I have an aluminum Burke session whistle in the key of D. It was made in October 2009. I have played it almost daily since receiving it and have had no problems until recently. The mouthpiece has started needing frequent clearing. I cannot make it through a tune 3 times without stopping. I have followed Burke's directions on cleaning and this has not alleviated the problem. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, any suggestions?
I also own a few Burkes and have similar issues. Try straightening a paper clip and cleaning down through the mouth piece with special attention to the sides of the mouth piece from the top. I've noticed crude builds up along the sides and really effects the tone and the frequency of stopping to shake out the condensation. It's actually pretty gross! Hope this helps.
I have a build up in my brass Burke whistle that I need to periodically clear. Nothing to the level that you are describing however. Are you playing during dinner? Are you playing with a cold? Have you just recently started tonguing? I can't think why it would build up anything like the speed you are talking about unless, as has been suggested above, you are not cleaning it thoroughly enough each time and it is blocking up again.
Hi,
when I remember correctly there is a sort of anti-clogging fluid for recorders that could help. I am sure the guys at the chiffboard whistle forum know a non-commercial alternative to it have a look/search at:#
I cleaned the mouthpiece of my whistle recently, and now it is a bit pitchy. I guess it got clogged slowly over time, and I got used to it, so the sudden change threw me off. Oh, well, it will get properly gunked up again eventually....
being able to douse Burke Whistlesin water is the nice thing about the Burke aluminum whistles. They don't corrode, or discolor
I cleaned up a borrowed O'Riordan aluminum whistle a few weeks ago. Also cleaned up very nicely. Magnificant whistle I might add. I played it while waiting for a susato G whistle.
No offense to Susato. Decent for the price. But the O'Riordan was soooo easy to play and sounded gorgeous.
Yes morninglark I think I know what you mean. Just over the last few months my Burke aluminium session D has been doing exactly what you describe. To the point where I have virtually stopped playing it at all. I've had it for a number of years without a problem and had always cleaned it with the soap and water solution as recommended by the maker. Doing that now doesn't make a difference. It can start off sounding just fine but by second or third time through a tune it's starting to sound like it's blocking. If I stop and blow it through, for a short time it sounds ok again but quickly starts to block off. I would have contacted Michael Burke by now except I have a lovely Willie Simmons whistle to play which I just can't put down anyway. Do let me know if you get a solution to the problem. It is something I want to sort out soon.
I have found that this happens whenever I play a couple of my different whistles that I have had for many years now. It doesn't seem to go away. The best thing I have found is to just clear the condensation between songs by shaking it out or blowing it out.
There is a product called "Duponol" anti clogging agent that I order through this site: http://www.folkharp.com/product/duponol-anti-clogging-agent. I use it for my wooden and plastic recorders as well as my whistles. The only thing is you have to reapply it every so often as it wears off. It lasts quite a long time, but for me I find it's just easier to play the whistle and clear it out. The Duponol really works well, but I'm too lazy to keep applying it when it needs it again!
The only drawback to using the Duponol is that you have to wait for 24 hours for it to completely dry before it works.
The no.1 cause of clogging IMO is a dirty mouthpiece - which gives moisture something to cling to. Keep your whistle spotlessly clean, if that doesn't work then you'd need to look at your playing style.
Michael Burke whistle problem
Michael Burke whistle problem
I have an aluminum Burke session whistle in the key of D. It was made in October 2009. I have played it almost daily since receiving it and have had no problems until recently. The mouthpiece has started needing frequent clearing. I cannot make it through a tune 3 times without stopping. I have followed Burke's directions on cleaning and this has not alleviated the problem. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, any suggestions?
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by morninglark
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
I also own a few Burkes and have similar issues. Try straightening a paper clip and cleaning down through the mouth piece with special attention to the sides of the mouth piece from the top. I've noticed crude builds up along the sides and really effects the tone and the frequency of stopping to shake out the condensation. It's actually pretty gross! Hope this helps.
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by whistle girl
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
If you snip off a bit of a business card it can be used to clean out the inside edges of the airway.
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by Ben Steen
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
I have a build up in my brass Burke whistle that I need to periodically clear. Nothing to the level that you are describing however. Are you playing during dinner?
Are you playing with a cold? Have you just recently started tonguing? I can't think why it would build up anything like the speed you are talking about unless, as has been suggested above, you are not cleaning it thoroughly enough each time and it is blocking up again.
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
Hi,
when I remember correctly there is a sort of anti-clogging fluid for recorders that could help. I am sure the guys at the chiffboard whistle forum know a non-commercial alternative to it have a look/search at:#
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewforum.php?f=1
or
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/search.php?keywords=clogging+whistle&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by brotherstorm
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
I usually just regularly rinse the thing out and have not had much of an issue.
Have had the referenced problem usually at time of very high use, but then only rinse more frequently
# Posted on March 29th 2010 by zippydw
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
I cleaned the mouthpiece of my whistle recently, and now it is a bit pitchy. I guess it got clogged slowly over time, and I got used to it, so the sudden change threw me off. Oh, well, it will get properly gunked up again eventually....
# Posted on March 30th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
being able to douse Burke Whistlesin water is the nice thing about the Burke aluminum whistles. They don't corrode, or discolor
I cleaned up a borrowed O'Riordan aluminum whistle a few weeks ago. Also cleaned up very nicely. Magnificant whistle I might add. I played it while waiting for a susato G whistle.
No offense to Susato. Decent for the price. But the O'Riordan was soooo easy to play and sounded gorgeous.
# Posted on March 30th 2010 by zippydw
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
Yes morninglark I think I know what you mean. Just over the last few months my Burke aluminium session D has been doing exactly what you describe. To the point where I have virtually stopped playing it at all. I've had it for a number of years without a problem and had always cleaned it with the soap and water solution as recommended by the maker. Doing that now doesn't make a difference. It can start off sounding just fine but by second or third time through a tune it's starting to sound like it's blocking. If I stop and blow it through, for a short time it sounds ok again but quickly starts to block off. I would have contacted Michael Burke by now except I have a lovely Willie Simmons whistle to play which I just can't put down anyway. Do let me know if you get a solution to the problem. It is something I want to sort out soon.
# Posted on March 31st 2010 by flossie
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
I have found that this happens whenever I play a couple of my different whistles that I have had for many years now. It doesn't seem to go away. The best thing I have found is to just clear the condensation between songs by shaking it out or blowing it out.
There is a product called "Duponol" anti clogging agent that I order through this site: http://www.folkharp.com/product/duponol-anti-clogging-agent. I use it for my wooden and plastic recorders as well as my whistles. The only thing is you have to reapply it every so often as it wears off. It lasts quite a long time, but for me I find it's just easier to play the whistle and clear it out. The Duponol really works well, but I'm too lazy to keep applying it when it needs it again!
The only drawback to using the Duponol is that you have to wait for 24 hours for it to completely dry before it works.
# Posted on October 26th 2010 by alisonmyers04
Re: Michael Burke whistle problem
The no.1 cause of clogging IMO is a dirty mouthpiece - which gives moisture something to cling to. Keep your whistle spotlessly clean, if that doesn't work then you'd need to look at your playing style.
# Posted on October 26th 2010 by bogman