westonm wrote:
update: i gifted the Clarke, which ended up getting picked by someone who was somewhat of a musician, so hopefully he'll enjoy it
I'll be keeping both the sweetone and oak, and regifting what I got from the gift exchange for the next one I'm doing later this week

I'll probably get another clarke to replace the one I gifted. eventually
The Sweetone is my favorite of the cheap pennywhistles, or really of any of the Soprano D whistles I've tried. The first octave (lowest notes) aren't as strong as some, like the Oak, Feadog, or Generation, but the second octave is beautiful and chirpy, rather than harsh and piercing as with most of the other pennywhistles I've tried. Whistles are always a compromise between the two octaves, with some whistles cheating one way or the other, and others more evenly balanced. Most of the cheap whistles cheat heavily toward the first octave, and have a harsh upper octave as a result. For me, I'd take a weak first octave in exchange for a beautiful upper octave, as that is the one that can hurt your ears, or drive your neighbors or family to kill you.
Here's a video of a Clarke Woodstock (identical to the Sweetone) where you can hear the upper octave:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PQfml-lUxQHere's a Freeman Tweaked Blackbird, same tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErWDGpyBl7AThe Freeman is a very nice whistle, but it's a cylindrical bore, rather than the conical bore of the Sweetone or Clarke Original, so it gives a different sound and feel.
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