Hard to believe I've been playing on a very old, crappy-sounding Generation D all this time. I'm looking to buy an all-plastic D whistle with a mouthpiece similar to that of a Generation, as opposed to the shorter ones that can't really be gripped with the mouth. It would have to have a pretty good volume not to get drowned out at my favorite session, too. Any recommendations?
Hmmm, I guess I could just use thumb rests if I can't get used to a short mouthpiece. I think I'll get a Susato then, which someone recommended to me a while ago. Thanks for the tips.
Just get a Burke in aluminum. they have delrin mouthpieces, and you can chew on it all you want. Plus they have great volume. Or, you could post this question on Chiff & Fipple, and wade through ten thousand suggestions.
I wouldn't get a thumb rest either. Just take an hour and learn how to play without trying to bite the mouthpiece off of the whistle. Seriously, if you spend just a little bit of time concentrating it shouldn't be too hard. The only way I'd condone a thumb rest is on a low whistle. And even then I think they're unnecessary.
I missed "biting" on a generation whistle, but I got used to a short head Susato, not a bad sound. But they cost a fortune, about £20, so stick with the generation. Obviously I pinched mine while getting a few plectrums in the music shop.
For some reason I've been a little sensitive to the metal stink given off by the well used metal ones (especially brass) lately. Not a big deal, but I figure I might as well get an instrument that's as close to perfect for me as possible.
Tony Dixon high D is very good - very true to the note with a nice hard delrin mouthpiece and a metal body. It has a longer mouthpiece than the Susato and a nicer tone. (in my opinion anyway)
But don't clamp your teeth on it - it keeps you tensed up. You won't drop the whistle if you hold it with both thumbs underneath and your right hand little finger on the bottom when you're playing a Csharp.
Spot on KML. Plastic is rubbish. Susato does have a nice tone but they are dodgy if you have to play in the sun or in a hot room. Especially the black ones. The tuning can get remarkably bad. To buy an Overton you will pay about an extra £100. You will spend hundreds of hours playing it (and hundreds more hours than you will play a cheap whistle). Think of all the useless things you have spent £100 on and work out what gives you more pleasure.
Dixon High D, either plastic or metal.
The metal seems pretty good for the bucks.
Get the tunable, BTW.
Also look for my up-coming product:
The WhistleSling -- Say good-bye to the annoyance and embarassment of dropped whistles, expensive dental visits, and the bother of constantly replacing old mouthpieces. In a variety of fashionable colors and fabrics, solid brass hardware, optional attached whistle bag and music case, get yours right away!!
£100 is hardly a lot to pay for an instrument you're likely to play thousands of times. Many fiddle players pay that for strings alone every year. Certainly get a Walton if that's what you think is a good deal. You even get the odd decent player with budget whistles.. But...
Exactly bogman. I've come to the conclusion that as a whistle is a proper instrument it deserves proper respect and that comes at a proper price. And as you say, in the scheme of things £100-odd is no great shakes these days (a fair bit more than a hundred for a tuneable one nowadays actually, but so what?)
Many veteran whistlers here will concur, I believe, but a few minutes spent with a pocket knife and/or small file can convert a "crappy sounding" Generation whistle into something much higher. Remove the flashing from the ramp and, also, any extraneous plastic from the windway and be prepared for an amazing transformation. It's something I do as soon as they come out of the box.
Looking to get a new tin whistle
Looking to get a new tin whistle
Hard to believe I've been playing on a very old, crappy-sounding Generation D all this time. I'm looking to buy an all-plastic D whistle with a mouthpiece similar to that of a Generation, as opposed to the shorter ones that can't really be gripped with the mouth. It would have to have a pretty good volume not to get drowned out at my favorite session, too. Any recommendations?
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
I have a Dixon's high D, all plastic, but the volume is pretty much zilch, so I'd recommend against it for you. Good luck with your search!
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by mehitabel23
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
The shorter ones are made like that because you aren't really supposed to grip 'em with your mouth.
