back in London after my 9 day trip round West Cork & Kerry, and I can nearly taste the pollution!
While over, I dropped in on Steve Power, and beheld a Tony Dixon with a brass tuning slide. To see was to want, and before long I was 45 Euros lighter but in possession of a fine looking Black & Brass soprano D. I’ve been playing it since, and I think it would be cheap at twice the price (but then I wouldn’t have bought it!)
So, how long have these been around & how come nobody has mentioned them here before? Or did I miss something?
I’ll post a review when I’ve had a week or so to play it.
Other whistles I got on my trip which I had not seen = Doolin 2-piece, Susato VSB, Oak.
On 2002-03-25 08:26, Martin Milner wrote:
I’ll post a review when I’ve had a week or so to play it.
Other whistles I got on my trip which I had not seen = Doolin 2-piece, Susato VSB, Oak.
I’m also looking forward to the review! If you can please compare it to the regular plastic Dixon D.
The Susato VSB was reviewed a few weeks ago to the delight of many, if you seach VSB you should find it. And if you happened to get any spare Doolin two pieces there are a few people on the board who have been longing for one - as far as we know they aren’t available stateside!
Steve Power at Shanna Quay is soon going to be stocking 2-piece Doolins, after I showed him mine (ooer Mrs.) They seem to be in short supply, and yet very popular when available.
I would also recommend the Clare 2-piece, which Steve does stock, if you can get over the slightly icky-green colour of the mouthpiece.
Maybe once he’s got the Doolins in, you could ask him to send you one of each to cut down on the postage cost. Alas, I only got just enough for my own requirements!
Oh, I’ve got a Doolin 2 piece - JessieK sent me a spare that she bought during her last trip. But since then several people have offered to take it off my hands!
I’ve got a great-aunt who often goes to Ireland and I am hoping she is taking another trip this year - if she does I intend to go along!
On 2002-03-25 09:21, Martin Milner wrote:
Steve Power at Shanna Quay is soon going to be stocking 2-piece Doolins, after I showed him mine (ooer Mrs.) They seem to be in short supply, and yet very popular when available.
Gotta ask - what does “ooer” mean? I’ve seen it several times online, and once in a TV show!
“Ooer Mrs.” is (in my usage) suggestive of a double entendre, Benny Hill/Carry On style humour (English Humour, not American Humor!!). It is onomatopaeic.
In this instance I was suggesting that Steve would show me his if I showed him mine (and he did, plus he bought me a pint & a bowl of soup!).
Steve is a TOP MAN, and, Steve, I should have stayed the night in Adare after all 'cos Tralee was IMHO a tip. After this I don’t count the Rose of Tralee as something to aspire to, it’s a bit like being called the prettiest seagull at the landfill site. Shame, as the girls are generally very easy on the eye, and speak with the voices of angels. There you go.
Steve, I should have stayed the night in Adare after all 'cos Tralee was IMHO a tip…There you go.
Hi Martin
You obviously didn’t see the quizzical look on my face when you mentioned driving back to tralee! Still, had I said it was a tip (which I probably wouldn’t have done) you’d have gone anyway. Still, I had a nice Chinese meal on my own!
(to everyone else)
Dixon brass D’s ordered from Tony today (my price is hard-to-beat) and 2-piece Doolin’s coming tomorrow (oo-er, missus)!
Martin,
Received my Dixon D tunable about two weeks ago. Made a difference to my beginners’ playing but haven’t really got the ability to offer a review.
Steve
Steve, I should have stayed the night in Adare after all 'cos Tralee was IMHO a tip…There you go.
Hi Martin
You obviously didn’t see the quizzical look on my face when you mentioned driving back to tralee! Still, had I said it was a tip (which I probably wouldn’t have done) you’d have gone anyway. Still, I had a nice Chinese meal on my own!
I love Brittish humor (all humor really) What is a “tip” in this context
Is there any difference in the sound between the standard tuneable Dixon and the brass slide version? They do seem to be an upgrade,but I’m holding out to see if the new slide makes that much difference in my favorite whistle..
Steve, I should have stayed the night in Adare after all 'cos Tralee was IMHO a tip…There you go.
Hi Martin
You obviously didn’t see the quizzical look on my face when you mentioned driving back to tralee! Still, had I said it was a tip (which I probably wouldn’t have done) you’d have gone anyway. Still, I had a nice Chinese meal on my own!
(to everyone else)
Dixon brass D’s ordered from Tony today (my price is hard-to-beat) and 2-piece Doolin’s coming tomorrow (oo-er, missus)!
Steve
Hi Steve,
I saw the look; there was I thinking it was just wind! I guess I had to learn for myself, but you’d think with the festival & all…
Still it made a good base to visit Dingle, and it was only 2 hours back to Cork. So you could say Tralee is a good place to drive away from (i.e. the road out is nice)!
2blackcat: Welcome! Good choice, I find Dixons very easy to play, I can’t get a squeak out of them! And don’t think that being a beginner means you can’t offer a review - at C&F it also means you haven’t picked up our prejudices yet!
DaveG: There’s a definite tonal difference, the Brass Slider (hereafter Dixon BS ?) is much more flutey in tone, clean & sweet, with less breathiness. I’ll be posting a better comparative review soon, with Pics and everything.
Tony Dixon tells me there aren’t many out yet, so mine might be one of the first few in existence - shame they’re not numbered!
I have a Rose blackwood which I love to death, but I am very iffy about going travelling with it on account of its value, etc (and I travel a lot). So I’m looking for a decent whistle to go travelling with - is the Dixon tunable up there would you say? I’ve previously travelled with my Oak, but I’ve got used to the Rose sound, feel and breath requirement (it sounds like the Dixon by your description)
I was hesitiating to compare the new Dixon ITTS (internal telecopic tuning slide) to a Rose, as
a) I’ve never touched or heard a Rose, only seen pictures and
b) the Rose is for me the Rolls-Royce of whistles
but if Fred Rose made whistles out of Polymer rather than wood, I think they would look a lot like this. If they would sound the same, I can’t say.
As this is now my premier whistle, I’d feel a bit iffy about risking it on a journey too. I usually use my Clare 2-piece for travelling, but if you got a Dixon ITTS (soo catchy) I can’t think you’d be disappointed.
My TD soprano D with brass tuning slide arrived this morning - fantastic! The downside is that I can no longer blame the whistle for my poor quality playing…
). It is onomatopaeic.