Hello all. I’m in the market for a low A.
Any suggestions? (And yes, I know, it’s all a matter of preference.)
Best, Joe
I have just ordered one of these,from Roy McManus
Cant Wait
Tommy Dion makes a nice wooden low A. I have the olive wood low A, plays very nicely, a little breathy for me but nice. I have the Freeman low A and it is OK. I don’t have any other low As for comparison. Inquire with Tommy a member here.
Dang, that is gorgeous! 
Isn’t it just.
He says this is one from a new “BIG bore range” he is now doing available in Bb,A,G and F
I feel the disorder starting to kick in again
Mine never stopped just slowed. And wood! yummy! 
I highly recommend the Alba A.
And quite a few people like the MK A.
Here’s short comparison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkL_owJ5r0s&feature=youtu.be
Oh, yes, the Mk is up for grabs…
I have one by Colin Goldie that I love.
As you say people have different preferences.
For years I played a Burke A. Like all Burkes it had a full strong low octave, very powerful bellnote, very even smooth voicing over the range. But the upper notes, especially High B, took care and support, the 2nd octave being a tad stiff. And like all Burkes taking a somewhat higher amount of air than other whistles of similar size.
I tend to like whistles that go the narrower-bore old-school Generation path, with very sweet easy nimble high notes; in other words a 2nd octave that “speaks” easily. I had a Sindt A which was superb, no surprise there! Were I in the market for an A that’s what I would get.
I just tried a new-model Reyburn A and there were no flies on it. Full low range, the upper range not stiff, perfect tuning, even voicing.
What I play for an A, BTW, is a Freeman Tweaked Generation Bb head on an A body I made myself. I preferred it just a tiny bit to that Sindt.
I’ve not tried the MK A but I’m a big fan of the MK Low D. I would expect the MK A to also have that wonderful unique MK tone, a very easy 2nd octave, great volume, great tuning.
panceltpiper Was the Reyburn A you tried one of the new aluminum ones?
Yes a very recent Reyburn, aluminium body with black plastic head.
Hey thanks all. I appreciate the recomendations. Best, Joe
Hermit Hill Folk Instruments put New model A whistle on eBay. If it was here in the UK I might have been tempted myself.
David
My main low A’s are a Lofgren and a Sindt.
I also have a spectacular Carbony low G. I imagine the alto A might be very nice, as well. It uses the same bore size, so probably just takes a slight bit more of a blow than the G. If I had one, it would probably be up there with my main two.
What you like may be quite different, though. Only way to find out is to take a chance and buy some to see what fits you. There is always the option to either return it or resell it if it isn’t to your liking.
I ended up picking that one up, but it won’t be here until Thursday (give or take). I plan to review it after it has arrived and I’ve been able to spend a tad bit of time with it. With luck I’ll be able to add it to the list in my above post, but I really know next to nothing about the maker, so I took a bit of a shot in the dark with this one. Fingers crossed…
Hi Sirchronique
Looking forward to the review.
David
I just had a go at a Freeman low G, which was great–I’d guess the A is just as nice.
The Hermit Hill brass A whistle is definitely up there with my favourites. Quite a good whistle. He also sent along the original prototype head which looks almost identical to the main one, and asked for feedback on them. Not sure which one I like better, as both have nice qualities. I would have been happy with either one, despite some notable differences. I’ll only comment on the main head, though.
It has a sweet high end and a nice tone throughout the range, with a bit of breathiness in the high end that blends in perfectly with the root tone (by no means excessively, though. Just a pinch). Quite responsive, low air consumption, sounds and plays wonderfully and evenly, and has a more "traditional " whistle sort of sound (for clarification- I mean as opposed to something like a chieftain, goldie, or burke that is quite different). It doesn’t have an intense or screamy sound in the high notes, and the octave transitions have a clear and smooth flipping point. Don’t really have any complaints about it.
I haven’t compared to other whistles yet, but I feel like the holes are in different spots than they usually are on most A whistles, but I adjusted quite quickly. That being said, the intonation was good. Not sure how his high whistles are, but I’ll definitely purchase more whistles from this maker, as they are very fairly priced for what you get. Definitely recommend looking into them if you are in the market for an A whistle.
I heard one of the best sounding low A whistle tune sets last night. Keegan Loesel played a Tony Dixon low A and the tone was beautiful.
I’ve used a fair few As in recording, gigging and sessions over the past 20 years. I had a Susato which I hated, a Shaw which I borrowed to record with and loved (!), a second-hand Mack Hoover with a freaky custom made mouthpiece that requires so much air I’d need a sperm whale’s lungs to play it, a Chieftain which was so-so, and then a Jerry Freeman which was nice but quiet. Last week I bought myself a new tuneable one from Colin Goldie. Haven’t yet put it through its paces, but initial reaction is that it’s absolutely storming - just like the low F# and Low G is already have. I find it hard to believe that any whistle player would be disappointed with Colin’s work, and he’s very accommodating in terms of breath requirements and backpressure. Expensive gear, but top drawer IMO.
m.d.