I'm probably going to get bashed for this; everyone will say "No advertising" even though this isn't advertising.... but anyways.
I'm a long-time tinwhistle player, and I'm slowly moving on to the Low Whistle and Irish Flute. It goes slowly since I haven't the instruments to use because I have so little available cash. So my question to you is:
Does anyone have a cheap "beginner model" -- polypenco or other plasticish stuff, no keys, etc. that they don't use anymore? Does anyone have a cheap low whistle -- nickel-plated brass or brass or PVC; i'm looking for anything! Low D would be nice, but E, A, or G would be great too. So, if you have any offers for me, email them to me at pibroch14@canada.com
Thanks so very much,
Mark
PS. I love this discussion board! Everyone's so helpful!!
Mark, you can get a new Tony Dixon plastic low d whistle for about $35 US through www.thewhistleshop.com. Or the same body with interchangeable whistle and flute heads for around $80 US. Hard to beat--the low whistle works great. The flute's a little trickier to blow, but it is playable. Do a search on discussions here for Tony Dixon and you'll find our earlier reviews and discussions.
For flute, the next step up would be a Patrick Olwell bamboo ($100, but may have to wait), then an M&E or a Seery polymer (i.e. plastic) flute ($300), depending if you want medium (M&E) or large (Seery) holes. Ralph Sweet (Sweetheart flute) is another good source for not-too-expensive flutes, though the quality is not always consistent. All of these are (probably) in the links section in this site. I have an M&E, love it. Also have a nice Sweetheart piccolo that cost me $60 from thewhistleshop.com.
Then, for the next step up (real wood), for about US$600 you can have a Hamilton (large holes) or Eamonn Cotter (medium holes). Hamilton makes piccolos that go for about US$300. Piccollo is a lot of fun, but i usually save it for the tunes i know well, because boy, does it cut through!
Oh, i almost forgot, Hamilton makes practice flutes for beginners, for 45 Euro. That may be another good way to try and see if you really want to be a flute player before you spend the big money. http://www.hamiltonflutes.com
If you want to do a bit of research on low whistles, I recommend you stop by www.chiffandfipple.com the ultimate internet whistle resource. If you do a search on the message board you'll find reviews and discussions of all the cheap (and expensive) low whistles, such as the Dixon, the Kerry, Susato...
As for a cheap flute, I got a plastic practice flute for 25 Euro incl. shipping at www.shannaquay.com . I think it's not listed, but you can email Steve Powers, the owner, and he'll send you one. It's not an Olwell, but it's great for me to check out and playable in sessions. You can also drop Steve Powers (that's his handle) a pm on the message board (chiffboard). Tell him Bloomfield sent you.
Thanks!
I think I'm going to pick up a Susato low whistle for now; unless anyone tells me otherwise (ie. No, don't get susato...)? Any comments?
Thanks again
Mark
I got a low A and didn't like it, but many other people seem to love them. So, "your mileage may vary". But that's how it is with any whistle, until you get to the $100 range. Sometimes you get a real good one, sometimes... not.
And of course, if you're a Real Irishman, you'll get an used Generations for $.50, then scratch it some and put a few dents in it, before you start taking it out to sessions.
(Though i'm not sure Generations makes a low D whistle -- i have a Bb by them, not bad really, but still not scratched enough to take to sessions.)
Bb is the lowest Generation available. I am not a big fan of the Susato Low D. I haven't played a Dixon, but hear very good things about them. For the money involved you can't really go wrong.
Make sure you take the time to grip the Low D correctly. And don't be frustrated. Even if you are good on the high D, the low D will take a bit of time to tame. Good luck.
No kidding. It's a bear to play (though the sound is so nice, it's worth it). The only low D i know that's not hard to play is the Burke, but it's a little more expensive. The main problem with the low D is that the air pressure needed to play the 2nd octave is a lot more than the first. Some notes in some whistles are hard to play without squealing. I have a Howard, plays pretty nice and loud, but the 2nd octave E is hard to play without squealing.
