Problem tuning the Blackbird

[rap4th]

Hello all!

I was wondering if anyone knew how I could get in touch with Jerry Freeman? I tried using the email link in his profile but it didn't work.

Just to give a quick insight to my problem:

I purchased a Blackbird whistle during the later part of 2008. I absolutely love that whistle. There is only one problem that I have had with it since I have received it: I am unable to adjust the mouthpiece to tune it. I tried warming the mouthpiece up in my hands as well as a little bit of hot (not really hot) tap water but it won't budge. I am making sure to gently rock it back and forth instead of twisting. I don't want to be too rough on it....don't want to ruin it. Does anyone have any suggestions or can get me in touch with Jerry?

Rob

[fearfaoin]

I don't want to be too rough on it....don't want to ruin it. Does anyone have any suggestions or can get me in touch with Jerry?

You're probably being too gentle. You're not going to ruin it.
If you have one of those rubber things that you use to get
a grip on jars when opening them, they might help you get
a good grip on the whistle while pulling. The blackbird bodies
seem to be sanded down and greased, so you shouldn't have
this problem, generally. So my opinion is that either you're
being way too gentle, or it might have gotten stuck in transit
due to temperature changes or somesuch.

I'm sure Jerry himself will see this post soon and respond.

[MTGuru]

Ditto what fearfaoin said. Plus you should twist it, not rock it - which is much more likely to cause damage. I use ordinary rubber kitchen gloves for extra traction. Twist firmly but not abruptly, and avoid holding a finger right on the blade. As fearfaoin said, the Blackbird head is actually designed to be easily movable for tuning.

[Jerry Freeman]

Guru's exactly right.

The first time you adjust the tuning on a Blackbird or Mellow Dog it may be hard to move, but then after that, they usually get easier. Use some cork grease or the equivalent (chapstick, vaseline, etc.) when you put the whistlehead back on the tube. I use cork grease when I first assemble them, but they still sometimes are a little tight at first.

Also, I discovered that the tube may need to be shortened slightly so the whistle can be tuned sharper if necessary. I've shortened the tubes on all except a very few of the first Blackbirds I made. If you discover that you have one of the handful of Blackbirds I first sent out without shortening the tube, let me know, and I'll send you a replacement tube.

To use my email, notice the address. It says jerry@tcenet.removethisspamblocker.net

Best wishes,
Jerry

[rap4th]

Thank you for the info!!

Jerry....sorry that I got your email wrong. It was coming up earlier without the periods.

OK I will give that a try!

Rob

[Jerry Freeman]

Jerry....sorry that I got your email wrong. It was coming up earlier without the periods.

Hi, Rob.

The thing with my email address is, you have to remove the part that says "remove this spamblocker." There should be one period.

Jerry
the symbol for "at"
tcenet
dot
net

Best wishes,
Jerry

[fearfaoin]

I took the head of my blackbird and put it
on the body from one of those all-black
feadogs. Now it's even blackbirdier!