Has anyone ever tried one of those Susato triple whistles, where they give you one head and three different bodies, in D, C, and Bb? Are they as good as the normal Susatos? It looks like a good deal, but I've never played one, so I'm not sure.
I have a set of them and they have been the favourite of my whistles until today - when my Dixon high D with brass tuning slide arrived. This is a VERY nice whistle indeed with a beautiful tone! The susatos are a bit 'recordery' although I quite like them (susatos not recorders - sorry to anyone who loves recorders, I just don't!) and they always in tune which is useful! The 3 pack is only a good deal if you are going to actually play them in the 3 different keys. I play the D and C but the B flat hardly at all. They are nice whistles and I like them much better than my generations, feadogs, clarkes and walton - but now I'm spoiled as I got this wonderful Dixon and I think its going to be the main one now (apart from my flute of course!)
If you are realistically only going to play the D most of the time even if you can afford a susato 3 piece,I would use the money to go for quality rather than quantity and get a Dixon tuneable (with brass slide) like I just got!! (no shares or anything - just really impressed when it arrived today!) However, if you need the 3 then the susato set is definately worth it!
Max, save your money and get some serious whistles--Burke's or Sindt's or somesuch. I've got Dixon's and they're great for keeping one in the glove box or in your back pocket, but when you want to cut through a session, play into a mic, etc., you'll want a better instrument.
At the very least, have a look at Mack Hoover's whistles http://home.bresnan.net/~mackhoover/index.htm
which aren't much more costly than Dixon's, but are wonderful players. I've got a Hoover 'whitecap' in C that wins over everyone who plays it. Mack will sell you a 1/2-inch whitecap mouthpiece for $20, and then you can plug it onto 1/2-inch barrels for C (in brass), D, Eb, E, F, F#, and G whistles. Complete whistles in those keys are only $45 each.
(I'm not Mack's pr specialist, just a happy fan of his whistles.)
I haven't tried the triple pack thing,but my grandma has a Susato D that I've played,and it isn't my thing.The high notes aren't as easy as I'd like,and it does sound a bit recorderish to me.
I'm not being very helpful,am I?
You like regular Susatos(right?)and all you wanted to know about was the triple thing.
Sorry about that! You can just ignore me
-Kelly
I have the 3-pack, but I hardly play them at all since I got my Sindt's. But I used them a lot for about a year though. The high notes on the upper register take a bit of getting used to as you need to blow bit harder than the whistles you are used to playing. I think I actually prefer the complexity of a good Generation better myself, but I like a nice chiffy whistle.
Having said that, they play very well from to to bottom and have a nice pure tone (a bit to plastic sounding for my taste), dont need much warming up and are loud as you-know-what.
It is also worth noting that I obseved on a recent (last month) trip to Ireland that practically EVERYONE had a Susato in their arsenal and they sounded pretty darn good when someone else was playing them.
I have the Susato triple pack, got it as a Christmas present a few years ago.
I guess the whistles themselves are OK, although whenever I played them at a seisiun I received less than approving looks. Don't know if it was the playing or the whistles.
Got a Burke brass pro D 2 years ago and I like it very much.
But recently I purchased a Generation D - tweaked by Jerry Freeman. It's half the price of a "high-end" whistle and sounds like the classic Generations used to. Freeman also tweaks Sweetones, Shaws. I got mine at The Whistle Shop - http://www.thewhistleshop.com
It was a tossup b/w the tweaked Generation or Cillian O'Briain's tweaked Feadog.
All I have for whistles (beside my Kerry low D) are $10 whistles, like Feadogs, Generations and Waltons. I thought the Susato would be a good inexpensive step up, but seeing all the comments on them here, maybe not. I really want to get a good D whistle, I don't have one that I really like now. I had been looking at Michael Burke's whistles, but they are much more expensive than the Susato. I guess it's pointless to get it just because it's cheaper, though.
A friend here in Helena recently got a Burke D and it's second only to an O'Riordan I've heard.
The Dixon's are decent whistles--a great value. I own several. But they just don't have the pop and crispness, or volume, of a better metal whistle.
Try a Hoover whitecap D. As I understand it, they're louder than his solid brass whistles, but they don't need much air and they're responsive at lower volumes as well. The fipple is really comfortable, and I like the big bore (1/2-inch). $45 isn't pocket change, but you'll get a very nice whistle that you'll still play years down the road, no matter what other thoroughbred whistles fall into your stable.
I got a Cillian O'Briain tweaked Feadóg. He hand improves (rather than makes them from scratch) at his workshop in Dingle. Beautiful sound and great response. It's the best value 'high-ish' end whistle I've bought. Got it from: http://www.shannaquay.com in Ireland.
Order one of John Sindt's whistles, it'll take 9 or 10 months to get to you, but they are reasonably priced and worth the wait.
