I’m picking the whistle back up after several years of playing only the same few aires for my kids at bedtime. I’ve owned several inexpensive whistles and several Jerry freeman whistles. I even owned one expensive whistle (don’t remember the brand but there was a bulge at the neck where it tuned and a hole in the back to help get an accurate c natural - I found it soulless and returned it) but I haven’t found the whistle for me. I love my freeman mellow dog but I think my favorite whistle, the one that makes me fall in love with the whistle whenever I pick it up to play an aire, is my $6 silver Clarke. I love the soft, breathy, soulful sound. Unfortunately, as I’m sure some of you know, you have to have the lung capacity of a hot air balloon to play it well, especially with fast tunes.
I think I asked this same question years and years ago but can’t find the post and think that maybe a lot has changed since then. I would like an really nice whistle that I like as much as my Clarke but increases my playing to breathing ratio.
I know it’s impossible to give me a recommendation based on my own preferences but I’m hoping to find someone that knows what I mean about how I feel about the Clarke and can make a good recommendation.
A lot of people play the Clarke original. For some of us the Clarke in C was the only whistle available beside the Gens when we started out. The sound is fairly unique. So I could see you wanting to stay with that.
You’ve received some different advice in those threads. I would suggest first to try to tweak you Clarke to make it more breathe efficient. We’ve all done that at some point. Here’s a picture to look at.
Basically you squash the top of the windway down a good bit to make the windway more narrow. That way it will use less air. I would recommend placing a strip of something like an old credit card into the windway before you start the squashing process. That helps keep you from making it too narrow.
You could also try a Dave Shaw whistle. They are made of nickle sheet and still sound similar to the Clarke. They are usually better than the Clarke in the air department but they can also be tweaked easily.
And since you like Jerry Freeman’s work you could look for a Jerry Tweaked Clarke. I do not know if Jerry still tweaks Clarkes but maybe if you ask him real nice…
For my money the Copeland whistle is the ultimate Clarke inspired whistle. YMMV.
Banks for the replies and the links. I’m remembering a bit more. The Burke was the one that I purchased and returned. It was clear, loud, tuned really well, beautiful, and just didn’t do it for me. I returned it a cou of days later and they were nice enough to allow that.
At that time I also purchased what was either a shaw or a tweaked shaw and the high d and c squeaked really bad. I wonder if I just got a bad whistle but I returned that one as well.
Are Copands still available? It looks like from the link above that they are t b
That was one of my first whistles. It’s a fine whistle, but I wouldn’t recommend it here, because it actually uses more air than an untweaked clarke! At least mine does, by a very noticable amount. It does sound better and play better, though, in my opinion.
And to the OP, no, copelands aren’t available new, but they do come up on ebay from time to time, usually for several hundred dollars. If you’ve got the budget for one, I recommend keeping an eye on eBay.
And yes, shaw and jerry freeman tweaked clarke are both options. If you like Jerry Freeman’s work, and like Clarkes, it’s probably a good idea. I’ve never played it though.
Also, you might be able to find one of Jerry’s tweaked Shaw’s used. I’ve never played one of these either, but I imagine it might be worth checking out if you love clarkes.
Some antique clarke-esque whistles also occasionally are sold on ebay, but I think they are usually no different than clarkes (and sometimes have a lead fipple block, so caution!). I can’t think of any other whistles that are similar to clarkes aside from what’s been mentioned.
Yes, the Burke is not for everyone. It is definitely the antithesis of the Clarke. I like them (have a couple dozen in different keys and materials). Based on what you prefer I can see why it would not be your cup of tea.
I’d suggest you give it some time. My experience says that most whistles with “squeaks” are operator induced problems. Time spent with the instrument should sort it out.
They do show up on eBay now and then. Occasionally someone pops in here that has gotten a new one. You might have to “sell a child” to buy one though. You should try one before you buy one as well. The Copeland does not really sound like a Clarke. It is more of a custom built Clarke assault whistle, IMO, very loud and more crisp. I do not know if Michael is still actively making whistles. He did put one or two on eBay himself now and again for a few years. But I don’t know. I have not run into him several years.
