I play the pipes (you may have guessed this from my username) and I really miss that extra low note when playing the whistle. I was thinking about buying a high D with the extra C on the bottom and was wondering how many makers would do it? I would also love to have an A whistle with a G natural on the bottom for all those pipe tunes.
I know that Colin Goldie and Busman whistles have this option and I’ve seen an Abell whistle with this (curious as to how much that cost) but I’d like some advice and recommendations.
I currently play a MK low whistle and a Abell high D, which is my favourite whistle ever. I also play burkes, generations and feadogs, but only the old ones. I would like something with a similar sound to the abell but maybe not as pricey, can it be done?
Earl Bartlet does a GHB pipe for his Syn whistles. I also like Paul Busman’s D+ - the longer tube creates different under-tones - it tends to mellow the notes a bit.
I have the alloy D+ and it’s nice (sounds like my Burke DAN, only a bit louder and not quite as pure). The extra note comes in handy on a number of tunes.
I’ve seen the Highland whistle horne and heard the clips. I think it is an instrument in its own right - one worth a try - also the xaphoon. However, the off-whistle instrument for me is the Bombarde or Piston - it fingers exactly the same as a whistle in BOTH octaves (unlike the highland horn that does interesting things in octave 2), but requires a football-field and super strength ear-plugs to play - but Bombarde and GHB are a nice mix if yer got a football field to play in
Personally, I find single reed and lipped brass to be an awkward sound mix with ITM. Others may well have different tastes.
I tried a highland hornpipe and while it was lots of fun I found the lowest note too loud in comparison to the others and it didn’t really have a good second octave. I’m a better whistle player that piper (I think) so I’d rather a “D+” type whistle with whistle fingering. Thanks for all the info so far it’s really appreciated.