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
I used to have the habit of gripping the whistle in my mouth. It really has made a heck of a difference since i ditched it.
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Hmmm, I guess I could just use thumb rests if I can't get used to a short mouthpiece. I think I'll get a Susato then, which someone recommended to me a while ago. Thanks for the tips.
# Posted on March 29th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Just get a Burke in aluminum. they have delrin mouthpieces, and you can chew on it all you want. Plus they have great volume. Or, you could post this question on Chiff & Fipple, and wade through ten thousand suggestions.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by Ron Foreman
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
I wouldn't get a thumb rest either. Just take an hour and learn how to play without trying to bite the mouthpiece off of the whistle. Seriously, if you spend just a little bit of time concentrating it shouldn't be too hard. The only way I'd condone a thumb rest is on a low whistle. And even then I think they're unnecessary.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
I missed "biting" on a generation whistle, but I got used to a short head Susato, not a bad sound. But they cost a fortune, about £20, so stick with the generation. Obviously I pinched mine while getting a few plectrums in the music shop.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
As a big fan of Susato, I'd recommend one of them. I have a high C, D, E, Eb, F, G and a low D, and they're all awesome.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by Bothrops
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Just get a tuneable Overton and be done with it. Nothing like getting the proper tools for the job,
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
BTW- Why plastic, Whiddler?
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
For some reason I've been a little sensitive to the metal stink given off by the well used metal ones (especially brass) lately. Not a big deal, but I figure I might as well get an instrument that's as close to perfect for me as possible.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Tony Dixon high D is very good - very true to the note with a nice hard delrin mouthpiece and a metal body. It has a longer mouthpiece than the Susato and a nicer tone. (in my opinion anyway)
But don't clamp your teeth on it - it keeps you tensed up. You won't drop the whistle if you hold it with both thumbs underneath and your right hand little finger on the bottom when you're playing a Csharp.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Spot on KML. Plastic is rubbish. Susato does have a nice tone but they are dodgy if you have to play in the sun or in a hot room. Especially the black ones. The tuning can get remarkably bad. To buy an Overton you will pay about an extra £100. You will spend hundreds of hours playing it (and hundreds more hours than you will play a cheap whistle). Think of all the useless things you have spent £100 on and work out what gives you more pleasure.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by bogman
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Dixon High D, either plastic or metal.
The metal seems pretty good for the bucks.
Get the tunable, BTW.
Also look for my up-coming product:
The WhistleSling -- Say good-bye to the annoyance and embarassment of dropped whistles, expensive dental visits, and the bother of constantly replacing old mouthpieces. In a variety of fashionable colors and fabrics, solid brass hardware, optional attached whistle bag and music case, get yours right away!!
Best of luck.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by Rook
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Or you can learn how to play it right and won't be embarrassed by dropping it or look funny wearing some kind of sling.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
£100 for a penny whistle? You better get an Armani suit and Gucci shoes to wear when playing.
Actually Generation are too expensive. Get a Walton whistle.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
£100 is hardly a lot to pay for an instrument you're likely to play thousands of times. Many fiddle players pay that for strings alone every year. Certainly get a Walton if that's what you think is a good deal. You even get the odd decent player with budget whistles.. But...
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by bogman
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Black Walton aluminium D. £2.80 in Hobgoblin. Slightly tunable and fab.
# Posted on March 30th 2008 by maxF
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Exactly bogman. I've come to the conclusion that as a whistle is a proper instrument it deserves proper respect and that comes at a proper price. And as you say, in the scheme of things £100-odd is no great shakes these days (a fair bit more than a hundred for a tuneable one nowadays actually, but so what?)
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Looking to get a new tin whistle
Many veteran whistlers here will concur, I believe, but a few minutes spent with a pocket knife and/or small file can convert a "crappy sounding" Generation whistle into something much higher. Remove the flashing from the ramp and, also, any extraneous plastic from the windway and be prepared for an amazing transformation. It's something I do as soon as they come out of the box.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by jacques0