I learned to play Whistle with a D Generation. I actualy (since 2 years) play with Susato high D, C, Bb, and low A and G. They are excellent flûtes but... i dont have good result with my D one Susato. I feel the sound "cold" and that make like some vibrations when i go to 2nd octave... of course, the sound i make is not good. Perhaps i'm a very bad player ;.)... And What i would like, is finding "my flûte" but i don't know wich one ! Chieftain, Overton/Goldie ... or othe i don't know ? That's why i ask to all of you if you can give me some hints ? I look for a warn sound, and a good contact in hand. I dont' like... plastic... thank you for all...
I am playing the whistle a few months, take lessons every week. I am addicted to it, and thats the truth, I practice at 7.30 in the morn and could practice at 12 midnight.
I have tried a few whistles..while I was looking for Ms Right.
Generations, Just did not suit me.
I was using a susato for a few months, and it is the finest..Cheap and cheerfull and good for the money.
I finally settled on the Micheale Burke Brass D.. It is a lovely whistle, so consistant, good on the upper octave.
You can check it out on his website..Comes with a fantastic pouch as well. Well worth the money.
I think the best wooden whistle around is the one made by Mitch Smith at ozwhistles.com. Having said that, I received, the other day, some tweaked whistles by Erik Torp-Olsen at vargaswhistles.com. He sent me a Generation, a Feadog and a Waltons Mellow D. The first two are fine examples of the "tweakers" art and vastly better than the original factory versions, but the tweaked Waltons is a quite astonishing whistle - as good as, or even better than any metal whistle that I own. The tone is warm and sumptuous, the tuning is perfect and the whistle practically plays itself. I hope to review it on my site when I get a minute.
a decent generation D can be good as any whistle at 100 times the price. But you need to get a decent one, they vary loads.
Go to a shop that has a hundred or so in stock and ask to try them all. Spend an hour or so and you'll get a cracker that, if you look after it, will last decades.
For a lovely wooden high D try a Fred Rose blackwood whistle - this guy is becoming the Sobell of whistle makers and is a really nice chap to boot. http://www.fredrose.co.uk
His whistles have a warm tone and a visit to his workshop in Lancashire is always a pleasure.
I agree with Sugarfoot Jack that Fred makes brilliant whistles - I have one. I would say, though, that Fred's whistles are quite difficult to play, good as they are - you need to know what you're doing and they may not be the best choice for someone who hasn't been playing all that long. I don't wish to sound negative, however, and would repeat that Fred's instruments are very fine.
Interesting - I had a Bleazey before and despite being a fine instrument I couldn't get along with it at all. In the end I sold it and went to Fred - when I went to pick the whistle up it played like a dream and I found it felt like it wanted to be played.
I suppose it's a degree of gob variation or something.
I moved up whistle league last year, after years of playing the generation and the sweetone, after reading all the reviews on various whistles on here I decided I wanted an Overton but there was none in stock where I was hunting in Edinboro at the time, so I wanting to have one there for festival reasons opted for the chieftain, 2 weeks later I went to Whitby Festival and there was a selection of overtons on sale...as soon as I picked it up and played it, i kew that was the whistle for me, I have been playing it since and love it.
so....spare 9 month old chieftain couple of scraches on it and a brand new Waltons Freeman Mellow Dog tweaked...lol...all in high d..email if interested
Interesting it certainly is. I've a Bleazey to which I rarely play, and that's not because it's bad - it's a good whistle. I reckon that players bond naturally with the sound and feel of a particular instrument and it simply suits their musical personality. When I was looking. a couple of years ago for a cello to play on tour, it took me me 6 months, but when I found the one I eventually bought (incidentally, from Maureen Morrison at Stringers in Edinburgh - top tip for all fiddle players) I knew straight away it was the one, and I'd tried plenty of top-quality, and more expensive, instruments during my search. Same with guitars or mandolins. I tried loads of guitars in McCabes in Santa Monica before buying the Taylor I now play. Other, more expensive Taylors or Martins in the shop didn't ring my bell but this one did.
I started out, like many whistle players, on a Generation D as that was pretty much all there was then. It was fine at the time but when other makers came along such as Abell and Harper, their stuff was, obviously, streets ahead. Chris Abell's whistles are expensive but top quality, and I repeat that Erik's tweaked Waltons Mellow D, for a relatively cheap instrument, is (in my opinion) an absolute steal.
In fact, I'm off to play it now.