I also have a Burke brass pro-D and must say the Sindt has more of a classic chiffy sound, Better pop and more a crisp tone (to use Will Harmons terms). Plus it'll cost you about $30 lesss to purchase. (I have the Sindt D, C and A/Bb combo they are all excelllent and fun to play).
I like my Burke pro-D as well, they are beatufull instruments (as whistles go, I also have the Low-D aluminum pro, which is easy to fill-up and I really enjoy it.) But the mouthpiece on the Burke-D sticks out like most of the $10 mass produced whistles and I find after awhile that it feels like I'm eating brass, (the shorter mouthpieces are more compfortable for me, susato and Sindt have short mouthpieces) Plastic mouthpieces dont give off that metal taste...I believe Burk has a Delrin tipped model now...probably for that reason)
I suppose the difference in sound may be academic when a good player can make any whistle sound good. Ya know. (And maybe someday if I keep practicing I'll be one of those.)
Paul, the new Burke I mentioned above has a Delrin/brass fipple much like the Sindt's. And I'd guess that Burke has re-engineered the whistle overall--it was a significant step above previous Burke D's I've heard.
I like my Sindt's too--I have a D, a Bb, and an A. The Bb is my favorite--remarkably balanced across its whole range, very responsive, rich, round tone without losing that essential chiff. It practically plays itself.
I'm playing this new Dixon all the time - haven't tried any @high end' whistles like those mentioned above - I'm not in for volume rather a nice sound - depends what you want but me, I'm extremely happy with this Dixon (brass slide, aluminium body and nicely tooled). Maybe when I can play better I'll go for one of those fancy ones!!
The Sindt C is far and away my favorite whistle. Doesn't get much sessiun play, unfortunately, but I get to break it out for some ballads when I occasionally get invited to play on stage with a couple of the local acts.
P
Osblob
The Sindt's are a very plain simply designed whistle, really not fancy at all.
Susato triple pack
Susato triple pack
Has anyone ever tried one of those Susato triple whistles, where they give you one head and three different bodies, in D, C, and Bb? Are they as good as the normal Susatos? It looks like a good deal, but I've never played one, so I'm not sure.
Thanks!
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Max Becher
Re: Susato triple pack
I have a set of them and they have been the favourite of my whistles until today - when my Dixon high D with brass tuning slide arrived. This is a VERY nice whistle indeed with a beautiful tone! The susatos are a bit 'recordery' although I quite like them (susatos not recorders - sorry to anyone who loves recorders, I just don't!) and they always in tune which is useful! The 3 pack is only a good deal if you are going to actually play them in the 3 different keys. I play the D and C but the B flat hardly at all. They are nice whistles and I like them much better than my generations, feadogs, clarkes and walton - but now I'm spoiled as I got this wonderful Dixon and I think its going to be the main one now (apart from my flute of course!)
If you are realistically only going to play the D most of the time even if you can afford a susato 3 piece,I would use the money to go for quality rather than quantity and get a Dixon tuneable (with brass slide) like I just got!! (no shares or anything - just really impressed when it arrived today!) However, if you need the 3 then the susato set is definately worth it!
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by cariad
Re: Susato triple pack
Max, save your money and get some serious whistles--Burke's or Sindt's or somesuch. I've got Dixon's and they're great for keeping one in the glove box or in your back pocket, but when you want to cut through a session, play into a mic, etc., you'll want a better instrument.
At the very least, have a look at Mack Hoover's whistles http://home.bresnan.net/~mackhoover/index.htm
which aren't much more costly than Dixon's, but are wonderful players. I've got a Hoover 'whitecap' in C that wins over everyone who plays it. Mack will sell you a 1/2-inch whitecap mouthpiece for $20, and then you can plug it onto 1/2-inch barrels for C (in brass), D, Eb, E, F, F#, and G whistles. Complete whistles in those keys are only $45 each.
(I'm not Mack's pr specialist, just a happy fan of his whistles.)
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Susato triple pack
What *I* especially love about Mack's whistles is that they can be very quiet, for a whistle! ;)
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Susato triple pack
I say go for the Dixon best whistle I have ever played and I am not the only one to think that.
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Unseen122
Re: Susato triple pack
I haven't tried the triple pack thing,but my grandma has a Susato D that I've played,and it isn't my thing.The high notes aren't as easy as I'd like,and it does sound a bit recorderish to me.
I'm not being very helpful,am I?
You like regular Susatos(right?)and all you wanted to know about was the triple thing.
Sorry about that! You can just ignore me
-Kelly
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by seisflutes
Re: Susato triple pack
Max
I have the 3-pack, but I hardly play them at all since I got my Sindt's. But I used them a lot for about a year though. The high notes on the upper register take a bit of getting used to as you need to blow bit harder than the whistles you are used to playing. I think I actually prefer the complexity of a good Generation better myself, but I like a nice chiffy whistle.
Having said that, they play very well from to to bottom and have a nice pure tone (a bit to plastic sounding for my taste), dont need much warming up and are loud as you-know-what.
