I've searched all over the web for an affordable low D whistle but all I find are a good deal out of my price range. Anyone know where I could purchase a cheap low D whistle?
The short answer, no. I haven't seen any cheap low D whistle that's any good. I admit, I have a Dixon low D, which no one has ever seen since it is a piece of sh*te and I keep it well away from sessions. They cost about £50-60 in a shop.
Couldn't even give the thing away, though I tried. Then it became two sh*te low D whistles when someone gave me their identical whistle. Argh! Just because I have doesn't mean I need another one!
Paddy Keenan apparently used to get aluminum tubes (a series of tubes!!) and drill the appropriate holes in them. You could try that.
It is hard to know what you are counting as cheap, but I have tried and owned many low Ds and I think the Howard is pretty nice for a cheaper whistle. Keep an eye on ebay and you can get these for around $100 (though they are closer to $200 new, I think, and once you are in this price range your options expand a little).
Also, Kerry whistles makes a plastic head low D that might work for you, though I have never tried one. They have sound clips of their products on their website: http://www.kerrywhistles.com/
One possibility is to stretch an inexpensive high D whistle to twice its original length, at very high temperatures. Be careful though, as the resulting instrument is very delicate and requires a gossamer-light touch to avoid ensuing disaster. It should not to be used in boisterous, noisy sessions.
But... If the resulting whistle is fragile then you are defeating the main purpose of a low D whistle, i.e. to defend yourself against outraged punters and overly boisterous fellow musicians!
With all due respect, I am mystified (and very curious) to know what you find wanting with your Dixon whistles. Just my luck perhaps, but all the feedback I have gotten for my Dixons has been really very positve. I have used them at sessions and at paid gigs, and the story remains the same in my experience - fine whistles, especially for the price.
I expect your reasons are well thought out and considered, as you posted your conclusions here with, IMHO, a rather broad brush.
In the meantime, I will gladly take any Tony Dixon whistles off your hands, if you are that unhappy with them.
They are too light and unstable in the bottom octave, especially as compared to the top octave. Yeah, you can learn to play with that extreme pressure differential but I don't like it. When I get the note without it breaking octaves, it's too quiet. I like a harder bottom D. Also, the top octave is out of tune. See, I have reasons. The Chieftain I used to own was much more balanced to play, even though it was perpetually flat.
To be fair SS is not talking about a Dixon with a metal body. It is one of the all plastic ones and is not a particularly good example. I have had a shot on a couple of his high ds with the plastic head and metal body and they have been quite nice.
For an inexpensive low whistle you might also consider a Susato.
Sincerely, I knew you had your reasons, as indicated in my first posting above. I have not noticed you being prone to wildly flailing about in your posts here, and wanted your thoughts and observations for my own edification.
So I took it out and played with it, with your comments in mind.
As regards the plastic low Ds, I would be dishonest if I denied that I have observed at least one of the same "challenges" when playing them, that being winding the bottom D.
On balance, I personally have not found the volume in the lower octave wanting enough to discount the other things I like about the Dixons, but hey, different strokes. That's why there is more than one brand of whistle.
Scotiabalach, the best low whistles ARE cheap. £150 or more for a top quality instrument? That is very very cheap. Please do not be tempted to buy cheaper. It is a waste of money. Just stay out the pub for a fortnight on eat beans for a fortnight or do what it takes to get an Overton or similar. NO reputed players play cheap low whistles. You cannot listen to online recommendations for cheap whistles because you don't know who is recommending it. Just do it. You will always get your money back for an Overton if you don't get on with it. If you spend less the whistle will lie in your drawer for eternity because nobody else with any sense will want it.
Hammy is making a great low D whistle - it's tunable, has a plastic/metal mouthpiece, plays nicely in tune, is easy to blow. I think they sell for about 150 Euros. About $225. Well worth the money.
Aye, Bogman is spot on. Compared to everything else, the most high end of low whistles is bloody cheap compared to the most high end of every other instrument you can play. A lot of the good whistle players I know are playing quality whistles, both low D and soprano. This is what I told myself when I bought my Overton (high D-ish). Ouch, hurts, but jaysus, hurts a hell of a lot less than one lousy regulator, much less a full or half set of pipes
Some of the whistles made through his method that I've seen have been very good.
That said, I also echo the comments about saving up and paying for a quality instrument: if you think about what an "acceptable" fiddle costs compared to a great whistle...
Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
I've searched all over the web for an affordable low D whistle but all I find are a good deal out of my price range. Anyone know where I could purchase a cheap low D whistle?
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by ScotiaBalach
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
The short answer, no. I haven't seen any cheap low D whistle that's any good. I admit, I have a Dixon low D, which no one has ever seen since it is a piece of sh*te and I keep it well away from sessions. They cost about £50-60 in a shop.
Couldn't even give the thing away, though I tried. Then it became two sh*te low D whistles when someone gave me their identical whistle. Argh! Just because I have doesn't mean I need another one!
Paddy Keenan apparently used to get aluminum tubes (a series of tubes!!) and drill the appropriate holes in them. You could try that.
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
D*mn. Well, it was worth a shot.
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by ScotiaBalach
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
My wife thinks her Dixon low D is great. Sounds ok to me.
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by greg sheils
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Very seldom does cheap = good with musical instruments. Most often, if you go for cheap, you will be unhappy further down the road.