I'm gonna be away now for a week, without computer, working on my tunes. See you all later.
i have been playing tin , low whistles and bagpipes.. for a while and have always had a good ear for music.for begining tin whistles
i would recommend are clark( soft and mellow) or susato (bright and clear)or overtons (costly) alot metal tin whistles with plastic heads are way out of tune and you have to mess with fibble to get clear tunes. As far as low whistles I started with a chieftain low D( decent but not and overton) which i still have and would gladly sell. any way i went to overtons they are very clear , costly but clear . i would love to try a copeland but to much money .unless you have money to burn on experimentation
buy the best, bad whistles sound terrible
I have a susato low d, and to be perfectly honest I have found it to be absolute rubbish. Second octave from A onwards is just play terrible. (I live in Japan, but before you think its the humidity, I had the whistle in Ireland for a few years before I came here, it was crap there too). I can't really say much more about other whistles, other than the Overton, (which I also have) expensive but well worth the money, but stay away from the Susato. If you ever find yourself in Japan, you can have my Susato!
I have two Susato Dublin Low D's. I only use one of them, and I don't quite remember why I have 2.
Anyway, I think it's a nice whistle. The good things about it: I can get quite a range of dynamics, and it plays 2 whole octaves without screeching. It's a little difficult if you're not used to it, but it works well.
If you're interested, send me an e-mail at shostakovich@baroquecantata.com .
--Emily
I purchased a Howard Low D and LOVE!! it. For $80 you get a brass bodied flute with a tunable plastic fipple. The usual tinwhistle to low whistle changes apply (ie, it takes more air, the finger stretch takes some getting used to) but, I was apply to play tunes on it right away and found the learning curve very slight.
It has a good, mellow sound and is built very well in tune. My only complaint is that it isn't the loudest of instruments. It's fine for playing on your own, or if you're in a band and in front of a microphone. However, one tends to get buried in sessions (not that this is bad for learning tunes
Used irish flute\low whistle wanted.....
Used irish flute\low whistle wanted.....
I'm probably going to get bashed for this; everyone will say "No advertising" even though this isn't advertising.... but anyways.
I'm a long-time tinwhistle player, and I'm slowly moving on to the Low Whistle and Irish Flute. It goes slowly since I haven't the instruments to use because I have so little available cash. So my question to you is:
Does anyone have a cheap "beginner model" -- polypenco or other plasticish stuff, no keys, etc. that they don't use anymore? Does anyone have a cheap low whistle -- nickel-plated brass or brass or PVC; i'm looking for anything! Low D would be nice, but E, A, or G would be great too. So, if you have any offers for me, email them to me at pibroch14@canada.com
Thanks so very much,
Mark
PS. I love this discussion board! Everyone's so helpful!!
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by no longer exists
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
Mark, you can get a new Tony Dixon plastic low d whistle for about $35 US through www.thewhistleshop.com. Or the same body with interchangeable whistle and flute heads for around $80 US. Hard to beat--the low whistle works great. The flute's a little trickier to blow, but it is playable. Do a search on discussions here for Tony Dixon and you'll find our earlier reviews and discussions.
Good luck.
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
For flute, the next step up would be a Patrick Olwell bamboo ($100, but may have to wait), then an M&E or a Seery polymer (i.e. plastic) flute ($300), depending if you want medium (M&E) or large (Seery) holes. Ralph Sweet (Sweetheart flute) is another good source for not-too-expensive flutes, though the quality is not always consistent. All of these are (probably) in the links section in this site. I have an M&E, love it. Also have a nice Sweetheart piccolo that cost me $60 from thewhistleshop.com.
g
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by glauber
More expensive flutes, and another cheap one
Then, for the next step up (real wood), for about US$600 you can have a Hamilton (large holes) or Eamonn Cotter (medium holes). Hamilton makes piccolos that go for about US$300. Piccollo is a lot of fun, but i usually save it for the tunes i know well, because boy, does it cut through!
before you spend the big money. http://www.hamiltonflutes.com
Oh, i almost forgot, Hamilton makes practice flutes for beginners, for 45 Euro. That may be another good way to try and see if you really want to be a flute player
g
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by glauber
See
you didn't get bashed.
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by glauber
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
If you want to do a bit of research on low whistles, I recommend you stop by www.chiffandfipple.com the ultimate internet whistle resource. If you do a search on the message board you'll find reviews and discussions of all the cheap (and expensive) low whistles, such as the Dixon, the Kerry, Susato...