It is also worth noting that I obseved on a recent (last month) trip to Ireland that practically EVERYONE had a Susato in their arsenal and they sounded pretty darn good when someone else was playing them.
P
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Chef Paul
Re: Susato triple pack
I have the Susato triple pack, got it as a Christmas present a few years ago.
I guess the whistles themselves are OK, although whenever I played them at a seisiun I received less than approving looks. Don't know if it was the playing or the whistles.
Got a Burke brass pro D 2 years ago and I like it very much.
But recently I purchased a Generation D - tweaked by Jerry Freeman. It's half the price of a "high-end" whistle and sounds like the classic Generations used to. Freeman also tweaks Sweetones, Shaws. I got mine at The Whistle Shop - http://www.thewhistleshop.com
It was a tossup b/w the tweaked Generation or Cillian O'Briain's tweaked Feadog.
All the best.
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by mconners
Re: Susato triple pack
All I have for whistles (beside my Kerry low D) are $10 whistles, like Feadogs, Generations and Waltons. I thought the Susato would be a good inexpensive step up, but seeing all the comments on them here, maybe not. I really want to get a good D whistle, I don't have one that I really like now. I had been looking at Michael Burke's whistles, but they are much more expensive than the Susato. I guess it's pointless to get it just because it's cheaper, though.
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Max Becher
Re: Susato triple pack
A friend here in Helena recently got a Burke D and it's second only to an O'Riordan I've heard.
The Dixon's are decent whistles--a great value. I own several. But they just don't have the pop and crispness, or volume, of a better metal whistle.
Try a Hoover whitecap D. As I understand it, they're louder than his solid brass whistles, but they don't need much air and they're responsive at lower volumes as well. The fipple is really comfortable, and I like the big bore (1/2-inch). $45 isn't pocket change, but you'll get a very nice whistle that you'll still play years down the road, no matter what other thoroughbred whistles fall into your stable.
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Susato triple pack
I got a Cillian O'Briain tweaked Feadóg. He hand improves (rather than makes them from scratch) at his workshop in Dingle. Beautiful sound and great response. It's the best value 'high-ish' end whistle I've bought. Got it from: http://www.shannaquay.com in Ireland.
# Posted on July 23rd 2004 by man_dola2
Re: Susato triple pack
Max
Order one of John Sindt's whistles, it'll take 9 or 10 months to get to you, but they are reasonably priced and worth the wait.
I also have a Burke brass pro-D and must say the Sindt has more of a classic chiffy sound, Better pop and more a crisp tone (to use Will Harmons terms). Plus it'll cost you about $30 lesss to purchase. (I have the Sindt D, C and A/Bb combo they are all excelllent and fun to play).
I like my Burke pro-D as well, they are beatufull instruments (as whistles go, I also have the Low-D aluminum pro, which is easy to fill-up and I really enjoy it.) But the mouthpiece on the Burke-D sticks out like most of the $10 mass produced whistles and I find after awhile that it feels like I'm eating brass, (the shorter mouthpieces are more compfortable for me, susato and Sindt have short mouthpieces) Plastic mouthpieces dont give off that metal taste...I believe Burk has a Delrin tipped model now...probably for that reason)
I suppose the difference in sound may be academic when a good player can make any whistle sound good. Ya know. (And maybe someday if I keep practicing I'll be one of those.)
P
# Posted on July 24th 2004 by Chef Paul
Re: Susato triple pack
Paul, the new Burke I mentioned above has a Delrin/brass fipple much like the Sindt's. And I'd guess that Burke has re-engineered the whistle overall--it was a significant step above previous Burke D's I've heard.
I like my Sindt's too--I have a D, a Bb, and an A. The Bb is my favorite--remarkably balanced across its whole range, very responsive, rich, round tone without losing that essential chiff. It practically plays itself.
# Posted on July 24th 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Susato triple pack
I'm playing this new Dixon all the time - haven't tried any @high end' whistles like those mentioned above - I'm not in for volume rather a nice sound - depends what you want but me, I'm extremely happy with this Dixon (brass slide, aluminium body and nicely tooled). Maybe when I can play better I'll go for one of those fancy ones!!
# Posted on July 24th 2004 by cariad
Re: Susato triple pack
Will
The Sindt C is far and away my favorite whistle. Doesn't get much sessiun play, unfortunately, but I get to break it out for some ballads when I occasionally get invited to play on stage with a couple of the local acts.
P
Osblob
The Sindt's are a very plain simply designed whistle, really not fancy at all.
P
# Posted on July 24th 2004 by Chef Paul
Re: Susato triple pack
More than you probably want to spend at the moment, but worth looking into eventually, are Gary Humphrey's whistles:
http://webpages.charter.net/raindog1970/
Similar in looks and playability to Sindt whistles, but a bit more character/richness to the sound (in my opinion), and less wait.
The Dixons are a good deal for the money.
-Brett
# Posted on July 24th 2004 by bretton