so there I was at the very end of school (I'm in high school) and heading out of the music wing, when by chance happenstance, I happen to glance into the trash can.
There are 3 whistles, in apparently perfect condition. My friends and I take them. I go home, disinfect it with boiling water and Simple Green, and I play it. Plays fine. I find out it's one of those original old school Clarkes, the 'C' whistle, with the black tin and painted diamonds. But, compared to the other pennywhistle in my house (my friend's), it's very breathy and not as sweet and clear. The website that sells them talks of 'tweeking' them, sort of shaping the fipple (what a great word) so that the mouth looks like a recorder's, and it's more sweet and clear and less airy.
Does anyone know how to do this?
I used to "tweek" my old Clarks whistles. You can open the mouthpiece to make it higher and reshape the V with something with a sharp edge, and its just a case of trial and error until you get a decent note when you blow it,
Ric
A Clarke original is always going to sound breathy compared with most other cheap (i.e. plastic-headed) whistles.
I'd say the main point of the "tweak" you are referring is to reduce the size of the windway (although it does involve some other mods, such as reshaping the block and pinning it into place).
You can do the windway-reduction part yourself by carefully squashing the top of the windway with your thumb, flattening the rather dome-shaped top - no tools required. Do it gently in stages and test each time.
Assuming that the rest of the sound-producing apparatus, mainly the blade or "splitting edge", isn't damaged in any other way, you'll probably focus the sound somewhat and reduce the airiness in the sound.
But don't expect to make it sound like a Generation or a Feadog. Enjoy it for its own sound, favoured by some very good traditional players.
I'm curious...where there three Clarke C's in the garbage, or where the other two something else?
Somebody must've been under a lot of stress from finals...I can't see why anyone in their right mind would pitch three perfectly good whistles.
Is this the website that you were speaking of? (If not, you may actually find this helpful). http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/inexpensive/Clarke/Tweeked/tweeked.htm
I bought a couple of tweaked Clark Sweetones today from Jerry Freeman. He is highly regarded for his ability to "perfect" what is already viewed as an excellent instrument. He charges $15 for either a C or D whistle.
'tweeking' a whistle
'tweeking' a whistle
so there I was at the very end of school (I'm in high school) and heading out of the music wing, when by chance happenstance, I happen to glance into the trash can.
There are 3 whistles, in apparently perfect condition. My friends and I take them. I go home, disinfect it with boiling water and Simple Green, and I play it. Plays fine. I find out it's one of those original old school Clarkes, the 'C' whistle, with the black tin and painted diamonds. But, compared to the other pennywhistle in my house (my friend's), it's very breathy and not as sweet and clear. The website that sells them talks of 'tweeking' them, sort of shaping the fipple (what a great word) so that the mouth looks like a recorder's, and it's more sweet and clear and less airy.
Does anyone know how to do this?
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by micelfife
Re: 'tweeking' a whistle
I used to "tweek" my old Clarks whistles. You can open the mouthpiece to make it higher and reshape the V with something with a sharp edge, and its just a case of trial and error until you get a decent note when you blow it,
Ric
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by ricthewhistle
Re: 'tweeking' a whistle
A Clarke original is always going to sound breathy compared with most other cheap (i.e. plastic-headed) whistles.
I'd say the main point of the "tweak" you are referring is to reduce the size of the windway (although it does involve some other mods, such as reshaping the block and pinning it into place).
You can do the windway-reduction part yourself by carefully squashing the top of the windway with your thumb, flattening the rather dome-shaped top - no tools required. Do it gently in stages and test each time.
Assuming that the rest of the sound-producing apparatus, mainly the blade or "splitting edge", isn't damaged in any other way, you'll probably focus the sound somewhat and reduce the airiness in the sound.
But don't expect to make it sound like a Generation or a Feadog. Enjoy it for its own sound, favoured by some very good traditional players.
# Posted on May 28th 2003 by Jeeves Tones
Re: 'tweeking' a whistle
I'm curious...where there three Clarke C's in the garbage, or where the other two something else?
Somebody must've been under a lot of stress from finals...I can't see why anyone in their right mind would pitch three perfectly good whistles.
Is this the website that you were speaking of? (If not, you may actually find this helpful).
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/inexpensive/Clarke/Tweeked/tweeked.htm
Tim
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by loscann7
Tweaked sweetone
I bought a couple of tweaked Clark Sweetones today from Jerry Freeman. He is highly regarded for his ability to "perfect" what is already viewed as an excellent instrument. He charges $15 for either a C or D whistle.
jerry@tcenet.net
Jerry Freeman
P.O. Box 191
Orwell, NY 13426
# Posted on May 29th 2003 by irish ruff