Chiff and Fipple Forums

I find it's the speed of attack, not blowing harder, that gives the second octave, on most whistles that I own.

I've only 2 low F whistles, a Shearwater (my original), & an MK (not the Pro), to my mind both are air efficient, have decent low notes, & don't switch octaves too easily, but easily enough.

Funny how this thread starts out about Dixon's whistle & ends up as a discussion about MK whistles.......

I hope the original poster got the answer they were after.

The keys stick out so far that they are likely to get broken, & are unnecessary with cross fingering anyway, surely; & at that price, certainly won't be on my wish list.

Overall, low 'D' whistles will require more air to play, certainly compared to a high 'D'.

The difference between makes isn't that big, from my experience with a Chieftain, a Dixon, & a Howard; there obviously is a difference, but it's not that great.

I tend to regard the fipple as the blade, aperture, & windway; whilst the windway is contained within the mouthpiece; & the body as that which is tubular with finger holes.

I've always found mine to be an easy player, not had any such problems with it.

Probably a Howard low D would suit, mine is fairly close sounding to my Dixon one piece, & about as easy to play, not too loud either.

I had trouble with the fipple on my aluminium 'A', I'm OK on the Trad Brass, so I'm guessing you may need to do what I found I needed on mine, that is, twist the fipple very slightly in your mouth when going to the second octave, don't know why, none of my other Dixons have this 'feature'. :D Re pat...

Welcome aboard.

I'm only a casual player of whistles & (keyless) flutes, but as most where so cheap when I started, I have many, but my favourite has to be my low 'F', closely followed by my 'A'.

(I also have harmonicas, which I tend to play more.)

I bought 2 of the piccolos when they were being sold off, love them just as much as my whistle.

In fact I think I prefer the little transverse ones....

The Trad is no longer made, (& sought after pre used by many), however, you might like their ABS model.

I picked up a TD low 'G' ABS last year, but haven't seen any others advertised - I really like it, great tone & an easy player.

The Tony Dixon ABS high 'D' is somewhat like the sound of a Clarkes, but not so airy, it has a quite mellow tone, (& you can get it as a flute/piccolo too).

Re the NAF, if you buy it from a Native American maker, you both keep the tradition alive & keep them in work, go for it.

Katharine wrote: ↑Wed Sep 22, 2021 7:12 am .....Are any of the other Dixons (nickel, for example) similar in sound? Not looking for the alloy version because it's a bit pricey for me......

That's a shame, because it is a nice sounding whistle, & is tuneable.