I've heard that attending whistle workshops can be worse than being in a room full of cats dragging their claws over chalkboards. Since I'll be attending at least 2 workshops this summer, what would be a respectable whistle to show up with? I have a bunch, but my top 3 in rotation are a Generation D (louder, brighter), a Feadog in D (quieter, more controllable) & a Clarke in C. I think I'm ready to make a decent investment. Why does Sindt keep coming to mind?
We just had a feis at which one of the rooms had a musician who played whistle all day. I thought she was a lovely player (though I never got her name). But I guess by the end of the day, the dancers in that room were ready to run screaming -- one of our dancers said his head was ready to burst from the sound of the whistle going through it all day.
Yah, I HATE practicing on it, I feel like I'm taking remedial whistle classes as a punishment, or a prerequisite to being a decent player all around. However they do lend themselves to learning tunes quickly when you have them lying all over the house.
Emily,
Hold off on investing...you can try out my Burke in a few weeks. I know Will and some people prefer Sindts, but I'm sure they're at least close in quality, so you can get an idea whether it's worth it to you.
That was weird, a while back I wrote, 'awesome cuch, you rock! I'll be sure to bring a bottle of rubbing alcohol', but it didn't post for some reason. I probably reached my daily quota. I need a drink.
I don't know that you can call Dillingers a pub. It's *definitely* a neighborhood dive. When you come up, I'll take you there for a drink and you'll see. I had a Tombstone pepperoni pizza for dinner while I was there. We watched hockey. The biker dudes walked by trying to look down my shirt.
We howled with laughter about the previous suggestion that low-whistles were only good for curtain rails and making whale noises and our whistle player said we were "peasants".
His latest trick is to play the "knife stabbing in shower" music from Psycho on his low-whistle.
I would save up your pennies and invest in a Chris Abel D, it really is the only instrument to be seen in public with, besides it's got a wonderful tone and looks good.Keep blowing,
Ric
Hi Emily, I have played all of the whistles your mentioned except a Sindt. I am a real proponent of the Burke. His are ALWAYS in tune and have one of the best tones I have ever heard. Not as brash as some and never clog with spit in the fipple. The prices range from $100-$120 (U.S.) depending on the model. I have probably have 15 whistles from different makers, but when I play in public I invariably reach for one of my Burkes. Here is Micheal Burke's website. www.burkewhistles.com. I hope I havent' complicated your decision.
I have both aluminum and brass. The aluminum always looks good but the brass only looks good after a good polishing. After about two days the brass is dull again, but boy does it look good when it's shiny! I have never had the opportunity to try the composite, but if his metalsmithing is any indication of his craftsmanship, I'm sure the composite whistles will be as good.
I must say.....I used to use my high end whistles...loved my Thinweasel blackwood D and Copeland C. After deciding they needed a good cleaning and rest......I started using my Dixon tuneable D, Waterweasel C and Bb and Sindt A. I thought this was just going to be temporary thing but still playing them. I don't have to worry if something happens to them as I would with some of the others. I'd hate to lose the Sindt.....it has a Bb headjoint too but never quite loud enough. Just my 2 cents. Betty
I didn't know I knew so little!! here I am with my generation d thinking I'm the bee's knees!! I will have to check out all those names mentioned.............but before i do can someone help me cos i'm new to this site......??? I dont understand the notes written as ABC........are the upper case notes played as high notes and lower case as low?? and what do the numbers before the notes mean??? Sorry for sounding so green!!
Thanks!
Chris.
done to death -- whistle suggestions
done to death -- whistle suggestions
I've heard that attending whistle workshops can be worse than being in a room full of cats dragging their claws over chalkboards. Since I'll be attending at least 2 workshops this summer, what would be a respectable whistle to show up with? I have a bunch, but my top 3 in rotation are a Generation D (louder, brighter), a Feadog in D (quieter, more controllable) & a Clarke in C. I think I'm ready to make a decent investment. Why does Sindt keep coming to mind?
