Hello,
I have had a search through the archives but haven't found what I'm looking for. I need a loud low whistle. I also want one that sounds half decent as well. I have a Chieftain low D which I use and really like but I tend to get drowned out in larger sessions. I have heard that Susato whistles are loud but that there is a mixed reaction to them - not in tune, too shrill etc. Has anyone tried a Susato Low D or can anyone recoomend a good, loud Low D or do I stick to my Cheiftain.
Thanks,
Ewan
The Susato wide bore range are really loud. I have a wide bore tunable A wich I like. The SB:s are quieter. The major downside, I think is that they sound like recorders (ugh). Other quite loud lows is the Reyburns ($150-235) and Kerry's (Not the Kerry Pro's wich resemble Overtons and high quality Chieftains, but the standard types with plastic fipples), selling for about $80-90. The Susatos are cheaper still. You might also want to consider Howards, but as I have no direct experiense of those myself, I don't recomend it.
If you haven't done so yet, check out the Chiff and Fipple guide to low whistles and C&F message board. www.chiffandfipple.com. There will be loads of people there to answer all your question.
See ya around. /Henke
I recently got my Burke Low D aluminium Pro. It's smashing!!
Several session mates of mine tried it and decided to order one themselves.
Nothing to do with the ones I tried before (Kerry and Dixon).
Micheal Burke web site is posted under the links section
ok then - are the Dixon combination whistles/flutes any good? I'll give the flute a try but I want to run before I can walk. Is the fingering the same? If a play a Dixon is it louder with the flute head on? Seriously, let me know. Or do I have to get a wooden flute? How tricky is it to get a decent tone from a flute? I can just about manage to blow across the top of my beer bottle
Ewan,
I have the Dixon flute-Low whistle combo, so I know what I'm talking about. They're all right, but they're not loud enough for a session and get out of tune when overblowed. It's not much louder with the flute head. Actually, I bought a Seery flute and the Burke low D afterwards, and that's what I'm playing at the moment.
But, if you're starting with the flute, the Dixon is a pretty good thing. If you go for that, my advice is to get a G Dixon flute (which is pretty cheap) to learn how to blow, get used to the fingering, etc..
Once you master it, go for a good D flute.
How tricky is it to get a decent tone from a flute? Well, it can't be all that tricky, because I can do it and I can't play low whistle at all - and can barely play a high whistle for that matter. Seriously, though, there is a learning curve for the flute that's mainly dealing with embouchure, breathing and wind, but it's not at all insurmountable if you keep at it and practice regularly. And the benefits are well worth the effort.
I've never been a big fan of low whistles myself. I suppose they have a place and can sometimes work well in recording and band situations (e.g. Lunasa), but they're certainly not session instruments - although many try to make them such. They are such limited instruments, and everything you can do on the low whistle you can do on the flute, and so much more besides. Low whistles have a one-note tone palette (breathy), while wooden flutes have an infinitely variable range of tones and textures available to the player. It's no contest, really...
The Dixon Combi is a good thing. I have one in low D and it worked well as a learning flute for me. But don't expect to be able to play any sessions with it. Mine at least is quite out of tune (with A:440 and with itself). The second thing is that the Dixons tend to recuire a very focused embouchure and that makes it somewhat hard to learn on. My flute head is a lot louder than the whistle head and it's really up to the player to learn different methods of playing. You can tune the flute while playing by adjusting the angle of the steam of air (blow down the embouchure makes it flat and across makes it sharp), and breathines and volume by shaping the lips. You go on and buy one of those to practise on. It's a good deal. The flute has a bit more magic to it than the low whistle. I like flutes better than lows too.
The Dixon combo really stinks. I purchased, played, HATED and re-sold the combo within a few days. The intonation suffers, as does the response and general accuracy on up-tempo attacks. In general, they are cheap, cheaply made and sound cheap. Not to be a snob here, on the upside they'd be a good backpacking combo as they are nearly indestructible and essetially weather proog (other than say and El Camino dashboard in mid-august sun on a sand road in nevada). in general, I'm with the rest on this one, burke is the way to go...barring of course a study of flute. back to low-d's, If you can find one...it's not loud but sounds GREAT...try a ralph cook though you'll be after a used one as mr cook is no longer producing these.
best of luck,
Farquharson... I'm sorry to hear that you didn't like your Dixon. It's strange, because I really like mine. I've talked to other owners as well and most of them seem to agree that they don't belong in the top shelf of flutes, but then the prize is less than a tenth from the standard top shelf flute. Lets say I like mine for that prize and it really makes a good practise flute for travelling times as well as a good beginners flute. In my experience, wich seems to be shared by many, the Dixon's can sound well, but one has to have the ability to play them well.
I also have the Chieftan low D, and I love it. I think that you should stick to that. I have played the low D by Susato, and I have two problems with it. The space between holes is a little far, making it uncomfortable, and its tone quality is great.
low whistle help please
low whistle help please
Hello,
I have had a search through the archives but haven't found what I'm looking for. I need a loud low whistle. I also want one that sounds half decent as well. I have a Chieftain low D which I use and really like but I tend to get drowned out in larger sessions. I have heard that Susato whistles are loud but that there is a mixed reaction to them - not in tune, too shrill etc. Has anyone tried a Susato Low D or can anyone recoomend a good, loud Low D or do I stick to my Cheiftain.
