I live in the US and am looking for a good whistle for my Dad. Were can I get one? He is a good player, former open highland bagpiper, and all he has now besides his pipes (which are too loud for sessions) is a crummy recorder and a tin whistle. My sisters and I play fiddle, and we would like something that is easy to go along with as far as keys...the recorder always sounds a bit off. Anyway, any help will be appreciated!
My whistle's a Chieftain; they're more well-known for their low whistles, but my high whistle is great. It's made from one piece of metal, and is wider, with bigger holes, than most whistles. I think this is what makes it louder. You do have to blow harder down it, though.
I like my Reyburn. It's $50 less than a Burke, somewhat dirtier sound (in a good way) and just as well-built and in tune. It does take a bit more oomph to play in the top octave though.
But a $10 oak with a loosened head for tuning is 99.5% as good.
Mines and overton, its a wonder to play and the tone is in my opinion is peerless in quality. MK do some increadable whistles also: http://jazzwhistle.com/
dont be fooled by the name 'jazz whistle' :D its still a low whistle.
I have a Silkstone D-plus (http://www.silkstone-whistles.com/ available in the USA from www.whistleanddrum.com). The only 'quality whistle' I have played so can only compare with Generation, Feadog, Waltons etc but it plays very well compared to them. Fairly loud.
The extra note, a low C natural, is not much use for Irish tunes but might be handy for a recorder or GHB player who launches into a favourite tune and finds their right pinky groping for an extra note that is not there on a normal whistle. I find the tunes like The Dark Isle (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4906) that started off on the pipes work much better even when, as in this case, they can be played on a six-hole whistle.
Susatos are good recommended by a whistle playing friend, and sound much better than the average ones. I think you can get them in a tunable version as well
Susatos have the same round tone as a recorder. They are recorders with whistle fingering. That's not a judgment, just a statement of (near) fact. They are also LOUD.
Buy a Bleazey from www.bleazey.co.uk . Super tunable whistles in various woods. I had to buy a new one at Chippenham Folk Festival last weekend as I've worn the mouthpiece of my last one, however, he's going to repair it for me and reinforce it with some hard plastic to prevent it happening again. Hows that for customer service.
Ric
Two that I like to play are the S.Z.B.E made by Ken Matsusaka
(Aluminum alloy) & Paul Busman's Rosewood D. http://szbe.net/index_e.htm http://www.busmanwhistles.com/
Sounds like you are looking for a tunable soprano D,
but he might like a Low D.
I just got a Dixon Trad from Hobgoblin. It's a really nice, pure-sounding whistle, IMO the best you can get for $25. The Jerry Freeman tweaked whistles, found at Elderly, are always a good quality for a low price, also.
Bingo Thomaston,
I probably would buy a tweaked whistle for someone who already plays. I do not have one but have loved the ones I have tried. I do want to get a feadog from Cillian. My friend tweaks Shaws but I asked him to tweak an A whistle & never got it back.
Hope I do not offend anyone with this last comment, but here goes. I would be reluctant to buy a composite (or plastic) whistle for someone else. Not to say they are not good whistles ( I like the PVC water weasel) just my first choice for a gift would be metal or wood. Followed by the synthetics.
I also have an S.Z.B.E. high "D" whistle (model DP) from Ken Matsusaka. I actually play it more than my old Copeland. I highly recommend Ken's whistles, especially at the price of just $78 + postage. http://szbe.net/index_e.htm
Snap david_h! I have a silkstone D too. They're made in the village of Silkstone in Yorkshire and I chose mine because it has a gorgeous, clear tone to it.
However, I can't play it in sessions. Well, I could, but it's hard to control a set on it because it's just quieter than the other instruments. For sessions I use my Susato which I bought about 6 years ago now. It's wonderfully loud and strong in tone and they're not too expensive either (particularly when compared to the silkstone). Theyre plastic btw. Alternatively my sister just bought one called Syn which is an Australian whistle. It's metal and really really loud so ideal for sessions. Have a look at www.bigwhistle.co.uk for whistles, the guy there's got loads of different types and is always up for a chat about them he can probably suggest some others. He's based over here near Accrington in Lancashire but he ships all over the world (a lot to Japan for some reason! lol)
buying a quality whistle
buying a quality whistle
I live in the US and am looking for a good whistle for my Dad. Were can I get one? He is a good player, former open highland bagpiper, and all he has now besides his pipes (which are too loud for sessions) is a crummy recorder and a tin whistle. My sisters and I play fiddle, and we would like something that is easy to go along with as far as keys...the recorder always sounds a bit off. Anyway, any help will be appreciated!
# Posted on May 30th 2007 by jiggyhobbit
Re: buying a quality whistle
Get a Sindt or a Burke, you'll not do much better
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by rogfox
Re: buying a quality whistle
Long wait for the Sindt though.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by rogfox
Re: buying a quality whistle
My whistle's a Chieftain; they're more well-known for their low whistles, but my high whistle is great. It's made from one piece of metal, and is wider, with bigger holes, than most whistles. I think this is what makes it louder. You do have to blow harder down it, though.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Joe CSS
Re: buying a quality whistle
Has a very pure tone, as well.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Joe CSS
Re: buying a quality whistle
Here is a great place to look:
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: buying a quality whistle
I like my Reyburn. It's $50 less than a Burke, somewhat dirtier sound (in a good way) and just as well-built and in tune. It does take a bit more oomph to play in the top octave though.