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
It is hard to know what you are counting as cheap, but I have tried and owned many low Ds and I think the Howard is pretty nice for a cheaper whistle. Keep an eye on ebay and you can get these for around $100 (though they are closer to $200 new, I think, and once you are in this price range your options expand a little).
Also, Kerry whistles makes a plastic head low D that might work for you, though I have never tried one. They have sound clips of their products on their website: http://www.kerrywhistles.com/
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by crickett
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Flute? http://dougsflutes.googlepages.com/
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
If "cheap 'n cheerful" will do (i.e., you're just learning), you can't beat the price on this one:
http://www.bingamon.com/jubilee/pagesmith/19
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by John Galt
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
One possibility is to stretch an inexpensive high D whistle to twice its original length, at very high temperatures. Be careful though, as the resulting instrument is very delicate and requires a gossamer-light touch to avoid ensuing disaster. It should not to be used in boisterous, noisy sessions.
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by de Selby
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
In the right hands, my Dixon Low D sounds lovely. In my hands, it sounds like, as you all say "Sh*te".
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by sbhikes
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
But... If the resulting whistle is fragile then you are defeating the main purpose of a low D whistle, i.e. to defend yourself against outraged punters and overly boisterous fellow musicians!
# Posted on October 14th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Oh, that's also where the Dixons fail. It would be sort of pointless to hit someone with one.
I knew a guy who chased someone down the street with a Chieftain once.
# Posted on October 15th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
SIlver Spear:
With all due respect, I am mystified (and very curious) to know what you find wanting with your Dixon whistles. Just my luck perhaps, but all the feedback I have gotten for my Dixons has been really very positve. I have used them at sessions and at paid gigs, and the story remains the same in my experience - fine whistles, especially for the price.
I expect your reasons are well thought out and considered, as you posted your conclusions here with, IMHO, a rather broad brush.
In the meantime, I will gladly take any Tony Dixon whistles off your hands, if you are that unhappy with them.
I will gladly pay the shipping, too.
All the best,
# Posted on October 15th 2009 by Piece
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
They are too light and unstable in the bottom octave, especially as compared to the top octave. Yeah, you can learn to play with that extreme pressure differential but I don't like it. When I get the note without it breaking octaves, it's too quiet. I like a harder bottom D. Also, the top octave is out of tune. See, I have reasons. The Chieftain I used to own was much more balanced to play, even though it was perpetually flat.
# Posted on October 15th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
To be fair SS is not talking about a Dixon with a metal body. It is one of the all plastic ones and is not a particularly good example. I have had a shot on a couple of his high ds with the plastic head and metal body and they have been quite nice.
For an inexpensive low whistle you might also consider a Susato.
# Posted on October 15th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Sweetheart's are nice..
# Posted on October 15th 2009 by nik nak
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
There is a recent thread on Chiff and Fipple with good positive comments about these
http://www.domnahlnagruen.com/
# Posted on October 16th 2009 by doublebucklemonk
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
SS: Thanks for the response.
Sincerely, I knew you had your reasons, as indicated in my first posting above. I have not noticed you being prone to wildly flailing about in your posts here, and wanted your thoughts and observations for my own edification.
So I took it out and played with it, with your comments in mind.
As regards the plastic low Ds, I would be dishonest if I denied that I have observed at least one of the same "challenges" when playing them, that being winding the bottom D.
On balance, I personally have not found the volume in the lower octave wanting enough to discount the other things I like about the Dixons, but hey, different strokes. That's why there is more than one brand of whistle.
Good day to you.
# Posted on October 16th 2009 by Piece
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Scotiabalach, the best low whistles ARE cheap. £150 or more for a top quality instrument? That is very very cheap. Please do not be tempted to buy cheaper. It is a waste of money. Just stay out the pub for a fortnight on eat beans for a fortnight or do what it takes to get an Overton or similar. NO reputed players play cheap low whistles. You cannot listen to online recommendations for cheap whistles because you don't know who is recommending it. Just do it. You will always get your money back for an Overton if you don't get on with it. If you spend less the whistle will lie in your drawer for eternity because nobody else with any sense will want it.
# Posted on October 16th 2009 by bogman
Re: Hammy's low D whistle.
Hammy is making a great low D whistle - it's tunable, has a plastic/metal mouthpiece, plays nicely in tune, is easy to blow. I think they sell for about 150 Euros. About $225. Well worth the money.
# Posted on October 16th 2009 by David Levine
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
Aye, Bogman is spot on. Compared to everything else, the most high end of low whistles is bloody cheap compared to the most high end of every other instrument you can play. A lot of the good whistle players I know are playing quality whistles, both low D and soprano. This is what I told myself when I bought my Overton (high D-ish). Ouch, hurts, but jaysus, hurts a hell of a lot less than one lousy regulator, much less a full or half set of pipes
# Posted on October 16th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Looking for an inexpensive low D whistle.
If you are good with your hands, there is a DIY guide here:
http://guido.gonzato.googlepages.com/LowTechWhistle.pdf
Some of the whistles made through his method that I've seen have been very good.
That said, I also echo the comments about saving up and paying for a quality instrument: if you think about what an "acceptable" fiddle costs compared to a great whistle...
# Posted on October 19th 2009 by Calum