I’m not discounting that it could be the player, but my O’Briain high D has started making the oddest sound. Almost like a buzz. An undertone on some notes, way loud on others. It’s either worse or just more noticeable on high notes. The whistle didn’t sound like that before, and my other whistles don’t sound different when I play them.
Is there something about the breaking in process that would cause a whistle to do this?
Confusedly,
Tery
Check for anything in the airway. Even dried saliva can through off the sound in odd ways. A stiff piece of paper can clear it without doing any damage.
Angelo
First, do what Angelo said. It that doesn’t fix it, pull off the mouthpiece and make sure it’s clean inside, especially on the underside of the blade. If there’s any dirt in there, use something like a Q-tip to get it out, but be very careful not to damage the blade. Also inspect the inside of the tube. Occasionally I swab mine out by running a twisted paper towel through it
Thanks. I’ll try both and see what happens!
Tery
What is this whistle made of? (not familiar with it, and I’m too lazy at this hr of the morning to check for myself)
If by chance it is wood, the grain might have been raised somewhere in the fipple region from condensed breath during playing. If that is the case, it is something that the maker needs to fix.
They’re made of brass and plastic, Paul…they’re the “improved” Feadogs so many of us are in love with – at least I assume we’re talking about an O Briain “improved” and not a handmade O Briain whistle.
In addition to all of the above, I’d check and make sure you haven’t lost any of the material used to fill in the area under the windway.
Speaking of which, does anyone know what that material is? It doesn’t look like Blu-Tac. I’m just wondering if it would come out or melt if I gave the whistle a bit of a soapy bath…it’s sorely in need of it.
Redwolf
[ This Message was edited by: Redwolf on 2002-12-07 11:35 ]
A warm soapy water bath would be my recommendation, of course after making sure the stuff underneath can handle it. Use a pipe cleaner and move it back and forth in the airway with the soapy water, rinse and voila!
Things you can’t see can still change the sound enough to be a problem. Warm water does wonders! An old tooth brush in the metal tube with again, dishsoap can clean off age old goop and give your whistle a nice birthday!
Goodluck,
Sandy
Hi,
I have one of these whistles, and I can confirm the validity of the responses above. The O’Brian (I always forget the spelling!!) is very sensitive to dirt in the airway. A quick fix is just to blow a mouthful of water through! How lazy I am…
It works wonders though, and brings the whistle straight back to life.
Nice whistles, eh???
Have a great festive season, and best wishes,
Adrian
Caution…
The fipple blade is glued in, and, since it’s plastic, the sharp edge is extremely delicate. Therefore (1) don’t use hot soapy water bacause it might loosen the adhesive, and (2) if you run a pipe cleaner through the airway, make sure it doesn’t touch the blade. (If I recall correctly, Whistling Elf damaged the blade on her Susato with a pipe cleaner.)
It’s back 
. Thanks for all the suggestions. I took the fipple off, washed it in warm soapy water, then (not having a pipecleaner) used a garbage bag tie to run gently through the airway.
I also washed the tube in a nice warm bath. Couldn’t find a toothbrush small enough, but the twisted paper towel worked beautifully. I didn’t see any dirt anywhere, but when everything dried and I put the fipple back on . . . ah the sound! If only my stupid cold would leave me alone so I could play for hours & hours
Thanks again!
Tery
edited to fix typo
[ This Message was edited by: tkelly on 2002-12-07 20:32 ]
So, how did the white stuff under the windway hold up to the bath? I’m seriously curious about this, as I know mine’s going to need some cleaning eventually, and that stuff doesn’t LOOK like it would hold up well in water (though looks, of course, can be deceiving).
Redwolf
Hi, Redwolf,
I can confirm that cold water, at least, does no discernible damage to the white compound.
Hope this helps a little,
Best wishes, Adrian
The white stuff held up fine. I didn’t leave the fipple submerged for any serious length of time. I dropped the tube into warm soapy water (not at all hot --probly more like lukewarm), but only dipped the fipple in and swirled it around. I also dipped a Q-tip and did the rest of the cleaning of the fipple out of water, with the Q-tip and a garbage tie. Rinsed in cool water.
I don’t know what the white stuff is, though. Didn’t poke at it to see how hard or soft it is.
All is well so far!
Tery