Thanks,
Ewan
# Posted on July 16th 2003 by Yohan
Re: low whistle help please
The Susato wide bore range are really loud. I have a wide bore tunable A wich I like. The SB:s are quieter. The major downside, I think is that they sound like recorders (ugh). Other quite loud lows is the Reyburns ($150-235) and Kerry's (Not the Kerry Pro's wich resemble Overtons and high quality Chieftains, but the standard types with plastic fipples), selling for about $80-90. The Susatos are cheaper still. You might also want to consider Howards, but as I have no direct experiense of those myself, I don't recomend it.
If you haven't done so yet, check out the Chiff and Fipple guide to low whistles and C&F message board. www.chiffandfipple.com. There will be loads of people there to answer all your question.
See ya around. /Henke
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by KeffoHenke
Re: low whistle help please
I recently got my Burke Low D aluminium Pro. It's smashing!!
Several session mates of mine tried it and decided to order one themselves.
Nothing to do with the ones I tried before (Kerry and Dixon).
Micheal Burke web site is posted under the links section
All the best
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by Toni Ribas
Re: low whistle help please
Loud low whistle? Get a flute and learn to play it!
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by johnkerr
Re: low whistle help please
Dind ding ding, we have a winner - the prize goes to the gentleman named John Kerr.
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by B Rad
Re: low whistle help please
LOL -- actually, Ewan, that's a fair piece of advice there...
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: low whistle help please
ok then - are the Dixon combination whistles/flutes any good? I'll give the flute a try but I want to run before I can walk. Is the fingering the same? If a play a Dixon is it louder with the flute head on? Seriously, let me know. Or do I have to get a wooden flute? How tricky is it to get a decent tone from a flute? I can just about manage to blow across the top of my beer bottle
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by Yohan
Re: low whistle help please
Ewan,
I have the Dixon flute-Low whistle combo, so I know what I'm talking about. They're all right, but they're not loud enough for a session and get out of tune when overblowed. It's not much louder with the flute head. Actually, I bought a Seery flute and the Burke low D afterwards, and that's what I'm playing at the moment.
But, if you're starting with the flute, the Dixon is a pretty good thing. If you go for that, my advice is to get a G Dixon flute (which is pretty cheap) to learn how to blow, get used to the fingering, etc..
Once you master it, go for a good D flute.
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by Toni Ribas
Re: low whistle help please
How tricky is it to get a decent tone from a flute? Well, it can't be all that tricky, because I can do it and I can't play low whistle at all - and can barely play a high whistle for that matter. Seriously, though, there is a learning curve for the flute that's mainly dealing with embouchure, breathing and wind, but it's not at all insurmountable if you keep at it and practice regularly. And the benefits are well worth the effort.
I've never been a big fan of low whistles myself. I suppose they have a place and can sometimes work well in recording and band situations (e.g. Lunasa), but they're certainly not session instruments - although many try to make them such. They are such limited instruments, and everything you can do on the low whistle you can do on the flute, and so much more besides. Low whistles have a one-note tone palette (breathy), while wooden flutes have an infinitely variable range of tones and textures available to the player. It's no contest, really...
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by johnkerr
Re: low whistle help please
The Dixon Combi is a good thing. I have one in low D and it worked well as a learning flute for me. But don't expect to be able to play any sessions with it. Mine at least is quite out of tune (with A:440 and with itself). The second thing is that the Dixons tend to recuire a very focused embouchure and that makes it somewhat hard to learn on. My flute head is a lot louder than the whistle head and it's really up to the player to learn different methods of playing. You can tune the flute while playing by adjusting the angle of the steam of air (blow down the embouchure makes it flat and across makes it sharp), and breathines and volume by shaping the lips. You go on and buy one of those to practise on. It's a good deal. The flute has a bit more magic to it than the low whistle. I like flutes better than lows too.
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by KeffoHenke
Re: low whistle help please
Overton. No contest.
(except the flute ofcourse)
# Posted on July 17th 2003 by ...
Re: low whistle help please
The Dixon combo really stinks. I purchased, played, HATED and re-sold the combo within a few days. The intonation suffers, as does the response and general accuracy on up-tempo attacks. In general, they are cheap, cheaply made and sound cheap. Not to be a snob here, on the upside they'd be a good backpacking combo as they are nearly indestructible and essetially weather proog (other than say and El Camino dashboard in mid-august sun on a sand road in nevada). in general, I'm with the rest on this one, burke is the way to go...barring of course a study of flute. back to low-d's, If you can find one...it's not loud but sounds GREAT...try a ralph cook though you'll be after a used one as mr cook is no longer producing these.
best of luck,
fw
# Posted on July 20th 2003 by farquharson whistler
Re: low whistle help please
Farquharson... I'm sorry to hear that you didn't like your Dixon. It's strange, because I really like mine. I've talked to other owners as well and most of them seem to agree that they don't belong in the top shelf of flutes, but then the prize is less than a tenth from the standard top shelf flute. Lets say I like mine for that prize and it really makes a good practise flute for travelling times as well as a good beginners flute. In my experience, wich seems to be shared by many, the Dixon's can sound well, but one has to have the ability to play them well.
Cheers
# Posted on July 21st 2003 by KeffoHenke
Re: low whistle help please
I also have the Chieftan low D, and I love it. I think that you should stick to that. I have played the low D by Susato, and I have two problems with it. The space between holes is a little far, making it uncomfortable, and its tone quality is great.
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by AHendey