin here. Great to hear that you like the whistles. I think for the low D it may be better not to cover the bottom hole. I only really suggested it for the Mezzo C (big bore) as this does seem to help stabilize the notes. I do not think that I cover any of the bottom holes on any other key of whistles (o.k. maybe the E). There should be no problem getting the B without covering the bottom hole. If you cannot do this then it may be good if I would give you a call so I could hear what you are doing over the phone and give advice if I can.
Hope you had a good festive season and speak to you soon
Colin
Colin also says that he usally discourages people from getting the wide-bore Mezzo C. I got the narrow bore, and it is an incredibly strong and fast player.
So, I’ll lift my finger (with what strength I have left, Claudine).
