Susato Bb compared to Generations Bb?

[MichaelRS]

This is kind of a specialty question so I don't know how many answers it will garner, since it involves just those who have had practical experience of late with a Generations Bb and the Susato Bb, in particular the Oriole.

So, how would you compare the sounds and playing characteristics between the two?

[Peter Duggan]

I have both, and have actually had more than both...

I sold my old Generation Bb some time ago, but have both newer Generation Bb and Freeman Generation Bb purchased simultaneously for comparison as well as the Oriole Eb/D/C/Bb set. While I don't have any of them to hand right now to comment on playing characteristics* because none of them are my first choice Bb, I probably like the Oriole best of the three. Some may find this surprising because the Generation Bb's generally rated very highly (and there's indeed nothing 'wrong' with either of mine), but the Oriole's also a very nice whistle at Bb, with its narrower bore-to-length ratio compared to its higher siblings bringing it into more Generation/trad. whistle than typically strident Susato territory. Some may say the Oriole Bb's too narrow (for a Susato?), but it plays nicely for me and I rate my Oriole C and Bb quite highly.

*I suppose what I'm really saying is I can't because nothing I can put into words will help you choose between them. They're all nice whistles, but I don't play any of them because I prefer my Bracker.

[MichaelRS]

I have both, and have actually had more than both...

I sold my old Generation Bb some time ago, but have both newer Generation Bb and Freeman Generation Bb purchased simultaneously for comparison as well as the Oriole Eb/D/C/Bb set. While I don't have any of them to hand right now to comment on playing characteristics because none of them are my first choice Bb, I probably like the Oriole best of the three. Some may find this surprising because the Generation Bb's generally rated very highly (and there's indeed nothing 'wrong' with either of mine), but the Oriole's also a very nice whistle at Bb, with its narrower bore-to-length ratio compared to its higher siblings bringing it into more Generation/trad. whistle than typically strident Susato territory. Some may say the Oriole Bb's too narrow (for a Susato?), but it plays nicely for me and I rate my Oriole C and Bb quite highly.

Thank you. Out of curiosity, what is your first Bb choice?

[jiminos]

I have a brass Gen Bb (pre-80), a relatively new nickel Gen Bb and a Susato Kildare Bb.

First, they really don't compare. Serious apples and oranges.

That said... To my ear, the Gen is smoother. More rounded. A little bit chiffy. Easy between octaves. Not shrill at all. Very responsive. Very emotive. Nimble is a word that comes to mind.

The Susato is a little louder. A little shrill at second octave A and above. Intonation "out of the box" is better. A tad "recorder-ish". Not nimble at all. Very stiff.

There are a few occasions in which I will reach for the Susato. In the vast majority of situations, the Gen is "the" whistle.

[Peter Duggan]

Thank you. Out of curiosity, what is your first Bb choice?

See my cross-posted edit to previous reply. But my Brackers cost substantially more than Generations or Orioles, so I'm not suggesting them as a competing choice... just what works for me and what I play.

A little shrill at second octave A and above.

A tad "recorder-ish". Not nimble at all. Very stiff.

None of which I'd use to describe the Oriole Bb.

[MichaelRS]

Thank you. Out of curiosity, what is your first Bb choice?

See my cross-posted edit to previous reply. But my Brackers cost substantially more than Generations or Orioles, so I'm not suggesting them as a competing choice... just what works for me and what I play.

A little shrill at second octave A and above.

A tad "recorder-ish". Not nimble at all. Very stiff.

None of which I'd use to describe the Oriole Bb.

Thank you. Thank you both.
I'm not really so much choosing between them. I'm ordering a Dixon Trad D at the first of the month and along with that order I plan on getting a Feadog nickel plated C and the Generations Bb from Hobgoblin Music USA.

I'm getting those latter two just to knock around in those keys a little bit while I mostly concentrate on improving my skills on the D whistle. But a little variety keeps one fresh. And I was getting the Generation and the Feadog, in particular, with my Trad order because of their lower cost.

I'm thinking down the road I'm going to be getting the Susato Oriole Eb and I may throw in the Bb and the C bodies. Not so much the D because I think by then I'm going to have enough D whistles, between the Trad a Mellow Dog a Chris Wall and eventually Killarney, to meet any needs of mine. But maybe the other keys of the Susatos will impress me so much I will just have to have that D

But for now I was just wondering what I might expect from the Generation Bb initially. In particular in relation to the susato, since that's the only other one I'm thinking of getting.

[jiminos]

Thank you. Out of curiosity, what is your first Bb choice?

See my cross-posted edit to previous reply. But my Brackers cost substantially more than Generations or Orioles, so I'm not suggesting them as a competing choice... just what works for me and what I play.

A little shrill at second octave A and above.

A tad "recorder-ish". Not nimble at all. Very stiff.

None of which I'd use to describe the Oriole Bb.

Gee, Peter, I did say "... To my ear..."

[Peter Duggan]

Gee, Peter, I did say "... To my ear..."

Of course you did, and you were talking about the Kildare, but, since MichaelRS had said 'in particular the Oriole'...

No need for that reaction. I'm not saying the Kildare's not like that; I don't have one and don't know, but I'm telling him my Oriole's not like your Kildare... that's all!