gotta say this, a few months ago I bought quite a few Dixon whistles, among them a standard lowD, I play it every day and like its sound very much, the only thing about it which I thought could be better is its volume, it’s a wee bit on the quiet side (as are many lowDs, especialy in the lower register).
Last month I was in Scotland, mainly Edinburgh for the entire month of June, lucky me, ehh, and I was looking for a lowD that would be a bit louder. I came across a Shaw that took WAY too much breath for me, a Chieftain, Howard, Kerry. And of course, an Overton. Now, I must say, the ONLY whistle, in my ears, and those are ears that belong yet to a beginner, that was in tune with itself AND louder than my Dixon was the Overton. I found all the others off tune either within themselves, or generally speaking too. I found it was not necessary for me to get the Overton, at least not now. I am very happy with my Tony Dixon lowD, a fine instrument, so easy to play.Ah, one thing I did not like about the Overton: the rim of the holes were very sharp, was uncomfi below my fingers.
I’d have to agree with the oncomfi square edges of the Overton Holes, at least on my F. It’s the one thing that I could complain about on this whistle. The Howard holes, while big, are nicely contoured, making slides bends comfi, so when I get a second low D, I’m going to have to think hard about whether I get a Howrd or an Overton.
I have a Dixon Low D at the moment, and I’m happy with the volume, at least I don’t upset the neighbours.
Sharp edged holes, on a recently made Overton, mean you’re playing a Bernard Overton made Overton. Colin Goldie’s Overtons come standard with very nicely rounded off tone hole edges, not the least bit sharp. Of course if you’re buying from Colin and you want the Edges left sharp he’s happy to do that as well.
As I understand it, Bernard supplies whistles to the UK, while Colin Supplies most of the rest of the world, so it would have been one of Bernard’s sharp edged whistles in Scotland, and for Martin as well.
Talking to folks, each style has it’s fans, so I guess it’s just a personal preference thing. Personally, I’m a chamfered edge man meself.
I really like my Dixon high D but also really like my Susato LOW D. Jerry O’Sullivan introduced me to this whistle it his main touring whistle. As a professional he moves around quite a bit and expensive whistle tend to get lost or broken. He recounted one story of Joanie Madden putting down a bag off whistles and someone backing a car over them.
I would like to some day try a Dixon low D sometime.
On 2002-07-22 12:44, lollycross wrote:
I heard that the 2 bottom notes on the Dixon Low D don’t play too well. Did the guy who told me just have a “bad” one, or is this true?
Lolly
Must have needed tweaking or something. Mine plays just fine and the volume is good. Any “complaints” I have about it are so inconsequential as to be not worth mentioning.
Actually, I read that Joannie Madden backed her own car over her whistles. The whistles were somehow uninjured. I’ll bet I read that in her C&F interview!
My tunable Dixon low D just arrived a few hours ago. It’s great! I find it much easier to play than my old Susato low D (which I pretty much gave up on). Even my mother, who doesn’t play whistle at all, could play its notes with reasonably good tone. All the notes sound good, although the lowest are a little quiet – but in more of a haunting way than a mushy way.
