Hi all,
All Instruments have their own personalities, the same as people.
One person swears by his/her favorite, whilst someone else thinks it’s awful.
Of coarse there are talents out there that make nearly any whistle sing, where most can’t.
The degree of how difficult a whistle is to play is also very individual, there are so many different ways of interpreting a tune with ornamentation, breath control etc, which to some, become easier on the RIGHT whistle
Isn’t it therefore important that a player, find a whistle which they find easy to play for there own requirements? For an example, someone learning to play on a whistle awkward to them, may become despondent, or at least find it slower to learn on than one that is better suited.
I’m sure many of you out there have played good and bad whistles. It would be interesting to hear how this influenced your playing???
when i first took up the whistle it was one of them books and whistle for about £5 and i found it hard then i started buying all sorts and funny enough my fedog that i got for £2.50 is my favorite high d .but then again i am new to the whistle and i still cant get my 1st whistle to sound right on some keys 
I’ve never bought an expensive whistle because I’m just out of college with a fabulous job which pays next to nothing. I could afford a nice whistle but I’m afraid that I’d buy an expensive whistle and it wouldn’t be right and then I’d have to buy another (a pastime I really couldn’t afford!)…and I do genuinely like the sound of my cheapo whistles. But it’s funny how different whistles which I pretty much just accumulated did shape my interest. I got a sweettone in my christmas stocking sometime when I was in jr high school, and liked it fine, but was frustrated because I couldn’t play along with someone on the piano, since it was out of tune. I learned very sporadically, and preferred the recorder, which was in tune. My first year of college my sister went to Ireland and brought me back a feadog. I started playing it, and was hooked (though still playing sporadically until last fall). The tone was more interesting, it was actually in tune, and everything was much more fun! If I had never gotten that green feadog I probably would have stayed bored and frustrated with my sweettone. Yet a lot of people love the sweettone, it’s just not my whistle 
(Then awhile ago Doc sent me a bunch of old cheap whistles to mess around with, and I’m completely hooked on the oak whistle…but I still like the old green feadog)
I started out with a cheap whistle and got discouraged because high A and B were horrible sounding. Then I got a Clarke. Better on A and B, but now I need oxygen after playing. A Burke was my first good whistle, but when I got a blackwood Abell my life changed. After years of enjoying that little gem, I now have an order in for a delrin D. How sweet it is!
Thank for this thread and the replies so far…looking for more. 
I’m relatively new to tin whistle. I became interested a few years back but only acted on the feeling a month or so ago and got three low-end high-d whistles - A Clarke, an Oak and an Acorn (brass).
As far as background I’ve been playing clarinet on and off since I was a kid (a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away…)
After working with them for the last month or so here’s my thoughts. On first try I didn’t much care for the Clarke as it seemed to take a lot of air so I kind of focused on the other two but after practice and getting able to play without squeaks etc. I’m coming to despise the tone of the Oak and Acorn, but am loving the tone of the Clarke. I do tend to like the 2nd octave of the Oak more than the lower octave which sounds oh so much better on the Clarke.
Now…I’m wondering if the higher end whistles have a better tone (I would hope so) and am wondering if I should shell out the bucks for a Low-D as I tend to like that mellower sound. Also in the consideration is possibly an Irish or even Boehm system flute. The only thing holding me back is $$$$ . I’m hesitant to shell out several hundred dollars for a low-d or flute or even higher end High D whistle and then find out I hate the tone. While I know there are numerous samples around on the web, it’s still hard to decide which sounds best and whether that is due to the whistle/flute or the player.
So I’m feeling a bit 
Any suggestions, direction, advice will be gratefully accepted.
KAC
P.S. I should add that I’ve not tried recording and listening that way, only my impression from listening as I play. I should try that also to see if I have the same response.
Kenny, you can’t go wrong with a Tipple if you want to see if the flute is for you without spending a lot of money.
As for the whistle, you might want to list the characteristics you’re looking for. This may take a little more playing, and maybe some more cheapies - just to get an idea of what else is out there.
You say you’re beginning to despise the Oak; I can tell you that a lot of folks on the forum love the Oak. It’s relatively quiet with a clean tone. This is a characteristic of the whistle. If you don’t like it, then mention that in your “looking for a whistle” thread.
If you like the tone of the Clarke (Original I assume), then maybe you’re more suited to a conical whistle. Is it the breathy tone that you’re after?
If you can nail down these types of characteristics - what you like and don’t like - then you can start a thread explaining what you want and your budget and you’ll probably get some help.
Jason
That’s definitely on the plate for consideration. I’m just not sure about tone-wise though.
Thanks!
KAC
The primary tone difference I’m hearing is that the Clarke has a “warmer” tone, the Oak and Acorn are more “shrill.”
Not sure if that helps or not.
KAC
The Tipple has a nice tone actually. It’s surprising.
I have an Acorn (brass, unpainted) and a Sweetone (painted red).
The Acorn is clearer and more shrill. I find it easier to play because I can feel the holes more easily without the paint and I don’t have to blow very hard to get the second octave. To me, it sounds either shrill and piercing or pleasing depending on my mood or something.
I find the Sweetone harder to play because I can’t feel the holes very will with my fingers. The pitch seems very easy to vary with the slightest difference in breath or finger placement. This makes it harder to play in tune. I either think the tone sounds sweeter but that bendy note thing really bugs me. Also the fipple bugs me. The paint makes it harder to make crisp ornaments.
I’ve played both into a tuner and they’ve been about equal but the Acorn is easier to play closer to in tune because the notes aren’t as bendy.
I’ve always preferred my Acorn but it seems louder than the Sweetone. I can’t decide which to bring on my trip. I was leaning toward the Sweetone, then to the Acorn, now back to the Sweetone. Maybe I need a Clarke?
Thanks. Decisions, decisions…
KAC
Don’t neglect the search feature.
All of this has been discussed in great depth in the past, and though you might have to do some reading, a couple of sessions with the search engine will bring up a wealth of information from some very seasoned and knowledgeable members, including some who are no longer here very often. (I’m sure I qualify for ‘seasoned’, 
, but I do not make any claim to ‘knowledgeable’, except on the benefits of using the search feature)
Whistle on!
Yep, and I’ve read a number of those.
KAC
Hi, Kenny. Thought I’d toss in my 2 cents. I really like the tone of Dixon whistles. I have a brass Trad and a polymer Pro D. They’re not nearly as expensive as many other high end whistles, but I find them to be considerably easier to play than some of the cheaper ones. Another possibility is a Mellow D. Mine isn’t too great in the second octave, but I ordered a Hoover whitecap for and now it sounds great. I’m finding, though, that you have to be a little careful when it comes to acquiring whistles. I now have a pretty big collection and I’m constantly perusing websites in search of more ! But it is fun to play around with the different tones – they really all do have their own personalities.
Peace.
I will certainly second that!
I own and play 11 whistles, all but one being ‘lower end’ models. My favourite remains my first whistle, a Clarke Original D, it is even better than the three other Clarke Originals I have acquired !
KAC