I have an inexpensive whistle purchased in the early 90's. It's brass with a green plastic mouthpiece. The only label is a clear plastic sticker that says "D Tin Whistle - Irish Made" with some scrolly (sp?) filligree around it. No manufacturer. The plastic mouthpiece is not round where it slips on to the brass tube but 16 sided. (hexadecagon) if that helps. From the "A flock, gang, gaggle, of plastic-fipple-and-metal-tube style whistles" picture on Chiff & Fipple it looks like the Soodlum. Any help? I'm just curious.
Also, on this particular whistle there seems to be a distinct difference in tone between the low register and the high register. If I drop from a high D to a low B the diference seems very pronounced to my untrained ears. Is this to be expected with an inexpensive whistle?
"If I drop from a high D to a low B the diference seems very pronounced to my untrained ears. Is this to be expected with an inexpensive whistle?"
Anything can be expected from an inexpensive whistle. The brass barrels and plastic mouthpieces are churned out in the 1000s by machines, and then assembled, without any individual attention from actual craftsmen. No doubt, quality control filters out the ones that are visibly faulty, but I doubt very much that they are individually tested by musicians. So, owing to the inevitable small discrepancies in dimensions, distortions of shape etc., the whistles will vary in tone and tuning. If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other hand, you might get one that is barely playable.
You really need at least 500 people for that last sentence OPC. It should read - "If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other 999 hands, you might get one that is barely playable."
"You really need at least 500 people for that last sentence OPC. It should read - "If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other 999 hands, you might get one that is barely playable.""
I don't entirely agree, Bogman. Yes, the chances of finding one that is in tune and even-toned across its range are very slim indeed (in fact, I suspect the design itself probably precludes this possibility, regardless of quality of manufacture). But I would say that most of the cheapo whistles (Generation, Feadog, Clarke's, Walton's etc.) are at least passable. There's many a whistle on the market selling for 20 or 30 times the price of a Generation, but that is not 20 or 30 times better than the average Generation whislte.
Thanks All,
Pretty difinitively answered (with pictures!) by Jerry Freeman on Chiff and Fipple discussion board as being a pre-Walton Soodlum's.
Now how can I get the best sound out of it?
I only ever tried point 11, using paraffine wax. as it says, it doesn't hurt, is reversible, and it did (in all 3 cases i tried) improve the sound, especially in the second octave.
About the "cheapo whistle" debate, I've been playing a Generation C since the 70's that is the best C whistle I've played. I think I've tried most of the "designer" whistles out there including whistles made of sterling silver etc but none compare.
It's the combination of incomparably sweet high notes yet full round low notes, nimble action, and traditional tone that I love.
About the number of whistles one need to go through to find a good one, I suppose that varies from make to make and from run to run within a given make. A few years ago I got a crack at two dozen new Generation D's right out of the box from the maker.
One whistle was superb in every way. Another was nearly, but not quite, its equal. (I bought those two.)
At the other end, a few were unplayable and only made squeaky noises.
The rest were in the middle, mediocre whistles.
If I were running Generation I would have wanted to melt down all but those two superb whistles, or at least melt down the horrid ones.
Pete- I'd say your whistle is worth trying to tweak as per the link given above. My whistle of choice, after 2 decades and having played all manners of expensive whistles, is a Soodlum's from the late '80's. I don't know how much they changed to the early '90's, or if I was just lucky, but it's a gem.
Mystery Whistle
Mystery Whistle
I have an inexpensive whistle purchased in the early 90's. It's brass with a green plastic mouthpiece. The only label is a clear plastic sticker that says "D Tin Whistle - Irish Made" with some scrolly (sp?) filligree around it. No manufacturer. The plastic mouthpiece is not round where it slips on to the brass tube but 16 sided. (hexadecagon) if that helps. From the "A flock, gang, gaggle, of plastic-fipple-and-metal-tube style whistles" picture on Chiff & Fipple it looks like the Soodlum. Any help? I'm just curious.
