Im thinking about getting a Bass G whistle and am wondering who makes a good one. I love the tone quality of the alba but would it be better to get one of those instead of the Overton?
Do you mean the G below the Low D whistle? If so then I have no experience of it... The Low G between low D and high D is a very nice whistle from Alba - I use it for accompanying singers when the key happens to fit. I also have a low A from Alba which I use for the same purpose. Needs a fair amount of air, but makes a good strong earthy tone.
They are aluminium, so do dry them out after playing though, or store them in a ventilated case. One of mine, stored in the plastic tube that it shipped in, developed a bit of corrosion - nothing that couldn't be cured, but better if it had never happened.
I've had a couple of low G whistles, an Overton and a very old generation which is discontinued. both are lovely whistles . IMO the low G is a very good choice. which whistle depends on the sound you are after..... The low A sounds interesting
Colin has reported he will not make ANY concessions for fingers with the Bass G ~ G,, ~ and having swung one, it takes a stretch. Best to clarify what you mean by a Bass G? ~ or is it the Alto? It is a lovely sound. Your best direction if you really do mean the low, low G, would be to learn it from the top down, playing small tunes of no greater range than four notes, and then carrying those to the bottom three holes. It is the lower three holes that will give you the most trouble, so master the upper three first. It helps if you have the hands for it. Try one out before you make that jump. This is an instrument, the 'Bass G', that requires the use of not just the first and second joint of the finger, the piper's grip, but might just require the use of the third too... Good luck...
I had the chance to hold one bass G in my hands at Colins place. That's a huge and mighty instrument. Only one addition to ceolachans precise description: smaller grown people like (175 cm) me without arms reaching to the ground might need a giraffe's neck! I was able to reach and cover the tone holes but could hardly reach the mouth piece. Once you blow the tube it sounds and runs great!
Bass G whisle
Bass G whisle
Im thinking about getting a Bass G whistle and am wondering who makes a good one. I love the tone quality of the alba but would it be better to get one of those instead of the Overton?
# Posted on June 28th 2009 by Bowen Constrictor
Re: Bass G whisle
Do you mean the G below the Low D whistle? If so then I have no experience of it... The Low G between low D and high D is a very nice whistle from Alba - I use it for accompanying singers when the key happens to fit. I also have a low A from Alba which I use for the same purpose. Needs a fair amount of air, but makes a good strong earthy tone.
They are aluminium, so do dry them out after playing though, or store them in a ventilated case. One of mine, stored in the plastic tube that it shipped in, developed a bit of corrosion - nothing that couldn't be cured, but better if it had never happened.
# Posted on June 29th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: Bass G whisle
I've had a couple of low G whistles, an Overton and a very old generation which is discontinued. both are lovely whistles . IMO the low G is a very good choice. which whistle depends on the sound you are after..... The low A sounds interesting
# Posted on June 29th 2009 by piobagusfidil
Re: Bass G whisle
Overton make a bass G but it's huge, I would think its use would be very limited. I have an Overton alto G and it's a really great whistle.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by bogman
Re: Bass G whisle
Colin has reported he will not make ANY concessions for fingers with the Bass G ~ G,, ~ and having swung one, it takes a stretch. Best to clarify what you mean by a Bass G? ~ or is it the Alto? It is a lovely sound. Your best direction if you really do mean the low, low G, would be to learn it from the top down, playing small tunes of no greater range than four notes, and then carrying those to the bottom three holes. It is the lower three holes that will give you the most trouble, so master the upper three first. It helps if you have the hands for it. Try one out before you make that jump. This is an instrument, the 'Bass G', that requires the use of not just the first and second joint of the finger, the piper's grip, but might just require the use of the third too... Good luck...
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by ceolachan
Re: Bass G whisle
I had the chance to hold one bass G in my hands at Colins place. That's a huge and mighty instrument. Only one addition to ceolachans precise description: smaller grown people like (175 cm) me without arms reaching to the ground might need a giraffe's neck! I was able to reach and cover the tone holes but could hardly reach the mouth piece. Once you blow the tube it sounds and runs great!
# Posted on July 10th 2009 by bonnanza