I had spent 6 months looking for the perfect whistle and finally found out that such a thing does not exist, at least not for me. So I took up the flute. If you want a nice warm and mellow tone, go for the flute. It is definitely more interesting, more versatile, more rewarding. Of course, it is also more difficult to learn.
Mais attention: il ne faut pas confondre whistle et flûte. La flûte en musique irlandaise est bien une flûte traversière, bien que différente de celle qui est utilisée en musique classique.
I just got a Bleazey a couple of months ago, it goes down well here in Donegal where some of the best whistle players in the world are playing around me constantly. Has a lovely tone and is so nice to play.
I've been promoting whistles around Australia for a few years now and have seen many, many times how players choose the whistle that is right for them.
Here's what I've observed:
Players and whistles tend to choose each-other. It's like there's a kind of quiet click and the instrument and player go inside a private zone od mutual acceptance. It's unmistakable.
Asking on these message boards can be informative and help winnow-out the dead-ends and narrow-down the field based on teh sound character, but I have to say, there are few dead-ends.
Whistle makers and manufacturers have a certain committment to their products - there is simply not enough cash to be had in whistles for it to be a purely commercial excersize. So each maker has something that will be right for certain players.
As a maker myself, I pour as much energy and attention into each one as I possibly can - always it will be something that I'd like to play myself, but each one will have a distinct character, hand made ones can be taylored to some extent, it helps but the final evaluation is in the playing. The one I sent to Chief Wanganui seemed ok when it went into the box, but hearing him play it, I detected that "click", greatly better than what I could get out of it! Someone else might pick it up and say "what a heap of c**p".
My advice (as always) keep trying whistles until you get that click - it might be a Generation, a hand-made wooden jobbie or a beaten-up old clarke. This is the only way to find the best whistle for you. Also, after a while, don't be surprized when another whistle comes along to "click" with your, more experienced playing.
I'm looking for a whistle
I'm looking for a whistle
I learned to play Whistle with a D Generation. I actualy (since 2 years) play with Susato high D, C, Bb, and low A and G. They are excellent flûtes but... i dont have good result with my D one Susato. I feel the sound "cold" and that make like some vibrations when i go to 2nd octave... of course, the sound i make is not good. Perhaps i'm a very bad player ;.)... And What i would like, is finding "my flûte" but i don't know wich one ! Chieftain, Overton/Goldie ... or othe i don't know ? That's why i ask to all of you if you can give me some hints ? I look for a warn sound, and a good contact in hand. I dont' like... plastic... thank you for all...
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Nath
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I am playing the whistle a few months, take lessons every week. I am addicted to it, and thats the truth, I practice at 7.30 in the morn and could practice at 12 midnight.
I have tried a few whistles..while I was looking for Ms Right.
Generations, Just did not suit me.
I was using a susato for a few months, and it is the finest..Cheap and cheerfull and good for the money.
I finally settled on the Micheale Burke Brass D.. It is a lovely whistle, so consistant, good on the upper octave.
You can check it out on his website..Comes with a fantastic pouch as well. Well worth the money.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by premierview
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I think the best wooden whistle around is the one made by Mitch Smith at ozwhistles.com. Having said that, I received, the other day, some tweaked whistles by Erik Torp-Olsen at vargaswhistles.com. He sent me a Generation, a Feadog and a Waltons Mellow D. The first two are fine examples of the "tweakers" art and vastly better than the original factory versions, but the tweaked Waltons is a quite astonishing whistle - as good as, or even better than any metal whistle that I own. The tone is warm and sumptuous, the tuning is perfect and the whistle practically plays itself. I hope to review it on my site when I get a minute.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
a decent generation D can be good as any whistle at 100 times the price. But you need to get a decent one, they vary loads.
Go to a shop that has a hundred or so in stock and ask to try them all. Spend an hour or so and you'll get a cracker that, if you look after it, will last decades.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by ...
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
For a lovely wooden high D try a Fred Rose blackwood whistle - this guy is becoming the Sobell of whistle makers and is a really nice chap to boot. http://www.fredrose.co.uk
His whistles have a warm tone and a visit to his workshop in Lancashire is always a pleasure.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I agree with Sugarfoot Jack that Fred makes brilliant whistles - I have one. I would say, though, that Fred's whistles are quite difficult to play, good as they are - you need to know what you're doing and they may not be the best choice for someone who hasn't been playing all that long. I don't wish to sound negative, however, and would repeat that Fred's instruments are very fine.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
Interesting - I had a Bleazey before and despite being a fine instrument I couldn't get along with it at all. In the end I sold it and went to Fred - when I went to pick the whistle up it played like a dream and I found it felt like it wanted to be played.
