I have the Dixon duo. The low D isn't bad at all, but it's not loud enough for group playing. The flute head is marginal at best, and definitely too frustrating for beginners (it begs for a fairly developed embouchure to get any tone at all).
If I was in the market, I'd go for a Phil Hardy (Kerry) low D - best value for the money.
I have a Kerry Low D. However I ordered it tuneable and it showed up not-tuneable. It's been a long time since then, so I figured, it's too late to return it, or whatnot. I need a tuneable whistle. And my Kerry is far too tempermental...though the tone can be wonderful and solid and mellow and incredible, that's under optimum conditions. Often it can be thin and breathy and alltogether not what I like (though other people don't seem to mind it).
As it stands, I can't play with people, because it's out of tune, and I can't make it in-tune by breathing correctly, because its flat unless you ride *right* on the note cracking line, which isn't good for say a fast song, or if you want to use dynamics.
as a side-note,
I was onc easked to compare my low-d playing ability with people.
this site provides a good resource.
playing a song like that with that ornamentation is technically in my range, though I'd have to practice it. I usually go light on the ornamentation. my speed and most importnatly my accuracy is better than his (if I practice at a song alot), though as I said I generally ornament less, so heavy ornamentation isn't the easiest for me...I've mostly eliminated alot of the clicks and pops I heard in his playing that come from improper breathing control and timing that weren't intentional ornamentation. (I hope they weren't! It took me a while though.)
I'll clarify a bit and say that it's probably easy for him to play at that speed, but it's in my upper range though not at the top, depending on the song and ornamentation. he's definately got me beat on a regular C whistle too, but I can't shake the feeling that I think his technique is sloppier than mine.
Will harmon, I could listen to him, but that sitll won't help the fact that my whistle is not tuneable and I need one that is. Besides that fact, I rather like my Kerry Low D, most of the time.
as far as "the best low-d whistle is a flute" goes, that's just blatantly wrong on so many levels...
Heh, flute may be initially more challenging to play than low whistle, but the results are far more rewarding: greater range of tone, volume, voice, articulation, expressiveness, etc. Not to diss the sound of a low whistle, but simply put, a flute can do more, thanks mostly to the variabilities of embouchure and air stream that just aren't physically possible with a fipple. Just my opinion, based on my own experience (and the editorializing of many solid fluters and whistlers).
BTW, Kevin plays non-tuneable Kerry low whistles in concerts. He told me the tuneable ones just encourage endless fidgeting--the non-tuneables are on pitch and stable once you get them warmed up. He and Sean and Cillian certainly had no problems with them two weeks ago, despite the cold southern Colorado night and the drafty, hot theater.
I own both the low D duo and the high D duo. My high D whistle is dearly beloved, but I never play it as a "fife" with the flute mouthpiece, because it fits so tightly that I can hardly remove it once inserted.
The low D flute is awkward and cumbersome so as to be discouraging to a beginner.
The low D whistle is adequate, and even good except that mine is not in tune with itself and requires fingerings, particularly the C natural, which are different than all my other whistles, that is:
0X0 000 for the C natural, rather than
0XX 000 for the C natural on my other instruments. This slows me down.
But the high D whistle is wonderful, and Dixon now makes one with a plastic head and metal body which I've tried and like very much.
A mate of mine and I played a duet on two identical plastic Dixon high D whistles this last weekend and it was superb.
Chris
And Will, I'm sure the flute is a great instrument and all, however I grew up playing trumpet and for some reason that makes it difficult for me with flute. I imagine I'll work at it some day...which is one reason I was considering this Dixon dohickey.
But just because a flute is a more flexible instrument, does not mean that I neccissarily wish to play it. Part of the fun for playing a low-d whistle for me is the feel in my hands. Same with fiddle, and especially with button box. That's an important thing too.
The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Hey. I'm looking to upgrade my low-d whistle. Wondering if anyone has any experiences with the Dixon Low-D "duo." Here is a product page:
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/low/dixon/duo.html
If there are any other low-d whistles you could reccommend from the page (preferrably tuneable), I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
I have the Dixon duo. The low D isn't bad at all, but it's not loud enough for group playing. The flute head is marginal at best, and definitely too frustrating for beginners (it begs for a fairly developed embouchure to get any tone at all).
