Beginner with Whistle questions...
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Beginner with Whistle questions...
Hello everyone, I have been playing recorders for many years and decided to try my hand at the whistle as well. I purchased a Clarke Whistle in C. What I have noticed while playing the instrument is that the sound is rather "husky" for lack of a better word. I thought tin whistles had a bright or clear sound. Is this typical for Clarke whistles? Is it because of the wood component in the mouthpiece? Since there is wood involved does the whistle need to be treated like a wooden recorder by gradually increasing the the amount of time I play it? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Re: Beginner with Whistle questions...
Yes.Westfall wrote:Is this typical for Clarke whistles?
No. It's because of the general design/characteristics of the Clarke.Is it because of the wood component in the mouthpiece?
No. It's not like hardwood recorders (or flutes) where you want the grain of the voicing, bore etc. to get gradually accustomed to moisture, and the wood block of the Clarke will be a much rougher bit of something softer (not even the fine cedar you'd expect for a recorder block) where it won't make the slightest difference.Since there is wood involved does the whistle need to be treated like a wooden recorder by gradually increasing the the amount of time I play it?
If you want a nice, bright, clear whistle, you need to buy a nice, bright, clear whistle. Lots of people like Clarke-type whistles, but they are what they are and there are other options.
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Re: Beginner with Whistle questions...
Yup, that's standard for the original Clarke. The windway is really high which allows a lot of unfocused air to rush over the blade, creating extraneous noise, and depleting your lungs pretty quickly. You can help this by flattening the windway. You may be able to do this with thumb pressure alone. If not, you can do it with a <gasp!> vise. In either event, do it a TINY bit at a time, test, repeat as necessary. If you go too far it is possible to raise the windway back up but it's more difficult. A plastic head whistle is probably easier for a beginner to learn on. Don't give up on the Clarke though-- come back to it when you are a bit more proficient. It's a charming whistle in it's own right.
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Re: Beginner with Whistle questions...
The great thing about a Clarke is that you can adjust the height of the windway, and also the position and shape of the blade.
With a lowered windway, a blade that has less curvature than they usually come with, and a blade in the optimum position, you can get a fairly clear and focused sound.
There's a special tone that a really good Clarke has, that probably no other whistle can duplicate.
About the block, I coated mine, because I found that the soft wood would expand and shrink so much as to effect the voicing.
With a lowered windway, a blade that has less curvature than they usually come with, and a blade in the optimum position, you can get a fairly clear and focused sound.
There's a special tone that a really good Clarke has, that probably no other whistle can duplicate.
About the block, I coated mine, because I found that the soft wood would expand and shrink so much as to effect the voicing.
Richard Cook
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Re: Beginner with Whistle questions...
Hi, I don,t think the whistle (or fipple) material has much bearing on the tone of the whistle ...I think its more to do with the way the whistle is made or set up (the wind way etc) that produces the tone or sound.
If I get some spare time I make whistles and have found really that the material is not important ...I use plastic with a wood or plastic fipple ..(its easier to work with) and I do try to make the whistles with a clean and bright a sound as poss...but other people may prefer the breathy sound...its a matter of taste.
Hope that helps..
John ( from redheadwhistles.com)
If I get some spare time I make whistles and have found really that the material is not important ...I use plastic with a wood or plastic fipple ..(its easier to work with) and I do try to make the whistles with a clean and bright a sound as poss...but other people may prefer the breathy sound...its a matter of taste.
Hope that helps..
John ( from redheadwhistles.com)
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Re: Beginner with Whistle questions...
JohnRedhead wrote:Hi, I don,t think the whistle (or fipple) material has much bearing on the tone of the whistle ...I think its more to do with the way the whistle is made or set up (the wind way etc) that produces the tone or sound.
In most cases I would agree. However, wood swells, absorbs and looses moisture, and tends to change at different points. In effect, this is altering the dimensions and/or texture of the windway, which does change the sound, or, at least it does on Clarke or Shaw type whistles. That being said, my Lofgren with an Olivewood block as not had any such changes, so it probably depends on the wood used and how it is treated as well. I got one Calura whistle (which is a narrow bore whistle of clarke-ish design), and it had a very "husky" and complex sound. I got a second calura, and it sounds competely and totally different (and exponentially better), and I think this is because of changes in the wood. The second one has zero breathiness, and a very pure sound, not like you'd expect from this sort of whistle. I actually find it to be an insanely good whistle, especially in comparison to the first one I got. Wood is good for making the bodies of whistles, but I don't think is ideal for fipple plugs.