So here I am in the quest for the whistle that can best be heard in a loud session. Either I don't know how to make an effective search in the discussions or there isn't a good searching method here because I search for "session whistle" and I can't find a discussion on this topic, but I am sure there is one or more.
So, this discussion is about finding a high D whistle that is:
- Acceptably in tune (unlike most cheapies);
- Loud in the 1st octave (on the 2nd octave there isn't much of a problem since all whistles are quite loud there).
Here are some candidates:
- Susato Kildare D (sounds a bit plastic?);
- Burke D Aluminium/Brass Session Black Tipped (i own an Aluminium one);
- Dixon DX002/DX202 - Tuneable Aluminium/Brass High Whistle (a new design for sessions, I own a brass one and is currently my favourite but it's quite heavy);
- Shaw D (usually not well in tune? does Jerry Freeman still tweak these?);
- Tamlin D (I own one);
- Chieftain D (needs warming up to have an acceptable 2nd octave?).
Aluminium seems to help in producing loudness with little weight, but it also seems to produce an unpleasant 2nd octave when the whistle is not warm yet.
So my main question is, what whistle (high D) has the loudest 1st octave? The loudest 1st octave whistle! Any of these I mentioned? Do you have others in mind? Preferably, can you find such a loud whistle that is also "well tuned" and doesn't need "warming up"?
I was intrigued by this one, as I usually find that loud whistles are not much use for the stuff I do, so I decided to "scientifically" trawl through all my whistles, including a fair bit of attic-crawling, to see what the result would be.
The Susato is certainly on the loud side. Whether or not you like the sound is a matter of personal choice.
Tamlin is also loud although, probably, less "even" in the playability stakes.
I dug up a wide-bore Chieftain that I've never used (because it's so damn loud!). That is the loudest whistle in existence, so far as I know, and very well in tune etc. I'm not sure that Phil Hardy makes them any more but you could try him. Maybe he has a few lying around?
Interesting enough, the next loudest were wooden whistles.
Bleazey and Rose, in that order. Whilst they don't have quite the sheer volume of the Chieftain, they make up for it with cutting-edge tone which I reckon could prevail over an infinite number of banjos.
Just as an FYI: You can easily get rid of the plasticy sound from a Susato with some breath control.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of very loud whistles. I rid myself of one of those wide-bore Chieftains for just the reasons the Chief here mentions (and gave it to a friend who plays the fiddle and lives in an apartment...wonder who he's given it to).
My favorite whistles aren't all that loud. But, Copelands come to mind as being on the loud side while still retaining a great sound. Unfortunately, Mr Copeland has retired, so they aren't exactly growing on trees.
I haven't actually had problems hearing other people's whistles in sessions yet... In a large round of (e.g. twenty people) then no single instrument can (or indeed should) dominate that much. The problem is then about hearing oneself while playing. I have heard of and tried a few tricks, such as sitting opposite a wall or wearing a wide brimmed hat to reflect your own sound back to you.
LOL at the wide-brimmed hat!
Yeah, all the whistle players at my session wear a sombrero when they play.
In fact, I keep a sombrero in my whistle case for the odd occasion that I do play it.... yup, couldn't imagine whistle-playing without a wide-brimmed hat!
Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
Hi everyone.
So here I am in the quest for the whistle that can best be heard in a loud session. Either I don't know how to make an effective search in the discussions or there isn't a good searching method here because I search for "session whistle" and I can't find a discussion on this topic, but I am sure there is one or more.
So, this discussion is about finding a high D whistle that is:
- Acceptably in tune (unlike most cheapies);
- Loud in the 1st octave (on the 2nd octave there isn't much of a problem since all whistles are quite loud there).
Here are some candidates:
- Susato Kildare D (sounds a bit plastic?);
- Burke D Aluminium/Brass Session Black Tipped (i own an Aluminium one);
- Dixon DX002/DX202 - Tuneable Aluminium/Brass High Whistle (a new design for sessions, I own a brass one and is currently my favourite but it's quite heavy);
- Shaw D (usually not well in tune? does Jerry Freeman still tweak these?);
- Tamlin D (I own one);
- Chieftain D (needs warming up to have an acceptable 2nd octave?).
Aluminium seems to help in producing loudness with little weight, but it also seems to produce an unpleasant 2nd octave when the whistle is not warm yet.
So my main question is, what whistle (high D) has the loudest 1st octave? The loudest 1st octave whistle! Any of these I mentioned? Do you have others in mind? Preferably, can you find such a loud whistle that is also "well tuned" and doesn't need "warming up"?
Thanks!
Cesar
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by cesarpim
Re: Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
Yeah, I got it right here...*zip*
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
I was intrigued by this one, as I usually find that loud whistles are not much use for the stuff I do, so I decided to "scientifically" trawl through all my whistles, including a fair bit of attic-crawling, to see what the result would be.
The Susato is certainly on the loud side. Whether or not you like the sound is a matter of personal choice.
Tamlin is also loud although, probably, less "even" in the playability stakes.
I dug up a wide-bore Chieftain that I've never used (because it's so damn loud!). That is the loudest whistle in existence, so far as I know, and very well in tune etc. I'm not sure that Phil Hardy makes them any more but you could try him. Maybe he has a few lying around?
Interesting enough, the next loudest were wooden whistles.
Bleazey and Rose, in that order. Whilst they don't have quite the sheer volume of the Chieftain, they make up for it with cutting-edge tone which I reckon could prevail over an infinite number of banjos.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
Just as an FYI: You can easily get rid of the plasticy sound from a Susato with some breath control.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of very loud whistles. I rid myself of one of those wide-bore Chieftains for just the reasons the Chief here mentions (and gave it to a friend who plays the fiddle and lives in an apartment...wonder who he's given it to).
My favorite whistles aren't all that loud. But, Copelands come to mind as being on the loud side while still retaining a great sound. Unfortunately, Mr Copeland has retired, so they aren't exactly growing on trees.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Ashkettle
Re: Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
I haven't actually had problems hearing other people's whistles in sessions yet... In a large round of (e.g. twenty people) then no single instrument can (or indeed should) dominate that much. The problem is then about hearing oneself while playing. I have heard of and tried a few tricks, such as sitting opposite a wall or wearing a wide brimmed hat to reflect your own sound back to you.
Chris.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Crackpot
Re: Best Session Whistle (loud 1st octave)
LOL at the wide-brimmed hat!
Yeah, all the whistle players at my session wear a sombrero when they play.
In fact, I keep a sombrero in my whistle case for the odd occasion that I do play it.... yup, couldn't imagine whistle-playing without a wide-brimmed hat!
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Joe CSS