Some Questions about Sweetones

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Opisthokont
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Tell us something.: I'm a multi-instrumentalist who has acquired (as of about a year and a half ago) a tinwhistle habit. I'm exploring what this cheap but beautiful little instrument can do, and I've got a ton of questions, and I decided it was about time I start asking people who might have a clue about the answers. Hopefully I can help out others as well!

Some Questions about Sweetones

Post by Opisthokont »

Hi all! I'm curious about a few things about Clarke Sweetone tinwhistles.

First, I've got both a C and a D. The D whistle has a very slight convex curve to its labium: if it had a curved windway, the labium would be curved to match (as it is on my Yamaha recorders). The C whistle's is dead straight. I play each a lot, and I really like both. But while each sounds to me like the same kind of whistle, the D seems generally better in terms of consistency of tone, of 2nd-octave playability, and (especially!) in that it doesn't lose volume on its lowest notes (the lowest 2 notes on the C are almost inaudible on my recordings).

So, now the questions: first, is this difference in the labium likely to be responsible for the differences in the whistles' respective performances? Or is it incidental to that, and I should start poking around inside to find if there are bits of flash to remove or other things to improve in the C?

Next, does anyone know whether this difference is part of the design? In other words, do D Sweetones all have the curved labium and Cs all have the flat ones? Or did Clarke change from one type to the other at some point? Or is this a manufacturing irregularity? (The curve on my D is very even and looks intentional.)

Now, I understand that Clarke has discontinued the C -- a real shame, as in spite of the superiority of the D, my C is still a really nice whistle (among other things, it's got the best intonation out of any C in my collection). Clarke USA still has them in stock (that's where I got mine from), though, and so I wonder: should I should be hunting around for another with the curved labium, while the Cs are still reasonably plentiful?

Finally, on a completely different tack: how is "Sweetone" usually pronounced, anyway?? I keep thinking "Sweet-One", but it could also be "Sweet-[T]one". I imagine Clarke intended for a bit of ambiguity there, but I've not talked enough with other whistlers to get a sense for what the consensus on that is.

Many thanks in advance!
Tommy
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Re: Some Questions about Sweetones

Post by Tommy »

Opisthokont wrote: Finally, on a completely different tack: how is "Sweetone" usually pronounced, anyway?? I keep thinking "Sweet-One", but it could also be "Sweet-[T]one". I imagine Clarke intended for a bit of ambiguity there, but I've not talked enough with other whistlers to get a sense for what the consensus on that is.

Many thanks in advance!
Sweetone......try Sweet Tone?
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Kade1301
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Tell us something.: I've been trying to learn the recorder for about 5 years now and want to add a new instrument (tin whistle) to my repertoire. I hope with only 6 holes life will be a bit easier... (John Sheahan's Marino Casino in the Gaiety theatre has something to do with it - whereas my head knows that 40 years of practice is the reason why it sounds so good, I'm still hoping...)
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Re: Some Questions about Sweetones

Post by Kade1301 »

The labium on my Sweetone D, bought a few weeks ago on the internet, is straight. So maybe the curved one is the older version...

On Clarke's homepage (https://clarketinwhistle.com/shop/the-s ... tle-pouch/) both C and D Sweetones are still listed - where have you heard that they are being discontinued? Whether it's worth hunting for a better C is the big question - I think you may end up spending quite a bit of money on whistles that are no better than the one you have before you find the really good one. Your choice!
Opisthokont
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:35 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: I'm a multi-instrumentalist who has acquired (as of about a year and a half ago) a tinwhistle habit. I'm exploring what this cheap but beautiful little instrument can do, and I've got a ton of questions, and I decided it was about time I start asking people who might have a clue about the answers. Hopefully I can help out others as well!

Re: Some Questions about Sweetones

Post by Opisthokont »

Kade1301 wrote:On Clarke's homepage (https://clarketinwhistle.com/shop/the-s ... tle-pouch/) both C and D Sweetones are still listed - where have you heard that they are being discontinued?
The Whistle Shop claims that Cs are no longer made. But yes, both Clarke's own page and that of their US distributor have them listed still. And upon asking, Clarke confirmed that they're still in production. I'll inform the Whistle Shop...!
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