Currently I play a (arrrggggghhhh) Waltons D whistle, and I was looking around for a better-but-not-high-end-and-super-expensive instrument. I found a Tony Dixon high D and low D each with a flute head. They were reasonably priced for brand new.
Stay with the Waltons. At 1st the Dixon has a nice sound...but that sound quickly evaporates. You will find yourself back with the old fine tin fellow.
I like the dixon whistles, they are just too easy-going for me. but do not think that that flute head will be worth any extra cost. If you wanna try out fluting without much cost, go for one of the regularly recommended cheapo-makers (e.g. the hamilton-practice-flute or those by doug tipple,...).
Another nice whistle worth mentioning is the Cillian O'Briain improved feadog, I'm still waiting for a friend to bring me one from ireland.
I have a low D flute combo. I like it, but it doesn't have the volume to play with a fiddle. So I play it mostly for my geese
It sounds nice, though, and I play it alot. I got the flute head for the same reason everybody does: for a few bucks more I could try a flute
but the fact of it is that a flute embachure is something you have to develop, so if you don't see yourself seriously picking up the flute, not paying extra for the flute head is not bad advice
I made a cleaner with a rag, a string and a washer so I could drop the washer through and pull the rag after it. It does need to have something run through it to keep it clean
Not sure if you know of Elderly Instruments in Michiagan, USA, but you can get 'tweaked' whistles from them for around 20$ or, that's what they were a few years ago. They've got Waltons, Generation, Shaw, and Feadog. Probably over the upper end of an inexpensive whistle is a brass from John Sindt in New England. around 100$ a few years ago.
I've got a Dixon brass high D as my first whistle, and so far I like the tone quite a lot, even when it's me playing (with only 3 weeks since I've gotten the thing, that seems quite amazing for me). It plays easily, and it's very easy to jump between octaves. Not sure how it compares to other whistles, but I've tried a lot of different ones when buying it, and this was the easiest to play by far.
I have a Dixon A, and like it fine. Yes, it's made of some kind of black plastic, but it has a good sound for all that.
I second buailteoir's comments on Elderly Instruments. It's been called "the musical petting zoo" by friends of mine, and that's so apt. I wish I lived closer to it.
Also, if you're interested in exploring different whistles, try this link: http://www.thewhistleshop.com/.
I've bought a few whistles from Thom, and he's been very friendly and helpful. He used to have (maybe still, it's been a while) a real-world store somewhere in Illinois. A friend of mine visited and Thom treated him very well. He also sells on eBay. Visit the site, drop him an email.
Nate, buy yourself a good flute w/the volume to play along with the fiddler. Unless, of course, you can get a honking low d note on your current flute.
I know that this is an old posting, what the heck it is still relevant. I am new to the Tin Whistle, about a month. I started off watching Father Ryan Duns SJ from Fordham University on YouTube. I am a former Highland Bagpiper (GHB) and wanted to get back to the music seen. I purchased a Merlin High D whistle on eBay last month and graduated over to Blayne Chastain's Online Tutorial. I am really get a lot out of his tutelage. I decided to purchased a second High D whistle and opted for the tunable Tony Dixon Brass High D whistle. My issue is with amount of air required to play it. In order to play D scale, I have to just barely whisper into the mouthpiece to get her to play. If I am feeling a bit naughty and give more than a whisper, she is squeaking like a goose. I am very frustrated with trying to get her to play and I just received it in the mail today. Does anyone have any ideas?
Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Currently I play a (arrrggggghhhh) Waltons D whistle, and I was looking around for a better-but-not-high-end-and-super-expensive instrument. I found a Tony Dixon high D and low D each with a flute head. They were reasonably priced for brand new.
What do you guys think?
