Name my Whistle!

Whistle
1

I have been to, as far as I know, every whistle makers website. I think I have almost 100 bookmarked webpages related to whistles, from makers, to reviews, to mp3 lists, to youtube videos and the science of whistles. I have posted on this forum a few times for guidance, I have searched and read dozens upon dozens of posts related to low whistles here as well. Now, I think, after much research, I think I know what whistle I want.

However, I am not going to say what it is. Instead I will discribe what kind of whistle I am looking for, and see if you guys can suggest what you think I should get. This will help me make sure the one I picked is right for me. Or if there is a whistle out there that I missed that is just as good or better.

Also, this helps me figure out if I understand the terminology you guys use to. I gave descriptions of what these terms mean to me. Let me know if I am using them wrong, or if I missed any. (which I am most certain I did) And besides, I like debates and discussion!

Either way, I know the end result will most likely be my wallet crying. But I have accepted that sacrifices must be made for the greater good of my whistledom happiness.

I like something with medium volume, I like to hear it, but not make me deaf or wake up neighbors. It will primarily be for solo, slow air and walts. Though in time I may do a session or two, but nothing big.

Oh and Low D.

Tonal Qualities

Likes:
Huanting (Where a whistle almost has a reverb of its own. Kinda like the pipe tunnel effect)
Pure (You hear the tone of the note being played, and only the note being played)
Resonating (sometimes I wonder if this is just another way of saying huanting. I am not sure, but I have seen both used at the same time to discribe something, so there must be a difference)
Mellow (A tone that is almost deeper, darker then normal)


Dislikes:
Reediness (I do not know exactly how to discribe this, but its the sound that turned me off flutes)
Breathy (The sound of breath going down the tube when you play a note, breathy means its very noticeable)


Terms I am not sure I fully get: Or dont know if I like or dislike yet.
Bright (I think most metal whistles get this tone. It seems to me its almost the reverse of mellow) Dont know if like or dislike
Bark (Its… giving me a warning before the kill???) I have no clue
Shrilly (Its… Girly? I wonder if this is another way of saying a certain whistle tends to screech?) I think this would go into the dislike If I was correct
Chiff (I have no Idea so whatever)

2

Rose :smiley:

3

Well…haunting…Low Overtons are generally haunting. High whistles don´t have the aspect so strong, but it´s in them.

Pure - Burkes have probably the purest tone I know, but that has it´s price - imho less complex tone. Overtons, Reyburns and (some) Copelands sound very pure too. And Dixon aluminion (not trad)´s got beautiful sound.

Resonating - from whistles I played, only Overtons and Copelands were.

Mellow - I think it´s a little different thing than you describe, and it´s often connected with breathiness. Copelands, sweetones, are probably the mellowest - in general, brass whistles are.

reedines is a problem, indeed - some of higher mentioned whistles have that, but mostly it´s because of clogging.


My whistle of choice is an Overton - but, as Wanderer very accurately described, it´s a little bit like a wild stallion. If you are sure you want a whistle which tends to clog, which has to be warmed propertly to play in tune, with which you´ll have to practise untill you get used to it…good - you´ll be rewarded. But many people don´t want to take so much care about their whistles, because other brands are good too.

Other than Overtons, Reyburns are nice, and Copelands too.

4

Well, sounds like you’ll be playing slow aires [sic] on it.

Lon Dubh.

5

Overton. :slight_smile:

6

I think you’ve over-researched! Buy one and try it. If you spend as much time learning how to really play it as you did on researching it, you’ll probably be happy with whatever you get.
:smiley:
Susan

7

I rather fond of the name Betty.

8

Abell or oZ.

9

Harvey - since only you can see it.

10

Price–
I have to agree with Susan. There is a lot to be said for research and asking around. There comes a time when you just have to try one (or several, if you’re like most of us) and choose one (or several, if you’re like most of us! :slight_smile: ).

My experience with low D’s is limited to Hoovers and Dixons, so I can’t help you too much there. Your description sounds like a nice instrument!

By the way, you’re in good company having no clue about “chiff.” Lots of us know what it is, or think we do, because we’ve discussed specfic whistles and agree that, yes, this one has it, and no, this one doesn’t. But to my recollection no one has ever really described it in a way that one can understand without hearing it. As Dale said, the chiff that can be spoken is not the true chiff. Or was that Lau Tzu?

Have fun and let us know what you choose!

Tom

11

Yeah, buy one and get started down the long path. It’s the only way.

As for chiff, I’m originally an organist. With all due respect to Dale and company, whistles don’t have chiff. They have a similar characteristic sometimes, but it’s not chiff.

12

A heretic! :laughing: We’ve found a heretic! May we burn him?!

13

Ha! Love that Monty pic :smiley:

Don’t get me wrong guys, I’m not trying to cause a fight. There is an effect that happens with many whistles that’s very hard to describe in words. It’s a sound that occurs in that instant before the whistle speaks, and while the whistle is finding its voice. The same thing happens with the pipe organ. That’s where the term comes from. But it’s different with the whistle and the organ. In the organ there’s also the effect of the windchest taking its breath, and the leatherworks responding. That sound we get from a whistle is probably best described as chiff, but it’s not exactly the same thing an organist uses to decribe the effect. It’s very close, but not the same either.

