Feadog

Post by **Dale** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:17 am

Hi. I recently was asked by the people that make Feadogs to try out their product, which, now includes a "Pro" model in D. As part of trying to help them evaluate their product, I want to ask people what experience they've had in playing any recently purchased Feadog whistles. Say, in the last 6 months. Post your comments here if you have any.

Take care,

Dale

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:21 am

What's a feadog? Do you mean feadóg?

rh · Post by rh » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:28 am

right now my Feadóg is the only whistle i regularly play... this is after spending hundreds of dollars on whistles in the past six months or so, including some high-enders. i bought it within the last two months.

i love the tone, i did the blu-tack tweak but not really anything else, and i suspect that wasn't even necessary. maybe it's just the one Feadóg i play, but every other whistle i've tried really has the high B pop out at you and it seems like i'm able to control the Feadóg better than any of the rest. it also plays well loud or soft, and i did i say i love the reedy tone? at first i thought it was a bit too raspy but that has largely disappeared as i've learned its particular idiosyncracies.

it does seem to need me to vent the second octave d to get a good tone on that note, so i need to back up and re-work some tunes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

so, i really like mine

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:34 am

While I have an older Feadog that is one of my favorites, as well as an O Briain "improved" Feadog that is wonderful, the ones I've purchased in recent years have been disappointing. They have a gravelly, airy sound that I find unpleasant. I think the last time I purchased one was about a year ago, however, so I'm open to the possibility that they might have improved.

Redwolf

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:36 am

DaleWisely wrote:Hi. I recently was asked by the people that make Feadogs to try out their product, which, now includes a "Pro" model in D. As part of trying to help them evaluate their product, I want to ask people what experience they've had in playing any recently purchased Feadog whistles. Say, in the last 6 months. Post your comments here if you have any.

Have they changed them in the last 6 months?

Sorry I can't help. I bought mine a year ago. It was horrid--very raspy and squawky. Self-tweaking didn't quite bring it up to par, but a Hoover Whitecap made it great, so the tube is good. (As with most half-inch tubes, the 0XXOOO C-nat is a bit off, but OXXXOX is fine.)

The major problem with mine seems to have been the large hollow space at the base of the windway. I understand that might be required to avoid shrinkage problems with molded mouthpieces. Did they change that in the "Pro"?

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:42 am

Who's stocking the new pro models? My best favorite cheap whistle is a feadog, but I think it's over six months old.
It's brass, too. So I guess it aint the pro.

rh · Post by rh » Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:59 am

vomitbunny wrote:Who's stocking the new pro models? My best favorite cheap whistle is a feadog, but I think it's over six months old.
It's brass, too. So I guess it aint the pro.

mine is brass too. the head is green and less bulky than any Gen or Walton's i have. i bought it recently but who knows how long it'd been sitting in stock (i got it from the Whistle Shop).

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:08 pm

That sounds like the M3.
Only thing I can find about the pro is at Shanna Quay, and no picture. Hate to order stuff from overseas. One little eight dollar whistle can cost near three times that after monetary convertion and shipping and such.
Only thing they say about it is that it is double nickle with a black head. I got a C with a black head. Just another feadog as far as I could tell.

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:16 pm

I have the older brass model. My only complaint is the fipple split right down the center of the windway. I super glued it back and it plays fine. I would love to try the Pro model though.

Ron

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:09 pm

I'll second the "What's Changed?"

I bought mine a couple of years back, in the Cork airport shop - hardly a music specialist. But I may have been lucky - they are in-tune, and easy to play across their full range. Never even felt the need to tweak them.

They do have a bit of rasp to their voice, but - unless you're playing mostly slow airs - that may be an asset. When I first started playing, I didn't really like the sound, but they've grown on me. Probably my favorite cheap D whistles (I think Sweetones are better for beginners, but I'll take a Feadog, thanks).

So - except for the Pro model, what are they doing differently these days?

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:42 pm

I was sent some Feadog's to review recently:
http://www.tinwhistler.com/music/review ... /index.htm

I did the review May, 2004. A little over 6 months ago, but not by much.
According to the guy I talked to, they are on the Mark III version of the whistle, and have been since 2001. I don't know if they're on a 'mark 4' but I don't think so. It's my understanding that the "Pro" version is a heavier-feeling nickel plated feadog with a black mouthpiece. In was very nearly identical in playing characteristics to the normal feadog.

I thougth they were quite nice if you like that traditional generation-type-whistle sound.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:14 pm

I would say the Feadog is my second favorite low ender next to a Sweetone but I really don't like it that much also after I got my Alba it was like wow this is the best whistle I have ever played although it takes a lot of air and the high b pops out. I would be interested in this Pro Model.

Cailin Gaelach · Post by **Cailin Gaelach** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:26 pm

I thought the Feadog nickel pro was almost identical to the Oak nickel. I'd love to see a Feadog brass pro! The tone of the Feadog is very reedy and not very pleasant to listen to, I think because of the mouthpiece and the narrow windway! The old model Feadog from years ago has a much more mellow tone.

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:17 pm

I use my Feadog more than any other D (had it for 3 years), even though I own lots of high enders. I fail to understand the Feadog company's question here....if they have a new version, why not either just market it, and we'll all be interested in trying the new one, or send some of us the new version, like they did for Wanderer, and let us try the new one. But in any case, they should mark them as being distinct from earlier versions, to avoid confusion.

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:29 pm

The second whistle i ever bought was a feadog black D
since then i have bought some 30 other assorted whistles,

yet for session play or gig i still almost always go back to my feadog,
its an easy player, i felt it did need the cleanup and blutack tweak for my liking however,

within a mix of other instruments it stands out, it is not overly pure perhaps a little rough around the edges in sound, but i like it,
and over the years the better i get as a musician the better the feadog responds,
go figure huh
i could have saved a small fortune from the beginning,
feadog's rock
recent purchases have been just as good,
i honestly believe its a matter of knowing a whistle and its limitations then adapting your playing to suit
for what its worth
regards
David

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Feadog

Feadog

Re: Feadog