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by scordion
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Stay with the Waltons. At 1st the Dixon has a nice sound...but that sound quickly evaporates. You will find yourself back with the old fine tin fellow.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Pete D
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I like the dixon whistles, they are just too easy-going for me. but do not think that that flute head will be worth any extra cost. If you wanna try out fluting without much cost, go for one of the regularly recommended cheapo-makers (e.g. the hamilton-practice-flute or those by doug tipple,...).
Another nice whistle worth mentioning is the Cillian O'Briain improved feadog, I'm still waiting for a friend to bring me one from ireland.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by TMB
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I like the sound of my Dixon whistles, high or low.
So do most of the folks obliged to listen when I play.
Apparently, so do a number of musicians who have asked where they can get one, too.
My two cents, FWIW.
Good Luck.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Piece
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I have a low D flute combo. I like it, but it doesn't have the volume to play with a fiddle. So I play it mostly for my geese
It sounds nice, though, and I play it alot. I got the flute head for the same reason everybody does: for a few bucks more I could try a flute
but the fact of it is that a flute embachure is something you have to develop, so if you don't see yourself seriously picking up the flute, not paying extra for the flute head is not bad advice
I made a cleaner with a rag, a string and a washer so I could drop the washer through and pull the rag after it. It does need to have something run through it to keep it clean
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Not sure if you know of Elderly Instruments in Michiagan, USA, but you can get 'tweaked' whistles from them for around 20$ or, that's what they were a few years ago. They've got Waltons, Generation, Shaw, and Feadog. Probably over the upper end of an inexpensive whistle is a brass from John Sindt in New England. around 100$ a few years ago.
# Posted on August 27th 2009 by buailteoir
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Aren't the Dixon flutes made of plastic?
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by premier
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I've got a Dixon brass high D as my first whistle, and so far I like the tone quite a lot, even when it's me playing (with only 3 weeks since I've gotten the thing, that seems quite amazing for me). It plays easily, and it's very easy to jump between octaves. Not sure how it compares to other whistles, but I've tried a lot of different ones when buying it, and this was the easiest to play by far.
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by kasperl
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I have a Dixon A, and like it fine. Yes, it's made of some kind of black plastic, but it has a good sound for all that.
I second buailteoir's comments on Elderly Instruments. It's been called "the musical petting zoo" by friends of mine, and that's so apt. I wish I lived closer to it.
Also, if you're interested in exploring different whistles, try this link:
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/.
I've bought a few whistles from Thom, and he's been very friendly and helpful. He used to have (maybe still, it's been a while) a real-world store somewhere in Illinois. A friend of mine visited and Thom treated him very well. He also sells on eBay. Visit the site, drop him an email.
And of course, Dale Wisely's http://www.chiffandfipple.com/ is a wealth of reviews and discussion.
Enjoy!
JKB
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by Jeff Berndt
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
Nate, buy yourself a good flute w/the volume to play along with the fiddler. Unless, of course, you can get a honking low d note on your current flute.
# Posted on August 28th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
I know that this is an old posting, what the heck it is still relevant. I am new to the Tin Whistle, about a month. I started off watching Father Ryan Duns SJ from Fordham University on YouTube. I am a former Highland Bagpiper (GHB) and wanted to get back to the music seen. I purchased a Merlin High D whistle on eBay last month and graduated over to Blayne Chastain's Online Tutorial. I am really get a lot out of his tutelage. I decided to purchased a second High D whistle and opted for the tunable Tony Dixon Brass High D whistle. My issue is with amount of air required to play it. In order to play D scale, I have to just barely whisper into the mouthpiece to get her to play. If I am feeling a bit naughty and give more than a whisper, she is squeaking like a goose. I am very frustrated with trying to get her to play and I just received it in the mail today. Does anyone have any ideas?
Cheers,
Kevin
# Posted on October 2nd 2011 by kgrooney
Re: Tony Dixon Flute/whistle
If you just got the whistle today, give it a little time. You'll get used to it. I play a Dixon, and I find it's quite a playable beast.
# Posted on October 2nd 2011 by Jon Kiparsky