I suppose it's a degree of gob variation or something.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I moved up whistle league last year, after years of playing the generation and the sweetone, after reading all the reviews on various whistles on here I decided I wanted an Overton but there was none in stock where I was hunting in Edinboro at the time, so I wanting to have one there for festival reasons opted for the chieftain, 2 weeks later I went to Whitby Festival and there was a selection of overtons on sale...as soon as I picked it up and played it, i kew that was the whistle for me, I have been playing it since and love it.
so....spare 9 month old chieftain couple of scraches on it and a brand new Waltons Freeman Mellow Dog tweaked...lol...all in high d..email if interested
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Dave_
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
Dixon Trad in D, mine are perfect.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Pere
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
Interesting it certainly is. I've a Bleazey to which I rarely play, and that's not because it's bad - it's a good whistle. I reckon that players bond naturally with the sound and feel of a particular instrument and it simply suits their musical personality. When I was looking. a couple of years ago for a cello to play on tour, it took me me 6 months, but when I found the one I eventually bought (incidentally, from Maureen Morrison at Stringers in Edinburgh - top tip for all fiddle players) I knew straight away it was the one, and I'd tried plenty of top-quality, and more expensive, instruments during my search. Same with guitars or mandolins. I tried loads of guitars in McCabes in Santa Monica before buying the Taylor I now play. Other, more expensive Taylors or Martins in the shop didn't ring my bell but this one did.
I started out, like many whistle players, on a Generation D as that was pretty much all there was then. It was fine at the time but when other makers came along such as Abell and Harper, their stuff was, obviously, streets ahead. Chris Abell's whistles are expensive but top quality, and I repeat that Erik's tweaked Waltons Mellow D, for a relatively cheap instrument, is (in my opinion) an absolute steal.
In fact, I'm off to play it now.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I like the Michael Burkes. A bit expensive but really nice whistles. Alot of the others here like the other more custom ones like the overtons etc.
Any of the mass market ones are a crap shoot. You go through alot of frustration finding just the right one.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by zippydw
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I had spent 6 months looking for the perfect whistle and finally found out that such a thing does not exist, at least not for me. So I took up the flute. If you want a nice warm and mellow tone, go for the flute. It is definitely more interesting, more versatile, more rewarding. Of course, it is also more difficult to learn.
Mais attention: il ne faut pas confondre whistle et flûte. La flûte en musique irlandaise est bien une flûte traversière, bien que différente de celle qui est utilisée en musique classique.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by claudine
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
In English: a whistle is not a flute. You should not use the word flute when you are actually talking about whistles.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by claudine
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
I just got a Bleazey a couple of months ago, it goes down well here in Donegal where some of the best whistle players in the world are playing around me constantly. Has a lovely tone and is so nice to play.
# Posted on April 4th 2008 by Stíofán
Re: I'm looking for a whistle
Hi Nath,
I've been promoting whistles around Australia for a few years now and have seen many, many times how players choose the whistle that is right for them.
Here's what I've observed:
Players and whistles tend to choose each-other. It's like there's a kind of quiet click and the instrument and player go inside a private zone od mutual acceptance. It's unmistakable.
Asking on these message boards can be informative and help winnow-out the dead-ends and narrow-down the field based on teh sound character, but I have to say, there are few dead-ends.
Whistle makers and manufacturers have a certain committment to their products - there is simply not enough cash to be had in whistles for it to be a purely commercial excersize. So each maker has something that will be right for certain players.
As a maker myself, I pour as much energy and attention into each one as I possibly can - always it will be something that I'd like to play myself, but each one will have a distinct character, hand made ones can be taylored to some extent, it helps but the final evaluation is in the playing. The one I sent to Chief Wanganui seemed ok when it went into the box, but hearing him play it, I detected that "click", greatly better than what I could get out of it! Someone else might pick it up and say "what a heap of c**p".
My advice (as always) keep trying whistles until you get that click - it might be a Generation, a hand-made wooden jobbie or a beaten-up old clarke. This is the only way to find the best whistle for you. Also, after a while, don't be surprized when another whistle comes along to "click" with your, more experienced playing.
# Posted on April 7th 2008 by Mozle