Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hi everyone. I'm Rich from the UK, started playing about 5 years ago. This place seems pretty cool so I'm looking forward to joining in, even though I'm doing the obnoxious thing of asking a question as my first post, for which I apologise.

I need a loud high D whistle - very loud. I've started going to my university ceileidh band, and they practice in these huge sessions of between 50-70 people at once. Sounds great, but I prefer to play by ear and I can't hear my (fairly quiet)Dixon whistle AT ALL when I try to play along. Does anyone have any suggestions for a seriously loud session high D? Also I'm a student so I can't go that expensive, maybe $100 top limit.

Thanks in advance. Rich.

Yes, Dixons are definitely on the quiet side.

The Susato D is seriously and notoriously loud, and not expensive. £25 from Big Whistle. Or £46 for the D/C/Bb set.

http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/shop_result ... rod_id=165
http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/shop_result ... rod_id=355

Wow Rich, what university are you at that has such an active folk scene?!

Calliope Uni.

founded in 1672 by Phineas "Bullroarer" Took

MTGuru wrote: The Susato D is seriously and notoriously loud, and not expensive.

Susato was my first thought, too.

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Next rehearsal, try and find a seat where you're facing a wall, or wall-shaped object like the back of someone's music stand. You'd be surprised how much difference it makes to play into a wall or corner so the sound is deflected back to you.

A brimmed hat or baseball cap can also help. Ask Paddy Keenan.

MTGuru wrote:A brimmed hat or baseball cap can also help. Ask Paddy Keenan.

A hat brim really does help. I find one with a side brim really reflects the sound back to your ears.

Alternative -- but more expensive -- whistles that are in the same volume range are Reyburn and Sweetheart whistles. (I have not played the newer polymer Sweeheart Pro whistles, but I believe they are still on the loud side.)

But I would try the hat trick first.

The loudest D whistle I've ever heard is an old-model Susato I got back around 1980. When it arrived I was dismayed to find that it was pitched at A=415 (Baroque pitch). So I chopped the bottom and carved out all the holes til everything was in tune to A=440. Those holes were HUGE and the whistle was incredibly loud.

I also have a new-model Susato D and it's loud too, though not quite as loud as that old one.

http://www.atelierdelutherie.info/?Irish-Flutes&lang=en
http://www.atelierdelutherie.info/?Pric ... 35&lang=en

Solen Lesouef in Brittany makes very loud wooden whistles

Susato = Loud and clear.

If you include the more expensive whistles the Chieftain high-D's are quite loud.

The Susato and Sweetheart instruments are very loud indeed. The two whistles also have distinctly different voices.

rich.uk wrote:I need a loud high D whistle - very loud.

Call Ronaldo at Reyburn Whistles and ask him to voice you a loud one. I've heard he can make a whistle that will stun a cat at 20 paces - and it will sound great while doing so. Or buy a Copeland.

George Ormiston has some lovely loud wooden whistles...
http://www.ormistonflutes.co.uk/whistles.html

Given the OP's budget constraints, Susato has to be the first choice. I don't think any of the big name expensive metal whistles are really all that loud (even as loud as a Susato), though they will certainly give a lot more than an average Gen etc. For really loud you have to look (significantly) above that budget and at wood. Swayne, Rose, Simmonds in my experience and probably Abell will stand orchestral exposure. I haven't heard in the flesh, much less tried Ormiston, Weasels, Seery or current Sweetheart. Bleazeys don't tend to take pushing quite so well. Most of the other wooden whistles I've tried such as O'Brien, Oz etc are only middle volume - won't take pushing.

If you need it fast and don't want to spend at least £150, go Susato.