I just received my tulipwood high D from Paul a few days ago. When I opened up the package I was pretty excited. I put it together and took a look. It’s a might great looking instrument. Red streaks going down a beigish base. Copper fittings. Very nice!
So I played it as was immediately taken aback on how it played. It doesn’t play like any whistle I own. I required more pressure than I was used to and the octave jump didnt come like I expected. This is not a bad thing, it’s just different. I find that the pressure requirements allow for a much finer degree of expressiveness through breath control as well the ability to play quietly or loudly. Most the time on a whistle you play at one volume, though that varies with different instruments.
As for tone it sounds like a whistle, not a recorder, but with the chiff and resonance you’d expect to come from a wooden instrument. It has a pretty pure tone, but (now this is where words fail me) kind of reminds me of the tone of a susato and, from the clips I’ve heard, the o’riordan, but not so prounounced and more pure sounding than those two instruments. I guess I can say that the tone I’m describing is a buzziness that probably comes from the body of the whistle. Though when I say buzzy I don’t mean that in a negative way at all. If you don’t know what I mean listen to samples for those two instruments. (After posting this then listening to the samples JessieK posted a while ago I’ll say it sounds most like an Abell --Nick) Other than that, It’s a medium volume whistle but depending on how you play it actually can become fairly loud. Not susato loud though.
Now for the nit picking. The fittings are not QUITE flush with the wood so theres very slight spacing at some points where the wood meets metal. The blade area has a distinctly hand chiseled look that is not exactly symetrical. I don’t mind at all, it gives a handmade look. Also the tuning slide could be a tad more snug as it has, again only very slight amount, of give back and forth. When I’m playing the whistle it also makes an audible clicking sound from the tuning slide area. I’m thinking it’s because the copper tubing isnt quite snug enough, I can probably find a way myself to fix this though. I’ll ask paul first. These are nitpicks though and don’t really detract much from my growing infatuation with this fine instrument.
Overall I give this whistle a 9/10 and is undoubtedly the best whistle I own so far. Even though Paul has raised his prices to $200 I’m sure you won’t find better bang for your buck for a handmade wooden whistle.
Nick
[ This Message was edited by: Tantus on 2003-01-27 00:21 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Tantus on 2003-01-27 17:39 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Tantus on 2003-01-27 17:57 ]
The fittings are not QUITE flush with the wood so theres very slight spacing at some points where the wood meets metal…
Also the tuning slide could be a tad more snug as it has, again only very slight amount, of give back and forth. When I’m playing the whistle it also makes an audible clicking sound from the tuning slide area. I’m thinking it’s because the copper tubing isnt quite snug enough, I can probably find a way myself to fix this though
You don’t consider these to be reasons to send the whistle back for reassessment by the maker?
Hand crafted instruments do require more fine tuning, more ‘settling in’ and such than a manufactured one, but that doesn’t mean that one should accept flaws like what you’re describing. Especially at $200!
Having read his posts, I tend to think that Busman would be happier adjusting the instrument rather than leaving it with ‘clicks’ loose fittings and gaps.
Hmmmm…Looked at - and played - my Busman whistle after reading your post. No 'clicks, loose fittings, or gaps…The tuning slide is certainly not tight, but I would not want it tight…It does not either move when I play, or leave marks in the brass when I move it…It is just the way it should be…
Paul will want to deal with these anomalies on your whistle…
Good luck.
Byll
After talking with Paul he told me that even though the drill bit he used is perfectly circular due to the curvature of the wood it appears oval. I’ll strike that out of my review.
As for the clicking, it’s not even doing it today!! Weird.
I’d like to just say again that the nitpicks were truly nitpicks you have to look really very closely to even notice the ‘gap’.
Nick
[ This Message was edited by: Tantus on 2003-01-27 17:52 ]
I just got mine friday, and here is my take:
PERFECT workmanship
PERFECT fittings
PERFECT sound
You can’t BELIEVE how beautifully and carefully the grain of the wood has been matched, everything about it is wonderful, the brass is creamy-smooth, the sound is gorgeous, it matches my idea of how a whistle should sound, and I am very, very impressed with this whistle. I am going to be happy for a LOOONG TIME with my Busman, Reyburn, and Burkes!!!
Mary
Hate to do “me too” posts, but I got mine this weekend and it’s wonderful. Great material and craftsmanship, very easy and pleasant to play. A bit chiffier than the Thin Weasels I’ve played but still quite clear.
Paul kept me informed through the whole process and did a really good job of customer expectation management. I give him the thumbs up too.