As for a cheap flute, I got a plastic practice flute for 25 Euro incl. shipping at www.shannaquay.com . I think it's not listed, but you can email Steve Powers, the owner, and he'll send you one. It's not an Olwell, but it's great for me to check out and playable in sessions. You can also drop Steve Powers (that's his handle) a pm on the message board (chiffboard). Tell him Bloomfield sent you.
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by Bloomfield
Thanks!
I think I'm going to pick up a Susato low whistle for now; unless anyone tells me otherwise (ie. No, don't get susato...)? Any comments?
Thanks again
Mark
# Posted on July 10th 2002 by no longer exists
Susato
I got a low A and didn't like it, but many other people seem to love them. So, "your mileage may vary". But that's how it is with any whistle, until you get to the $100 range. Sometimes you get a real good one, sometimes... not.
# Posted on July 11th 2002 by glauber
And of course, if you're a Real Irishman, you'll get an used Generations for $.50, then scratch it some and put a few dents in it, before you start taking it out to sessions.
(Though i'm not sure Generations makes a low D whistle -- i have a Bb by them, not bad really, but still not scratched enough to take to sessions.)
# Posted on July 11th 2002 by glauber
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
Bb is the lowest Generation available. I am not a big fan of the Susato Low D. I haven't played a Dixon, but hear very good things about them. For the money involved you can't really go wrong.
Make sure you take the time to grip the Low D correctly. And don't be frustrated. Even if you are good on the high D, the low D will take a bit of time to tame. Good luck.
# Posted on July 12th 2002 by Bloomfield
Low D
No kidding. It's a bear to play (though the sound is so nice, it's worth it). The only low D i know that's not hard to play is the Burke, but it's a little more expensive. The main problem with the low D is that the air pressure needed to play the 2nd octave is a lot more than the first. Some notes in some whistles are hard to play without squealing. I have a Howard, plays pretty nice and loud, but the 2nd octave E is hard to play without squealing.
See you all later.
I'm gonna be away now for a week, without computer, working on my tunes.
# Posted on July 12th 2002 by glauber
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
i have been playing tin , low whistles and bagpipes.. for a while and have always had a good ear for music.for begining tin whistles
i would recommend are clark( soft and mellow) or susato (bright and clear)or overtons (costly) alot metal tin whistles with plastic heads are way out of tune and you have to mess with fibble to get clear tunes. As far as low whistles I started with a chieftain low D( decent but not and overton) which i still have and would gladly sell. any way i went to overtons they are very clear , costly but clear . i would love to try a copeland but to much money .unless you have money to burn on experimentation
buy the best, bad whistles sound terrible
# Posted on July 15th 2002 by philip
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
Honest but tough!
I have a susato low d, and to be perfectly honest I have found it to be absolute rubbish. Second octave from A onwards is just play terrible. (I live in Japan, but before you think its the humidity, I had the whistle in Ireland for a few years before I came here, it was crap there too). I can't really say much more about other whistles, other than the Overton, (which I also have) expensive but well worth the money, but stay away from the Susato. If you ever find yourself in Japan, you can have my Susato!
# Posted on July 18th 2002 by macfion
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
I have two Susato Dublin Low D's. I only use one of them, and I don't quite remember why I have 2.
Anyway, I think it's a nice whistle. The good things about it: I can get quite a range of dynamics, and it plays 2 whole octaves without screeching. It's a little difficult if you're not used to it, but it works well.
If you're interested, send me an e-mail at shostakovich@baroquecantata.com .
--Emily
# Posted on July 22nd 2002 by The Whistler
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
I purchased a Howard Low D and LOVE!! it. For $80 you get a brass bodied flute with a tunable plastic fipple. The usual tinwhistle to low whistle changes apply (ie, it takes more air, the finger stretch takes some getting used to) but, I was apply to play tunes on it right away and found the learning curve very slight.
It has a good, mellow sound and is built very well in tune. My only complaint is that it isn't the loudest of instruments. It's fine for playing on your own, or if you're in a band and in front of a microphone. However, one tends to get buried in sessions (not that this is bad for learning tunes
Cheers
# Posted on July 28th 2002 by Ballysodare
Re: Used irish flutelow whistle wanted.....
You could make your own pvc low flute. You could make your own pvc low wistle.
The information is on the web on the Google search site.
# Posted on October 27th 2007 by solaris