Gah. I am feeling incredibly unmotivated in regards to typing the three page essay I need to have done by the first day of school. Instead, here’s a review of a David O’Brien (http://www.obrienwhistles.com) copper whistle in the key of D with a delrin plug and nickel-plated finish. Sorry, for the lack of pictures. To make up for it I will try to be excessively wordy.
The whistle is cyllindrical, and very solidly constructed. The head is three consecutive copper tubes with a windway cut out of the inside two, and a delrin plug in the middle. The third tube makes the top of the windway, and, besides the whole cut out for the window, goes on to overlap the continuation of the tube. It is soldered (I think, I’m not a construction type) on very neatly and srurdily. As is the tuning joint, which is quite roomy. The whole deal is finished off by nickel plating and a serial #, key, and signiature. The copper still shows through the holes and windway, though. Very cool-looking. Reminds me of some kind of sleek, large cat when the sun gleams out off the copper-red holes. RARR.
The holes are obviously tuned very carefully. They are slightly irregular-shaped (although still near-circles). You can see little pricks, lots of them, on the wall opposite the holes where (I assume) the end of a tool hit while tuning each hole.
And it plays, too. The bottom note is not strong but not weak. The first octave reminds me of that first Bb scale on a concert flute. Kind of mellow but not alltoghether lacking brightness. Not breathy at all in the first octave. On the higher E-B notes, some breathyness is introduced. Not a whole lot. In my opinion, it is a very nice amount and takes away from some shrillness. I like the tone, although that’s a preference thing, of course.
The high C#, though, oh boy. That is THE ugly note on this whistle. Very breathy and not much tone left. I found, though, that this can be solved by putting down your ring finger. (000 00X) It leaves it a bit shrill (but way less breathy), and it’s a pain to have to remember, but good to know.
The high-high D, though, is back to being more pleasant. I havent figured out if I like OXX XXX or OXX XOX or OXX OOO best.
Higher E XXOXXO is also a pleasure.
Past that I can not find fingerings that work well for F and G. Oh well.
While I’m going through every single note this thing does and doesnt play, its worth mentioning that Cnat is very flexible. OXXOOO with a little less breath, the full cross-fingered, or the half-holed all work like a charm.
It is VERY IN TUNE all the way up. I did not feel the need to pull out a tuner.
There is a little dynamic range, but not much (without going flat or fliping up). It is a whistle, though, I’m used to concert instruments.
It is easy to finger besides the already-mentioned high-C# which needs an extra finger in the mix to sound better. On first arriving I was having problems because (I use half-pipers’ grip) the 2nd to bottom hole did not… feel like a hole. It felt like my finger was just on the tube. Very wierd. Not a problem, though, past the first 10 minutes.
It has a very odd-shaped, stubby beak which I like. Keeps me from chewing. Others my not agree though.
Moisture gradually starts making higher notes more breathy, buzzy, and harder to keep from flipping down/up until the windway is cleared. It especially hurts that high C#. I’d almost perfer clogging - helps me remember to clear it out once in a while.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. O’Brien is a very nice guy.
I have been a very happy camper since recieving this whistle. The end.