14

I think my recently purchased Reviol Low D has all those qualities, and it seems easy to play, and its beautiful to look at and to hold. I push the bell note and hear a rolling reverb that gets loud. The upper register is really pure.

Don

15

The research will doubtless stand you in good stead, but I too say, take the plunge. Given your list of likes, dislikes and not sures, I’d say go for a Gonzato Low Tech low whistle first - the plastic pipe gives a mellower, woodier sound than most of the metal ones, and at a fraction of the price of any decent wood (or metal) low whistle. (I think whoever suggested Abell and Oz - Cyril???) didn’t read your LOW specification!) Check out [u]my review[/u] of Guido’s Low D (includes sound clips) - I haven’t had a go on one since then, though, to know what effect any modifications he’s made subsequently may be, but if you tell him the kind of sound you seek, I’m sure he can voice one accordingly.

16

There’s no substitute for actually playing the whistles.
Often the way they sound and peform for the player is quite different from how they sound to a person listening.
To see how difficult it is to pick whistles based only on sound, check out the various “whistle indentification challenges” currently running on this forum.
I think that many traditional players pick instruments more for how they perform rather than how they sound to an outside listener. Irish traditional dance music is fast and technically demanding and good players demand instruments with quick response and reliable voicing.
There are aspects of performance that experienced players look for that may not be apparent to a beginner.
What I look for in a high whistle:
#1 intonation
#2 easy “action” or nimbleness across the octaves
#3 tone
What I look for in a low D whistle:
#1 intonation
#2 “action”
#3 volume
#4 powerful bottom D
#5 “chiff”
#6 tone
So, the actual tone is pretty far down the list.
Intonation is of course #1, because if an instrument is out of tune it’s unusable. “Action” is next because if an instrument can’t handle the demands of the music it’s unusable. Volume is critcial in low whistles because if no one can hear you, why play? In low whistles “chiff” and a powerful bottom D are required to play it the traditional flute style that I do.

17

For a discussion on what some of the terms you describe and are inquiring about go here:

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=16886

Some forum veterans (and others) have contributed.

18

Actually, yes, that was very helpful. Now I have an idea what you guys are saying hehe. As for the taking the plunge. I know… I am just a very indecisive person. Incredibly so, and well, I just want to make sure I get a whistle that will make my day. I thought I knew what I wanted, but as of this moment, due to your suggestions from and my research. My choices are between two Low D whistles.

A Overtone, or a sweetheart resonance.

Now, I picked the Overton because it sounds great, the cosmic drainpipe thing is just awesome, I found lots of mp3’s and youtubes on them and overall it seems wonderful. On the downside, I hear thier not newbie friendly, can be a breathy and are loud. Maybe a Burke Viper would be better for me over overton?

The sweetheart I picked because I have yet to hear anyone say anything not positive about them at all. It looks nice and the reviews of it make it sound outstanding. Newbie friendly, resonating tone, deep and are medium in volume. Although I do not know if it could be considered haunting. However I have found only two mp3’s on it and no youtube stuff. So while the reviews of it make it sound like its exactly what I am looking for, I cannot be sure. Wierd thing is that some have said it has almost a flutish sound, which I found odd, because I generally do not like flutes. So I am kinda stumped on that one.

I dunno, what do you guys think based on my likes and dislikes?

Oh, and this might be a tremendiously stupid question, but does a whistle have to be a metal to have the cosmic drainpipe sound?

19

You’ll find that there are two major styles of low D whistle design, the “Overton style” with a narrow flat windway, and the “Susato/Burke”
style with the wide curved windway.
They just sound and perform differently- you would have to play both types to really understand.
The Overton style has a musty tone which could be described as haunting or fuzzy depending on your point of view. It usually (but not always) has more backpressure: the air travels through the fipple at a slower rate and you can play longer phrases before breathing.
The Burke style has a pure tone which could be described as clear or plain depending on your point of view. It blows more freely- air travels through the fipple at a faster rate and you have to breathe more frequently.
There are obviously a large number of designs out there, but most fall within one of these two basic approaches.
If you’re looking for a low D I recommend doing what I did- buy and/or borrow as many different makes as you can and put them through their paces.
I settled on the Burke “Viper”. There are quite a few Overton fans on this forum. I’ve tried four different Overton low D’s and I didn’t care for three of them but the fourth (which I only got to try briefly) was a lot more promising. Overtons are made by two different makers and are made in several different styles so they can vary quite a bit. Once again, there’s no substitute for actually playing them.

20

Thanks for that info, Pan. I think I might have to save up and get a viper. They sound lovely. I’ve never been completely satisfied with either of my low D’s.

Can you tell us a little bit about the finger hole sizes and spacing compared to a Dixon low D? I assume the piper grip is necessary?

Tom