Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hi there I have a fantastic Goldie Medium Blowing Low D Whistle I’d like to trade for a Soft blowing Goldie Low D, I’d give the medium blower a 9/10 but after trying a famous friends soft blower I knew that was the one for me.

I’m based in the UK and would be willing to trade or buy.

Cheers M

I have a soft(ish) blower (tenor D) on order from Colin I'm patiently waiting for (sold my 2007 medium blower last month). When I talked with him in December, he told me he now makes 6-7 or so gradations of hard/medium/soft blowers, so there's a lot of variable in that range to choose from. Good luck with your search for a preowned one, I'm sure they're around if you're willing to wait. Btw, I asked Colin about that famous friend of yours, he says MM is a "biter," so prefers a soft blower. FWIW, apparently John McSherry also plays softer blowing Goldies. I've also wondered what type of Goldie Ross Ainslie plays.

Are you going to Celtic Connections? Might ask around if you're out and about in Glasgow.

According to a friend who knows Ross, he uses "extra hard blowing" Goldies.

stiofan wrote: he now makes 6-7 or so gradations of hard/medium/soft blowers, so there's a lot of variable in that range to choose from.

But how to choose?

When I went to buy a Boehm flute I went into a local band instrument shop where they had a range of Yamaha flute headjoints with a half-dozen different cuts to try and a soundproof booth to try them in. I spent quite some time playing them all until I settled on one.

Is there anywhere on earth that has all half-dozen Goldie Low D head gradients to try?

I like my Goldie "M" but might I like another windway height more? I have no way to know, probably, without puchasing six different Goldie heads, or flying to Germany. (If he indeed has all of his different styles to hand- many makers don't keep much of their own work.)

BTW my Low D has "M" and my Low D has no such markings at all.

According to a friend who knows Ross, he uses "extra hard blowing" Goldies.

That makes a lot of sense, since Colin also mentioned that highland pipers lean toward hard blowers, whereas uilleann pipers tend to go for soft to medium ones. How Ross Ainslie can make an extra-hard blower sing that way he does is beyond magical (same goes for Michael McGoldrick, though on the other end of the soft/hard spectrum).

But how to choose?

When I went to buy a Boehm flute I went into a local band instrument shop where they had a range of Yamaha flute headjoints with a half-dozen different cuts to try and a soundproof booth to try them in. I spent quite some time playing them all until I settled on one.

Is there anywhere on earth that has all half-dozen Goldie Low D head gradients to try?

I like my Goldie "M" but might I like another windway height more? I have no way to know, probably, without puchasing six different Goldie heads, or flying to Germany. (If he indeed has all of his different styles to hand- many makers don't keep much of their own work.)

BTW my Low D has "M" and my Low D has no such markings at all.

Good point, Richard, especially from someone who's owned or played more whistles than most of us will ever see in a lifetime! As most everyone knows, Colin will go to great lengths to send out the instrument that'll suit the various and sundry preferences each and every buyer (amateur or pro) is looking for in a whistle, within reason, of course. I just mentioned the variations in gradation (based mostly, but not only on windway height) for those (like me, currently) who may be after playing characteristics somewhere between soft/medium/hard (which, when I bought my last Goldie tenor D in 2007, was all he was making).

Sorry for hijacking your post a wee bit, Martin, but hope you're having a fantastic time at CC.
cheers,
stephen