I have many whistles I love, in many different keys. But I have never loved any of the A or G whistles I have had. What are your favorites, and do you love them, or is there something about those keys and the nature of whistles that just doesn’t gel somehow??
Carol
Hmm, I come to think of it, I haven’t had a G I really ever fell for either.
A’s on the other hand…well, okay, just one or two that I’ve loved, my Goldie Overton - shocking, isn’t it? 
And a Copeland A that I thought was really nice. Or was it a G…no, I’m fairly certain it was the A that I liked, and the G I wasn’t so crazy about.
I’ve had a couple of Abell A/Bb sets that I almost kept, but ended up selling. In one case I may very well have made a mistake in not giving the whistle enough playing time (it was brand new), but what can ya do? Maybe the current owner will decide to part with them one day, and maybe I’ll actually have the case at the same time 
Yup, I’ve run across some nice A’s. Still waiting to find a really thrilling G though. You might be onto something here Carol.
Loren
Low F is where the magic happens.
I have tried many low G’s too, and I have a low G Burke that I’m happy with, but I rarely play it. Every low F that I’ve tried, however, has been magic. I’ve tried all the other low whistles and low F is the only one I really want!
After Glenn’s death, I acquired an A Water Weasel from Bree. It is a fine instrument. I am blessed with O’Riordan whistles in A and G keys. They leave really nothing to be desired. Love them? Hmm. I love the sound of very low and very high…The middle is very useful, but does not have the same effect on me…
Best to you, Carol.
Byll
I agree about the F’s! I play regularly with 5-string a banjo player though, and G and A are WAY more to his liking, I assure you!
Carol
Colin Goldie’s Overton A is one of my all time favorite whistles. Just magical. I think certain makers have certain keys that just somehow really do it for you… For the Overtons I think its low D and the A. I’ve not played another A that has come close. A Copeland I played once almost did. I’ve tried Abels and O’Riordan, but they didn’t do it for me in those keyes.
Bro Steve has an Overton G that is beautiful, too. Once when visiting I started playing Valencia Harbor, and he joined in. We were beautifully in tune, really fun to play. But when we stopped we realized that he had been playing it on his G (in Am) and I on my A (in Gm, in each case as it would be on a D). Amazing.
Alba low F!
Maybe there’s something special about this very key or whistle, I don’t know. I’m about to find out; I’m on my way buying Alba low whistles in other keys…
Well I particularly like G because it’s about as low as I go (others may say differently, about how low I’ll go, that is). Two of what I consider the very best whistles on the planet (and I know this doesn’t include where many of you hang) are my O’Riordan Traveler and Copeland low Gs; I’ve said this before, and they are almost diametrically opposed in every way. The O’Riordan has somewhat smaller toneholes and has the most heavenly tone in both octaves - a pleasure to play, responsive, wonderful balance in all respects. The Copeland takes more air and has a big growly sound that is resonant and MUST be played more aggressively. Perhaps the two finest whistles I own.
I also have a terrific Copeland A - again different - takes less air than the G, is responsive, and somehow uncharacteristically “smooth.” The other As I have are part of Bflat/A sets. The Abell blackwoods are really fine, but the Bflat is definitely the better of the pair; same for the WW set. The O’Riordan Travelers are newly arrived and both the Bflat and A seem equally fantastic - well matched and unbelievably responsive - too soon to tell definitively but they seem likely hall of fame candidates. I think Pat’s all-around great work reaches it’s peak in this middle range (Bflat to G).
I tend to play the soprano D whistles about 90% of the time, though, as I am practicing harder now than ever before (harder defined hopefully as smarter, i.e., in different ways, with greater concentration, and more consistently), learning new tunes; when I do this I pretty much stick to soprano D.
Philo
I have an Alba Q1 low F, which I really like (and cherish because it was a gift). I thought it was an excellent whistle. Well, I still think that but just this week I picked up a Colin Goldie low F, and you know… I hope nobody minds my saying this, but Colin is God.
Never met a low F that I liked. I even had a Grinter and sold it. Me and F just don’t get along.
That said, the best A I’ve played is a Water Weasel. I even like it better than my tulipwood Thin Weasel. Low-G, unlike low-F, is a key that I like, and I think there are many good G whistles out there. The Water Weasel G is a very good whistle, although many might find its large toneholes a bit difficult to manage. The Grinter is my favorite, although pricey (240 euro?), and with a long wait (I waited over a year). I had a Burke, which I sold once I got the Grinter, that was a wonderful instrument. The sound is not complex, like an Overton or Grinter; it’s clearer and a bit sweet, but it’s SOOO easy to play and has wonderful response.
Heh heh. A Goldie Low F (currently being cared for by someone else) is one of my 3 favorite whistles of all time. Probably my desert Island whistle in fact, if I had to choose just one whistle on the planet, to spend eternity with, that’s how much I like it.
Charlie, Dude… First Baroque flutes now this Anti-F heresy… I’m starting to worry about you my friend.
Have we got an exorcist in the house?
Loren
Hmm…I’ve tried several that have been mentioned here and I just didn’t feel that zing.
But Bloomfield, you know how I decided to drop the charges for your not ever following through on the poetry contest? Well, I was just wondering…you know, that A of yours…because I’d hate to get the attorneys involved again…
Seriously, is the Overton tunable?
And has anyone tried a Humphrey or a Sindt?
Thanks for everyone’s reponse.
Carol
My two A whistles are alto Chieftain, and the Overton bass A. They both have very nice tone and easy to play. I do like the Overton better though.
My F whistle is also Oveton, and plays great.
I have a Copeland A and a Copeland G that I love.
I once had (Kicks self hard) an Overton F that was possibly the best Whistle of any Whistle in any key I’ve ever played.
Water Weasel As are terrific as well.
Doc
I love my Burke A - just great in ensembles. It can be pushed for a chiffy, complex sound, or played right on the sweet spot for purity, and the volume and pitch really don’t change much. Then again, it’s the only A I’ve tried, apart from an O’Brien and a Gen with A tubes. The O’Brien is great for playing near a sleeping baby.
I too had a Goldie low F for a while (had to let it go for financial reasons). It was really wonderful after it warmed up a bit. Water Weasel A’s are very nice too.
I haven’t tried a low g…
-Brett
Had Sindt Bflat and A but sold both as they didn’t inspire me the way his D and C do. I also sold a blue anodized Overton F that was really fine.
Philo
I love my G Water Weasel (tunable)
and I really like (gotta give it some time to be able to call it love) my new Alba A (nontunable)
both very nice, very easy to play, very sweet sound … and pretty!
I think it’s blossoming!
Chieftan A is probably my favorite whistle so far.
My Susato F is delightful to play and has a super rich tone.
I have never had a whistle that I wanted to sell. Honestly.