But a $10 oak with a loosened head for tuning is 99.5% as good.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by wormdiet
Re: buying a quality whistle
Mines and overton, its a wonder to play and the tone is in my opinion is peerless in quality. MK do some increadable whistles also:
http://jazzwhistle.com/
dont be fooled by the name 'jazz whistle' :D its still a low whistle.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Scrappy the Godo
Re: buying a quality whistle
I have a Silkstone D-plus (http://www.silkstone-whistles.com/ available in the USA from www.whistleanddrum.com). The only 'quality whistle' I have played so can only compare with Generation, Feadog, Waltons etc but it plays very well compared to them. Fairly loud.
The extra note, a low C natural, is not much use for Irish tunes but might be handy for a recorder or GHB player who launches into a favourite tune and finds their right pinky groping for an extra note that is not there on a normal whistle. I find the tunes like The Dark Isle (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4906) that started off on the pipes work much better even when, as in this case, they can be played on a six-hole whistle.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by david_h
Re: buying a quality whistle
Mines a Burke session D, had an Overton prior to this. I prefer the Burkes general tone, but the Overton was definitely louder.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by flossie
Re: buying a quality whistle
Susatos are good recommended by a whistle playing friend, and sound much better than the average ones. I think you can get them in a tunable version as well
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by cathycook
Re: buying a quality whistle
I have a few made by Tony Dixon.
I like them, and they are not very pricey.
You might check online, or contact Tony to see who carries them here in the US.
Good luck.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Rook
Re: buying a quality whistle
i have a kerry songbird. it has a nice tone but its kinda distorted by this breathyness. id reccomend it though.
and i had a chieftain high. had to send it back. i was physicly going deaf off the thing.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Kevo32A
Re: buying a quality whistle
Susatos have the same round tone as a recorder. They are recorders with whistle fingering. That's not a judgment, just a statement of (near) fact. They are also LOUD.
I don't care for them personally.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by wormdiet
Re: buying a quality whistle
What is wrong with a plain old tin whistle? Be authentic, buy a Clarke or Shaw with a tinplate body wrapped around a wooden fipple.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by AlBrown
Re: buying a quality whistle
Buy a Bleazey from www.bleazey.co.uk . Super tunable whistles in various woods. I had to buy a new one at Chippenham Folk Festival last weekend as I've worn the mouthpiece of my last one, however, he's going to repair it for me and reinforce it with some hard plastic to prevent it happening again. Hows that for customer service.
Ric
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by ricthewhistle
Re: buying a quality whistle
www.thorntonwhistles.info
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by tompipes
Re: buying a quality whistle
Two that I like to play are the S.Z.B.E made by Ken Matsusaka
(Aluminum alloy) & Paul Busman's Rosewood D.
http://szbe.net/index_e.htm
http://www.busmanwhistles.com/
Sounds like you are looking for a tunable soprano D,
but he might like a Low D.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Random_notes
Re: buying a quality whistle
I just got a Dixon Trad from Hobgoblin. It's a really nice, pure-sounding whistle, IMO the best you can get for $25. The Jerry Freeman tweaked whistles, found at Elderly, are always a good quality for a low price, also.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by Thomaston
Re: buying a quality whistle
Bingo Thomaston,
I probably would buy a tweaked whistle for someone who already plays. I do not have one but have loved the ones I have tried. I do want to get a feadog from Cillian. My friend tweaks Shaws but I asked him to tweak an A whistle & never got it back.
Hope I do not offend anyone with this last comment, but here goes. I would be reluctant to buy a composite (or plastic) whistle for someone else. Not to say they are not good whistles ( I like the PVC water weasel) just my first choice for a gift would be metal or wood. Followed by the synthetics.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by Random_notes
Re: buying a quality whistle
Burke.
It's tone is superb. Only philosophical question si whether it is too clear. That graininess the cheap whistles have, can be very endearing.
# Posted on June 1st 2007 by zippydw
Re: buying a quality whistle
Wow, thanks for all the advice. : )
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by jiggyhobbit
Re: buying a quality whistle
I also have an S.Z.B.E. high "D" whistle (model DP) from Ken Matsusaka. I actually play it more than my old Copeland. I highly recommend Ken's whistles, especially at the price of just $78 + postage. http://szbe.net/index_e.htm
# Posted on June 3rd 2007 by chscott
Re: buying a quality whistle
The Alba are good whistles in metal . Talk to Stacey at http://www.albawhistles.com/ she will help you. Good luck
# Posted on June 4th 2007 by calmur
Re: buying a quality whistle
Snap david_h! I have a silkstone D too. They're made in the village of Silkstone in Yorkshire and I chose mine because it has a gorgeous, clear tone to it.
However, I can't play it in sessions. Well, I could, but it's hard to control a set on it because it's just quieter than the other instruments. For sessions I use my Susato which I bought about 6 years ago now. It's wonderfully loud and strong in tone and they're not too expensive either (particularly when compared to the silkstone). Theyre plastic btw. Alternatively my sister just bought one called Syn which is an Australian whistle. It's metal and really really loud so ideal for sessions. Have a look at www.bigwhistle.co.uk for whistles, the guy there's got loads of different types and is always up for a chat about them he can probably suggest some others. He's based over here near Accrington in Lancashire but he ships all over the world (a lot to Japan for some reason! lol)
Good luck finding a whistle
# Posted on June 4th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: buying a quality whistle
Sweetheart Laminated Birch Pro Whistle!!!!!!
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/whistles.html
# Posted on June 6th 2007 by HCRH