Thanks in advance.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
An aside
We just had a feis at which one of the rooms had a musician who played whistle all day. I thought she was a lovely player (though I never got her name). But I guess by the end of the day, the dancers in that room were ready to run screaming -- one of our dancers said his head was ready to burst from the sound of the whistle going through it all day.
zls
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Yah, I HATE practicing on it, I feel like I'm taking remedial whistle classes as a punishment, or a prerequisite to being a decent player all around. However they do lend themselves to learning tunes quickly when you have them lying all over the house.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Emily,
Hold off on investing...you can try out my Burke in a few weeks. I know Will and some people prefer Sindts, but I'm sure they're at least close in quality, so you can get an idea whether it's worth it to you.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by cuchulain54
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Oh, see if Glauber's coming to MT, Emily. If he's bringing all his instruments, he may need an extra suitcase.
zls
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
yah but MT is after both 'workshops.' I think I'd like to get something (or a few somethings) before Gaelic Roots, in mid-June.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
That was weird, a while back I wrote, 'awesome cuch, you rock! I'll be sure to bring a bottle of rubbing alcohol', but it didn't post for some reason. I probably reached my daily quota. I need a drink.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Your computer didn't want to let you write mean things about my germs.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by cuchulain54
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I'm off to go get a drink at our neighborhood local. Must be sure to kill off all the flora and fauna of my intestinal tract.... ;)
zls
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Uh I meant MY germs, you goofball. Cuch, I'll buy the pub a round of drinks to see you play a set of tunes on a Burke (esp if it includes Custy's)
Speaking of which, I wish I had a pub that was closer than 130 miles away. *sob* Don't mind me, I'll just sit here & live vicariously through y'all...
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I don't know that you can call Dillingers a pub. It's *definitely* a neighborhood dive. When you come up, I'll take you there for a drink and you'll see. I had a Tombstone pepperoni pizza for dinner while I was there. We watched hockey. The biker dudes walked by trying to look down my shirt.
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
*sob*
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- killer whistle suggestions
We howled with laughter about the previous suggestion that low-whistles were only good for curtain rails and making whale noises and our whistle player said we were "peasants".
His latest trick is to play the "knife stabbing in shower" music from Psycho on his low-whistle.
# Posted on May 9th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I would save up your pennies and invest in a Chris Abel D, it really is the only instrument to be seen in public with, besides it's got a wonderful tone and looks good.Keep blowing,
Ric
# Posted on May 9th 2003 by ricthewhistle
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Wow, my goodness, thanks Ric, I will definitely file that name away.
# Posted on May 9th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
LOL Geoff -- I wonder if he'd say that to Conal's face? *grin*
zls
# Posted on May 9th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Hi Emily, I have played all of the whistles your mentioned except a Sindt. I am a real proponent of the Burke. His are ALWAYS in tune and have one of the best tones I have ever heard. Not as brash as some and never clog with spit in the fipple. The prices range from $100-$120 (U.S.) depending on the model. I have probably have 15 whistles from different makers, but when I play in public I invariably reach for one of my Burkes. Here is Micheal Burke's website. www.burkewhistles.com. I hope I havent' complicated your decision.
# Posted on May 11th 2003 by dumpingsirkey
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
Thanks DS, not at all. Do you prefer the aluminum, brass or composite?
# Posted on May 11th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I have both aluminum and brass. The aluminum always looks good but the brass only looks good after a good polishing. After about two days the brass is dull again, but boy does it look good when it's shiny! I have never had the opportunity to try the composite, but if his metalsmithing is any indication of his craftsmanship, I'm sure the composite whistles will be as good.
# Posted on May 11th 2003 by dumpingsirkey
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I must say.....I used to use my high end whistles...loved my Thinweasel blackwood D and Copeland C. After deciding they needed a good cleaning and rest......I started using my Dixon tuneable D, Waterweasel C and Bb and Sindt A. I thought this was just going to be temporary thing but still playing them. I don't have to worry if something happens to them as I would with some of the others. I'd hate to lose the Sindt.....it has a Bb headjoint too but never quite loud enough. Just my 2 cents. Betty
# Posted on May 11th 2003 by Gault802
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I didn't know I knew so little!! here I am with my generation d thinking I'm the bee's knees!! I will have to check out all those names mentioned.............but before i do can someone help me cos i'm new to this site......??? I dont understand the notes written as ABC........are the upper case notes played as high notes and lower case as low?? and what do the numbers before the notes mean??? Sorry for sounding so green!!
Thanks!
Chris.
# Posted on May 13th 2003 by deputy_dd
Re: done to death -- whistle suggestions
I'm not very good at ABC myself, deputy, but check under the 'Links' section, there's lot to learn about ABC there.
# Posted on May 13th 2003 by emily_bmore