Material: African Blackwood, Delrin, and Brass
Key: Soprano D
Case: Black Leatherette Drawstring Pouch (no pic, sorry)
Price: C$180.00 Canadian (ask David for current price)
URL: http://www.obrienwhistles.com/OBPWblack.html
This is kind of a review, and kind of not - more like my subjective opinion than a review. But, I’m a stop on this whistle’s tour, so I feel I should share something of my impressions for the folks that are not on the tour. So, here goes; my thoughts, some pics, and amateur soundclips.
Well, I forgot I was on this tour and when I received the package I was thinking it was a whistle that would be a gift in the whistle giveaway fund raiser. Well, no such luck for those participating in the fundraiser (this is a nice whistle), but there are plenty other whistles to be given away - so don’t forget to join in before it’s over on July 31st. But I digress.
The first thing I noticed was, this whistle needed oiling before I put much breath to it. So I bought a bottle of almond oil on the way home and gave it a little attention. You can see from the pics that it soaked it up and now has that lovely bittersweet chocolate hue that’s so nice in African Blackwood. On to the quickie review; aesthetics, mechanics, playability, and voice.
Aesthetics:
Sturdy, no nonsense good looks. The Delrin fipple head goes well with the Blackwood - from a distance they look the same. The brass fittings and slide are clean and well joined with the wood body. The finish isn’t as perfect as a $400 Thin Weasel, but it’s well done and quite a handsome whistle no doubt.
Mechanics:
The slide is smooth and functional, but perhaps could use a little length if you needed more than a few cents sharp. That’s nit-picking though as it was in tune just a smidgen open as you see it in the pics. The mid body join is firm and steady. Altogether solid and well constructed.
Playability:
Medium breath requirement and medium back-pressure, comfortable to play. In tune through both octaves at intuitive breath. C Natural plays right on at 0XX000. Good weight and balance. It could use a little smoothing at the finger-hole edges to make slides easier. Nice quick fingering. Altogether a very comfortable and quick player.
Voice:
Well, this is not the voice I’m used to from my O’Briens, but it’s not metal, and the windway blade is an actual blade - unlike the blunt edge on classic O’Briens. But this is a good thing, I think a chuffy O’Brien voice with a wood body would be to soft. I played it for a little while thinking “this sounds like one of my whistles, but not the O’Brien.” Played it a little more, and - eureka - I got it. It plays and sounds somewhat like my Copeland. Ok, lower breath requirement, lower volume, not so much edge, and smooth wood tone - but it’s got that poppy thing going on and open feel that I like in the Copeland.
So you got portable, handsome, well made, comfortable to play, and a nice focused warm voice. I think this whistle is a real winner
Sound Sample:
Two of my amateur clips. One of the O’Brien, and one of my Copeland with the same tune part so you know I’m not out of my mind (well, at least not in this case).
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/Whistle/OBrienWoodenRover.mp3
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/Whistle/CopelandNickelSilver.mp3