If I was in the market, I'd go for a Phil Hardy (Kerry) low D - best value for the money.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
http://www.kerrywhistles.com/products.php
Click on tenor D to hear a sample.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
I have a Kerry Low D. However I ordered it tuneable and it showed up not-tuneable. It's been a long time since then, so I figured, it's too late to return it, or whatnot. I need a tuneable whistle. And my Kerry is far too tempermental...though the tone can be wonderful and solid and mellow and incredible, that's under optimum conditions. Often it can be thin and breathy and alltogether not what I like (though other people don't seem to mind it).
As it stands, I can't play with people, because it's out of tune, and I can't make it in-tune by breathing correctly, because its flat unless you ride *right* on the note cracking line, which isn't good for say a fast song, or if you want to use dynamics.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
as a side-note,
I was onc easked to compare my low-d playing ability with people.
this site provides a good resource.
playing a song like that with that ornamentation is technically in my range, though I'd have to practice it. I usually go light on the ornamentation. my speed and most importnatly my accuracy is better than his (if I practice at a song alot), though as I said I generally ornament less, so heavy ornamentation isn't the easiest for me...I've mostly eliminated alot of the clicks and pops I heard in his playing that come from improper breathing control and timing that weren't intentional ornamentation. (I hope they weren't! It took me a while though.)
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
I'll clarify a bit and say that it's probably easy for him to play at that speed, but it's in my upper range though not at the top, depending on the song and ornamentation. he's definately got me beat on a regular C whistle too, but I can't shake the feeling that I think his technique is sloppier than mine.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Um, listen to Kevin Crawford to hear what can be done on a Kerry low D.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
I swear by my tuneable O'Brien low D... sweet big tone capable of significant dynamic contrast and tone-hole voicing hat allows for fast fingers...
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by bestcraic
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Of course, the best low D whistle is a flute.
Since I started learning flute, I don't bother much with whistles below Bb.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Will harmon, I could listen to him, but that sitll won't help the fact that my whistle is not tuneable and I need one that is. Besides that fact, I rather like my Kerry Low D, most of the time.
as far as "the best low-d whistle is a flute" goes, that's just blatantly wrong on so many levels...
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Heh, flute may be initially more challenging to play than low whistle, but the results are far more rewarding: greater range of tone, volume, voice, articulation, expressiveness, etc. Not to diss the sound of a low whistle, but simply put, a flute can do more, thanks mostly to the variabilities of embouchure and air stream that just aren't physically possible with a fipple. Just my opinion, based on my own experience (and the editorializing of many solid fluters and whistlers).
BTW, Kevin plays non-tuneable Kerry low whistles in concerts. He told me the tuneable ones just encourage endless fidgeting--the non-tuneables are on pitch and stable once you get them warmed up. He and Sean and Cillian certainly had no problems with them two weeks ago, despite the cold southern Colorado night and the drafty, hot theater.
# Posted on October 25th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
I own both the low D duo and the high D duo. My high D whistle is dearly beloved, but I never play it as a "fife" with the flute mouthpiece, because it fits so tightly that I can hardly remove it once inserted.
The low D flute is awkward and cumbersome so as to be discouraging to a beginner.
The low D whistle is adequate, and even good except that mine is not in tune with itself and requires fingerings, particularly the C natural, which are different than all my other whistles, that is:
0X0 000 for the C natural, rather than
0XX 000 for the C natural on my other instruments. This slows me down.
But the high D whistle is wonderful, and Dixon now makes one with a plastic head and metal body which I've tried and like very much.
A mate of mine and I played a duet on two identical plastic Dixon high D whistles this last weekend and it was superb.
Chris
# Posted on October 26th 2004 by unique
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Unique...Thanks for the feedback!
I only rotation half-hole c-natural, I find I have no trouble with accuracy, so...
Are these whistles tuneable?
# Posted on October 26th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
And Will, I'm sure the flute is a great instrument and all, however I grew up playing trumpet and for some reason that makes it difficult for me with flute. I imagine I'll work at it some day...which is one reason I was considering this Dixon dohickey.
But just because a flute is a more flexible instrument, does not mean that I neccissarily wish to play it. Part of the fun for playing a low-d whistle for me is the feel in my hands. Same with fiddle, and especially with button box. That's an important thing too.
# Posted on October 26th 2004 by sifudave54
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
if you can afford it, a burke low d!
# Posted on October 27th 2004 by daiv
Re: The Dixon "Duo" low-d whistle/flute
Sifudave... yes the low D combo is tuneable. The mouthpieces are interchangeable and slide in and out.
Chris
# Posted on October 28th 2004 by unique