Chiff and Fipple Forums

So I recently purchased a basic Generation Bb whistle and instantly fell in love with the key and really I like the sound of the Generation itself. I like it so much I was wondering if there was something to upgrade to which would basically just be a higher quality version of the Generation or at least similar.

In the past I purchased a Jerry Freeman's "Mellow Dog" and I think the sound is lovely, but I don't really like to play in D (well at least high D, I like my Low D.) Would Freeman's tweaked Generation Bb be worth the upgrade in this case? Or should I spend more and go for the Impempe Bb?

Or perhaps you fellows have some other Bb whistles you think highly of?

Thanks for any help.

I like it so much I was wondering if there was something to upgrade to which would basically just be a higher quality version of the Generation or at least similar.

What would you like to see in the way of improvements or higher quality? You already love your Generation and the sounds it makes. so what is it you're looking to improve upon?

A really good Generation B-flat can't really be improved upon IMO. If you want something that has similar characteristics but will last your lifetime without cracking, melting or being destroyed by accident, get a Sindt. Very similar but the tone has just a little less character I would say.

But talking of longevity I have a couple of Gen B-flats from the 1980s that are great and still perfectly fine. I also have a Jerry Freeman tweaked version from 6 or 7 years ago. It's very good, pretty well equivalent in tone to these great antique specimens, which is what Jerry was aiming to achieve at a period when the standard production models weren't so good. I don't know what they are like now, and what yours is like, though, so cannot advise whether a Jerry model would be an improvement on what you have.

Hey thanks for the replies. Well I can't complain much but the only flaw I've noticed is that playing D in the first octave can make a bit of a unpleasant "squawk" sound. I figure perhaps Freeman's tweak might remove that.

I guess another way of phrasing my question is are there any Bb whistles which have a similar tone or sound to the Generation whilst perhaps sounding even better or more quality? Or yet another way, for those who like Generations what do you like even better?

I have a Sindt B that I like, it's different, not necessarily doing a better job, just different in character and certainly an awful lot heavier. But again, if you don't know what you like to improve (I honestly don't think the high d' thing can be blamed on the whistle) or what you do want it's a bit of a wild goose chase.

I self-tweaked a generation Bb. I love it to death, but I could at least see myself upgrading due to its cosmetic issues . Perhaps this isn't what you want, but I'm just throwing out the Reyburn Bb if you want to check it out. Tonewise, it's got some of the generation character that you might like, though I definately woudn't view it as an equivilant. Also, it looks great, so you can't really go wrong with that! Many hand-made whistle makers allow a bit of a try-out period to see if you will actually like their whistles, so that might be worth looking into. As far as whistles in general, let alone the Bb, I prefer wooden whistles to the pure-drop trad sound (don't shoot! don't shoot!), but out of necessity I keep a variety of pure-drop whistles in my arsenal.
Cheers!

BigBpiper wrote:As far as whistles in general, let alone the Bb, I prefer wooden whistles to the pure-drop trad sound (don't shoot! don't shoot!), but out of necessity I keep a variety of pure-drop whistles in my arsenal.

I too prefer wood whistles in general. I have several Generations and many duplicates in which that "standard" Gen sound can vary from whistle to whistle. I'm not sure there is a standard Gen sound with only the current sound of Gens being made today. In wood a very nice sounding Bb whistle is Roy McManus from Belfast. With the new CITES restrictions maybe choosing a wood that is not restricted will allow for shipping worldwide.

ytliek wrote:] In wood a very nice sounding Bb whistle is Roy McManus from Belfast. With the new CITES restrictions maybe choosing a wood that is not restricted will allow for shipping worldwide.

I almost wonder, what about Gene Milligan's work? He's also a great whistle maker (though I really like the sound McManus whistles make), and he has no trouble at least in the U.S., since he is a U.S. resident, but I wouldn't really know about worldwide shipping. I think he makes whistles with materials that would be unhindered by the new CITES restrictions, particularly some dymondwood variations, but I would have to check.
Cheers!

BigBpiper wrote:

ytliek wrote:] In wood a very nice sounding Bb whistle is Roy McManus from Belfast. With the new CITES restrictions maybe choosing a wood that is not restricted will allow for shipping worldwide.

I almost wonder, what about Gene Milligan's work? He's also a great whistle maker

I don't have a wood Milligan Bb whistle so cannot speak to that. I do have other Milligan whistles and yes, quality and sound is wonderful. Not all whistlemakers make a Bb whistle.

I have a couple of Milligan whistles in diamond wood that are great.

I don't have a B flat but do have and frequently play a Milligan in A. Lovely instrument.

However, a Milligan B flat is on my wish list.

JD

I have two nickel Bb Generations. One of them has the putty tweak and the other is untouched. They are both really nice, but are just different enough to make it pleasant. The discoloration on the tube is natural and I like the aged patina. The blue heads are a little beat up due to heavy use. The nickel Generations have heads that are difficult to remove for tweaking. The brass reds are generally easier to remove. However, one of my nickel Gen came without any glue on the head, so it came fully tuneable and easy to insert the putty in the back cavity. I must say, the Generation Bb is tough to beat. The Freeman Bb is also very good.

I have a Jerry Freeman Bb Generation that I love. I've played a huge number of Generation Bb's over the last 40 years and never found a really good one until I got the Freeman. It's bang-on in tune, has even voicing through the octaves, and has the sweet pure high notes I like.

I had a Sindt Bb which was superb. But in the end I liked the Freeman Generation a tiny bit more, and I sold the Sindt.

I use that same Freeman Generation Bb head on a self-made A body. It's the best A whistle I've played, but then IMHO there's no beating a great-playing Generation.