Hi, I purchased Alba soprano D and low D whistles.
Especially the soprano whistle's sound is very stuffy. It is extremely difficult to play the high sounds at all. It requires extremely lot of air and the sound is poor.
Is this normal for a new whistle? Do I just have to play it more and the sound will get better? I've used to play with Shaw whistle and I thought it required a lot of air to play.
Are you sure that they are not getting clogged with moisture? This often happens with metal whistles, especially if you try to play them while they are cold. Try covering the hole at the front of the mouthpiece and blowing through the whistle - this should clear the condensation.
Another thing - I don't know how long you've been playing the whistle, but one thing to check would be that you're covering all of the holes completely with your fingers. It's possible that the spacing of the holes on your new whistles are different to what you're used to (I've occasionally had that happen when switching between different whistles).
I have never played an Alba, so I can't comment on how much air they take etc.
I think with the Albas it is a matter of taste. I don't particularly like them although there are those that do. They do tend to have a very soft sound.
My Alba requires a lot of air - much more than I can consistently produce. Probably not a great choice of whistle unless you have ridiculously high lung capacity...
I have Alba D,C, low G and low A. The high ones do require a lot of air compared to some whistles, but if you're not afraid to push the air through them then they make a very good sound. A bit darker than some other whistles I've played. That said, as a flute player, I still find myself needing to leak vast amounts of excess air when playing them.
Clogging, covering the holes are both good points, but the mere fact of being new should not make any difference. A visual check that there is nothing obstructing the airway or bore (e.g. splinters of metal/plastic, packaging etc.) would also be a good idea.
I have played the whistles now a few days and I'm quite confident that the soprano whistle is not ok. The low whistle sounds nice, but honestly, I can't hit the high notes with the soprano whistle at all. I have to blow the whistle so aggressively that the sound gets thin and shrill.
I have contacted the manufacturer. I suppose these reasons are good enough to get it replaced or refunded or something.
But still I want to emphasise that the low whistle sounds great and is fairly easy to play. So I still think that Alba whistles sound nice. My soprano whistle is simply faulty or something like that.
About Alba whistles
About Alba whistles
Hi, I purchased Alba soprano D and low D whistles.
Especially the soprano whistle's sound is very stuffy. It is extremely difficult to play the high sounds at all. It requires extremely lot of air and the sound is poor.
Is this normal for a new whistle? Do I just have to play it more and the sound will get better? I've used to play with Shaw whistle and I thought it required a lot of air to play.
# Posted on September 1st 2009 by Elfarran
Re: About Alba whistles
Are you sure that they are not getting clogged with moisture? This often happens with metal whistles, especially if you try to play them while they are cold. Try covering the hole at the front of the mouthpiece and blowing through the whistle - this should clear the condensation.
Another thing - I don't know how long you've been playing the whistle, but one thing to check would be that you're covering all of the holes completely with your fingers. It's possible that the spacing of the holes on your new whistles are different to what you're used to (I've occasionally had that happen when switching between different whistles).
I have never played an Alba, so I can't comment on how much air they take etc.
# Posted on September 1st 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: About Alba whistles
Is this normal for a new whistle? .. no ..
did u buy them directly/recently? ask for a refund
# Posted on September 1st 2009 by Miss Mulligan
Re: About Alba whistles
I think with the Albas it is a matter of taste. I don't particularly like them although there are those that do. They do tend to have a very soft sound.
# Posted on September 1st 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: About Alba whistles
My Alba requires a lot of air - much more than I can consistently produce. Probably not a great choice of whistle unless you have ridiculously high lung capacity...
# Posted on September 1st 2009 by Dragut Reis
Re: About Alba whistles
I have Alba D,C, low G and low A. The high ones do require a lot of air compared to some whistles, but if you're not afraid to push the air through them then they make a very good sound. A bit darker than some other whistles I've played. That said, as a flute player, I still find myself needing to leak vast amounts of excess air when playing them.
Clogging, covering the holes are both good points, but the mere fact of being new should not make any difference. A visual check that there is nothing obstructing the airway or bore (e.g. splinters of metal/plastic, packaging etc.) would also be a good idea.
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by Crackpot
Re: About Alba whistles
Thanks for your answers!
I have played the whistles now a few days and I'm quite confident that the soprano whistle is not ok. The low whistle sounds nice, but honestly, I can't hit the high notes with the soprano whistle at all. I have to blow the whistle so aggressively that the sound gets thin and shrill.
I have contacted the manufacturer. I suppose these reasons are good enough to get it replaced or refunded or something.
But still I want to emphasise that the low whistle sounds great and is fairly easy to play. So I still think that Alba whistles sound nice. My soprano whistle is simply faulty or something like that.
# Posted on September 2nd 2009 by Elfarran