Thanks
As it happens, I tried both the Custom and V5, and decided on the V5. The Custom is very nice, and as you say, they are very very similar. I prefer the more open blow on the V5, and the feel of the blow in the second octave - it needs more air than the custom, true, but the custom felt a little forced in the second octave. I also like how the V5 allows a little more playing around with air pressure from the mouth to get different timbres. It's difficult to articulate what I like about the V5 without getting subjective and waffly, I just like that the sound is a little clearer (
simpler, I guess one might say, which is something someone else might not be aiming for, thus leading to them opting for the Custom?), and the playing feel of the V5 was more open, which I liked.
Oh yes, also, the holes on the V5 fit my long fingers better. My fingers on the left hand actually felt a little cramped on the Custom (big hands and long fingers, great for playing piano, I remember a piano teacher telling me when I was a kid...) and I like the slightly larger holes on the V5 as well as the fact that they're slightly less rounded on the edges. I found the V5 had more tactile feedback for my fingers and I could just find the holes better. All of his could be because my previous whistle was a Chieftan from the early 2000s, probably something like a Thunderbird, but I can't recall now, and the V5 felt closer to that, perhaps it's just my muscle memory that liked the feel of the V5 as much as my ears liked the V5 too.
Both are very well-made, and ideally, I'd have one of each model, but having to choose just one, I've gone for the V5 and am happy. If I find myself playing in a session, I might get a Thunderbird, but that's a long way down the road.
Now all I have to do is play the right notes in the right order and rhythm. Can't be that hard...