Also, on this particular whistle there seems to be a distinct difference in tone between the low register and the high register. If I drop from a high D to a low B the diference seems very pronounced to my untrained ears. Is this to be expected with an inexpensive whistle?
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Pete Hay
Re: Mystery Whistle
It's a Walton's
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by Whiddler
Re: Mystery Whistle
"If I drop from a high D to a low B the diference seems very pronounced to my untrained ears. Is this to be expected with an inexpensive whistle?"
Anything can be expected from an inexpensive whistle. The brass barrels and plastic mouthpieces are churned out in the 1000s by machines, and then assembled, without any individual attention from actual craftsmen. No doubt, quality control filters out the ones that are visibly faulty, but I doubt very much that they are individually tested by musicians. So, owing to the inevitable small discrepancies in dimensions, distortions of shape etc., the whistles will vary in tone and tuning. If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other hand, you might get one that is barely playable.
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Mystery Whistle
You really need at least 500 people for that last sentence OPC. It should read - "If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other 999 hands, you might get one that is barely playable."
# Posted on September 15th 2009 by bogman
Re: Mystery Whistle
Sounds like a Soodlum's -- I used to have one
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by Hup
Re: Mystery Whistle
As Soodlum's now is called Walton's, you all seem to agree.
And I think you're right.
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by TMB
Re: Mystery Whistle
"You really need at least 500 people for that last sentence OPC. It should read - "If you're lucky, you might get one that is perfectly in tune and even-toned across its range - but on the other 999 hands, you might get one that is barely playable.""
I don't entirely agree, Bogman. Yes, the chances of finding one that is in tune and even-toned across its range are very slim indeed (in fact, I suspect the design itself probably precludes this possibility, regardless of quality of manufacture). But I would say that most of the cheapo whistles (Generation, Feadog, Clarke's, Walton's etc.) are at least passable. There's many a whistle on the market selling for 20 or 30 times the price of a Generation, but that is not 20 or 30 times better than the average Generation whislte.
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Mystery Whistle
We'll need to agree to differ there OPC.
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by bogman
Re: Mystery Whistle
Thanks All,
Pretty difinitively answered (with pictures!) by Jerry Freeman on Chiff and Fipple discussion board as being a pre-Walton Soodlum's.
Now how can I get the best sound out of it?
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by Pete Hay
Re: Mystery Whistle
http://www.chiffandfipple.com/tweak.html
I only ever tried point 11, using paraffine wax. as it says, it doesn't hurt, is reversible, and it did (in all 3 cases i tried) improve the sound, especially in the second octave.
# Posted on September 16th 2009 by TMB
Re: Mystery Whistle
About the "cheapo whistle" debate, I've been playing a Generation C since the 70's that is the best C whistle I've played. I think I've tried most of the "designer" whistles out there including whistles made of sterling silver etc but none compare.
It's the combination of incomparably sweet high notes yet full round low notes, nimble action, and traditional tone that I love.
About the number of whistles one need to go through to find a good one, I suppose that varies from make to make and from run to run within a given make. A few years ago I got a crack at two dozen new Generation D's right out of the box from the maker.
One whistle was superb in every way. Another was nearly, but not quite, its equal. (I bought those two.)
At the other end, a few were unplayable and only made squeaky noises.
The rest were in the middle, mediocre whistles.
If I were running Generation I would have wanted to melt down all but those two superb whistles, or at least melt down the horrid ones.
# Posted on September 17th 2009 by Richard D Cook
Re: Mystery Whistle
Pete- I'd say your whistle is worth trying to tweak as per the link given above. My whistle of choice, after 2 decades and having played all manners of expensive whistles, is a Soodlum's from the late '80's. I don't know how much they changed to the early '90's, or if I was just lucky, but it's a gem.
# Posted on September 18th 2009 by sampy