I am looking for a new whistle. I am currently playing a Killarney brass in D. I am quite happy with it, but looking for a bit of a change.
I very seldom find myself playing is sessions. Mostly solo, and most frequently playing for my own enjoyment at home.
I am finding the Killarney quite loud and would like to find one with a quieter, softer sound.
I have looked at Gene Milligan’s website. He makes a whistle with a redesigned mouthpiece which he describes as quiet. I don’t know how quiet it is. I like the feel of wood…My pipes are Blackwood and my flute is Mopani.
Jerry Freeman tweaked whistles get great reviews. I tried one once. I think it was the Blackbird. Really liked playing it.
There is a lot to consider…
material…brass, nickle, aluminum, wood. I know Blackwood is now being treated differently under CITES.
price…all over the map
maker…Lots of excellent whistle makers out there.
So, my dilemma is…what is my best choice for a whistle with a softer, mellower sound than my Killarney?
I hear you on the Killarney. I also have a D in brass and absolutely love it! So responsive and wonderful to play, but it’s definitely louder, and not always the most convenient when wanting to be quiet. I really like Dixon whistles for a nice quiet sit and play. I have a few Dixons, including a Dixon trad D which is very responsive and perfect for when you just want a nice quiet whistle. It transitions nicely through all octaves and doesn’t seem quite as easy to overblow as other Dixon whistles. Holds it’s pitch well, and is pretty sweet and mellow in sound.
I second the opinion on the Freeman Blackbird and the Potter. The Sweetone is on the quiet side as well, or at least it seems so when I play indoors. Depending on the room you’re in, the D high can seem loud. The Blackbird is my favorite one when I play alone in a smallish room. By the way, many people think the Killarney is rather quiet, so you really need one that is super quiet. Maybe, the issue is the high D. There are many mellow, quiet whistles in lower keys, but that opens up a whole new can of worms for you.
I agree the Killarney whistles in brass and nickel that I have fall on the quieter side rather than louder in the whistle world. Yes, the Potter may be just the whistle. Maybe the room or space you’re playing in can be modified to lessen, muffle, deaden the sound.
I find the the Killarney quiet in a session setting, but on the louder side when sat practising or just playing alone in the house. It’s perfect for playing with a small group or solo in a larger area because it does project well, I think, especially in the upper register. The original poster isn’t looking for something to stand out in a session setting though, but something for quiet play. There are definitely whistles considerably more quiet than a Killarney.
Thanks, everyone for the great insights. I like the idea of a tweaked blackbird. Any comments about moving to a wooden whistle? I had been thinking about contacting Gene Milligan and inquiring about his whistle with a quiet (practice) mouthpiece.
I forgot about the Sweetone. I have a couple stashed around the house as I bought some for myself and my kids years ago. They are definitely on the quiet side. Your fingers may or may not like the conical bore. It is a different feel, and there is a seam that runs down the back that can be padded with a bit of masking tape if it bothers you, but the price is definitely right and I have found them easy to play quietly.
Dixon DX001 or Carbony “quiet” model (one of my personal favourites but a bit more expensive–IMHO worth every penny) would be my recommendations. Or a cheapo “Oak” or “Acorn” might also fit the bill. One of my most mellow whistles is a new Generation red top but they can vary a bit in volume from one to the next.
Here’s something else that I remembered. Sometimes, I use an O ring to cover the blade in varying degrees to lessen the volume. My favorite whistle, the Freeman Mellow Dog D works just right in most environments but there are times when I want to lower the volume and still enjoy its playing characteristics. The use of an O ring takes care of this. It should work on other whistles as well.
I like the tone out of many of the wood body whistles. I once had a Sweetheart soprano D whistle in rosewood and it had a great tone. However, after seeing how a full wood mouthpiece is affected by saliva over time, and the odd abrasion from teeth that happen to be in that area, my preference would be a wood body whistle with a metal or durable plastic mouthpiece. You can certainly get a great tone that way.
