Looking for a low D whistle

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AuLoS303
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by AuLoS303 »

Well the Optima tuneable low D is ordered!
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Sedi
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by Sedi »

@pancelticpiper
Valid points. I think the "problem" I had was your statement with the 250-300 pounds. Not even an MK pro costs that much. What about Alba? Never tried one but I heard good things about them. And I have zero problems with the tuning on my V4, V5 or Thunderbird. The Qwistle is tunable anyway -- the only thing I don't like about it is the crossfingered C nat (oxxooo) that sounds too breathy in comparison to the rest of the notes. Next on my list is definitely an MK Kelpie -- since I play mostly for myself I don't "need" it to be tunable. So far, when playing with my wife who plays accordion, the low Ds all sounded fine. I had much more problems with the tuning of the cheaper high Ds. The only one where really every note is perfectly in tune is the carbony "quiet" model I have -- I guess there is a reason for the price apart from the custom made carbon tubes. So I made the exact opposite observation -- with the high Ds a more expensive one sounds better, is easier to play and better in tune most of the time, compared to a cheaper one. There are exceptions of course. My brass Feadóg I just got for xmas is really well in tune, compared to a Generation for instance.
edit: just checked my Thunderbird with a tuner and the tuning between octaves is great, not more than maybe 5 cts difference between 1st and 2nd octave and that can be corrected with the breathing.
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AuLoS303
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by AuLoS303 »

Sedi wrote:@pancelticpiper
Valid points. I think the "problem" I had was your statement with the 250-300 pounds. Not even an MK pro costs that much..
The MK low D is £239 on justflutes
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by fatmac »

My Howard Low D just arrived, it has a lovely tone, & I'm well pleased with it! :thumbsup:
Keith.
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by PB+J »

AuLoS303 wrote:Well the Optima tuneable low D is ordered!
I think you'll like it--happy whistling!
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AuLoS303
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by AuLoS303 »

PB+J wrote:
AuLoS303 wrote:Well the Optima tuneable low D is ordered!
I think you'll like it--happy whistling!
Thanks. Just waiting now...
You can play beautiful music on an ugly flute
My musical endeavours on my blog
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pancelticpiper
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by pancelticpiper »

Maybe the dollar sign I typed shows up as a pound sign for some people?

Just looked up the prices from various makers sites and converted everything to US Dollars:

MK Pro 252USD
Reyburn 300USD
Goldie 303USD
Burke 340USD
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
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Sedi
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by Sedi »

Indeed, my mistake :oops:. Sorry about that. Still - my whistles from kerrywhistles.com are all nicely tuned and easy to play.
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by benhall.1 »

pancelticpiper wrote:Maybe the dollar sign I typed shows up as a pound sign for some people?
I don't think so. As Sedi has implied, it seems he mis-read your original post.

I do tend to agree with you, Richard, that, for low whistles, unlike high whistles, one does seem to have to pay a fair bit of money for anything decent. I'm very lucky to have three nice low whistles, one of which is an absolute beauty: a sterling silver Copeland two-piece tuneable, bought from a member here some years ago. But I like my maple head Reyburn nearly as much, and it has different, desirable qualities - the old 'magic drainpipe' sound, for instance.
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pancelticpiper
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by pancelticpiper »

benhall.1 wrote: ...a sterling silver Copeland... a maple head Reyburn...
Well those are two very nice Low Whistles!

Your Copeland is worth more than my car, probably!
Richard Cook
c1980 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle
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Sedi
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Re: Looking for a low D whistle

Post by Sedi »

BTW: I caved in and ordered an MK :D . In part because of this thread but I wanted one anyway, just needed someone to push me over the edge. A Goldie will come sooner or later but I want to visit him personally and try some in the workshop, if that can be arranged. It would be just a 4 hr drive.
I do not agree however with the hypothesis that there is not as much difference between cheap and expensive high Ds. Every single one of my more expensive high Ds (Carbony, Tilbury, Killarney, etc) plays better and easier than the cheapos (Generation, Walton, Feadóg), with the exception of my vintage Generation D (and the Tony Dixon DX001) which outperforms almost every other whistle I have but is out of tune (in tune with itself however, so loosening the head would probably help but I am afraid to break it). Indeed a Feadóg (Walton, modern-day Generation) can sound great but it is just harder to play than the more expensive ones I own. Needs more breath control so the note doesn't break or squeak, etc. Just my personal experience as a beginner/intermediate player. A Clarke "Sweetone" can be lovely but the ridge in the back is annyoing when playing for a longer time. BTW: the two whistles in my collection that are best in tune with themselves across the octaves are my Carbony and Tilbury.
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