Hey everyone! I became interested in whistles about three weeks ago so I’m a newbie. I’ve been lurking on the boards and seeing a lot of information. Of course with things like this there are no ‘best’ whistles so I was having a really hard time identifying which whistle would provide the sound I fell in love with.
I started with a Clarke Original which was too breathy for me, especially as a beginner. I then acquired a Clarke SweeTone which, while it very was easier to play, still sounded very different from the sound I wanted.
I finally found the Clips and Snips website which gave me a chance to hear each brand and eventually I decided on the Tweaked Generation in D from the Whistle Shop.
Finally, this is the sound I was so in love with.
Was it this hard for everyone else to find a whistle? I also live in Alaska, so the only one carried in town was the Clarke Original and the others all had to be shipped. That might have made the search seem much more difficult.
Anyways, I’m a bright eyed and bushy tailed new tin whistler and I’m currently learning from the Clarke tin whistle book. Hope to make some friends around these forums and some day have some advice of my own to give.
Hello The_walrus0, welcome to the forum.
You just can’t go wrong with a Freeman Tweaked whistle.
Speaking of The Whistle shop, I recieved a Freeman Tweaked Feadog from them yesterday.
I don’t know if Jerry started making them again or if it is old inventory.
Indeed welcome to the board. You will love that Jerry Gen just as we all do.
Don’t be surprised though when you might find yourself yearning for particular sound or feature. I’ve come to believe that while you can play anything with any whistle, some tunes just sound incredible on certain whistles. There are others who also make some really nice whistles and are contributors to this board. For example, Paul Busman (brewerpaul who welcomed you a couple of messages earlier) just made for me a stunning curly maple D+ that has become my and my friends favorite for accompanying her fiddle on Ashokan Farewell.
Anyway, welcome and enjoy the ride. You’ve come to the right place.
Angus MacKenzie teaches a series of whistle lessons on Youtube. I find this to be the most helpful learning aid I have found since I began whistles. I think if you check it out you will find it to be very helpful.
Yes, I believe I already have become ill with the whistle disease. I have already received another whistle in the mail. I ordered this one on Amazon last week and the Gen got here first. This one is a Feadog D all black.
It’s really a tie between these two but I can safely say I enjoy these two whistles far more than I liked the Clarke Original and Sweetone. There’s just something about the sound. It’s ‘crisper’ to me. I like it.
Of course there will be more whistles. I have already decided it would be beneficial to have one or two in the Key of C.
This whistle purchasing frenzy will have to stop soon!
Welcome Walrus! I see you’ve become addicted to the whistle in a short time. Next will be making your own. I can’t walk by a pipe without pondering if I could make a good whistle out of it.
