Kerry Low D - Songbird or Plastic Head?
- Jason Paul
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:39 am
Kerry Low D - Songbird or Plastic Head?
This is a spinoff of my previous Low D thread, which was all but hijacked by budgies.
I think I've narrowed it down to these two. I don't know which I like the sound of better. I seem to like whichever one I'm listening to - until I hear the other one. It would be nice to hear them back to back playing the same tune, but alas...
Anyway, for you who have or have played these two, how do they compare regarding breath requirements, hole size/spacing, balance between registers, etc.?
This will be my first Low D, so please let me know if one would be more appropriate for a new player. I've been playing my high Ds for about six months.
I'm beginning to lean toward the Songbird because of the reviews and because it's just a nicer-looking whistle, but I'd like to know how the two compare on the other issues.
Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate your patience with all of the questions.
Jason
I think I've narrowed it down to these two. I don't know which I like the sound of better. I seem to like whichever one I'm listening to - until I hear the other one. It would be nice to hear them back to back playing the same tune, but alas...
Anyway, for you who have or have played these two, how do they compare regarding breath requirements, hole size/spacing, balance between registers, etc.?
This will be my first Low D, so please let me know if one would be more appropriate for a new player. I've been playing my high Ds for about six months.
I'm beginning to lean toward the Songbird because of the reviews and because it's just a nicer-looking whistle, but I'd like to know how the two compare on the other issues.
Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate your patience with all of the questions.
Jason
Re: Kerry Low D - Songbird or Plastic Head?
Budgies the pirate of birdsJason Paul wrote:This is a spinoff of my previous Low D thread, which was all but hijacked by budgies.
As I said in the other thread I have the plastic headed one and like it alot. My problems with it have everything to do with short fingers than the whistle
- alespa
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 5:14 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Part of what I love about celtic/folk style music is the sound of a handful of handmade instruments that remind me of simpler times.
- Location: Bend, OR
- Contact:
I have owned both, and kept the Songbird. I don't have clogging issues. The Songbird has a sexier tone IMHO, somewhat flutelike and velvety. The mouthpieces are two different designs. Another plus is you can't accidentally crack the metal mouthpiece on the Songbird . . .
There's no such thing as a stranger, just friends we have not yet met.
- Tony McGinley
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 9:28 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Co. Kerry. Ireland
The Songbird indeed has a lovely silky tone and looks really nice.
It is a nice piece of engineering, especially the tuning slide.
If it has a downside, it is in the breath requirement. It does require
a lot of puff. I recon it takes about 15% - 20% more than my
Chieftan or my Daniel Bingamon aluminium. So much so, that I am
even considering attempting a modification; a bit like Jerry Freeman
does on some whistles, where he puts a sliver of material into the
windway to effectively narrow it. ( I said I am considering it - dont know
if I would risk scuppering a nice whistle though)
It is a nice piece of engineering, especially the tuning slide.
If it has a downside, it is in the breath requirement. It does require
a lot of puff. I recon it takes about 15% - 20% more than my
Chieftan or my Daniel Bingamon aluminium. So much so, that I am
even considering attempting a modification; a bit like Jerry Freeman
does on some whistles, where he puts a sliver of material into the
windway to effectively narrow it. ( I said I am considering it - dont know
if I would risk scuppering a nice whistle though)
Tony McGinley
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
- anniemcu
- Posts: 8024
- Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 8:42 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: A little left of center, and 100 miles from St. Louis
- Contact:
I really liked the Songbird. If I didn't already have a Howard, I'd be ordering one.
anniemcu
---
"You are what you do, not what you claim to believe." -Gene A. Statler
---
"Olé to you, none-the-less!" - Elizabeth Gilbert
---
http://www.sassafrassgrove.com
---
"You are what you do, not what you claim to believe." -Gene A. Statler
---
"Olé to you, none-the-less!" - Elizabeth Gilbert
---
http://www.sassafrassgrove.com
- littlejohngael
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I've been with Chiff and Fipple since shortly after I bought my first low D. I've learned loads from this community, and I intend to continue to learn and contribute. Many thanks to Dale and everyone who makes this site happen.
- Location: In the middle of a poetic moment ...
The Songbird does indeed take a good set of lungs. I played one. I own the plastic headed one. It was my first, and a very nice first low D it was. I still play it, although the fipple is a bit cracked which makes it a wee bit out of tune (I think that happens with age). But hey, I play alone so it really doesn't bother me much.
- RonKiley
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:53 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Germantown, MD
I have played the Songbird, the plastic head Kerry, Overton and Howard. I own the Howard. I actually liked the plastic head Kerry better than the Howard but it wasn't available at the time I bought the Howard. I was not thrilled by the Songbird. It took too much air for me to be able to play it. The Overton was nice but more money than I could spend. Of course for $28 Daniel Bingamon has a nice PVC low D. A good starter.
Ron
Ron
I've never met a whistle I didn't want.
- Jason Paul
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:39 am
Hmmm, given the implied amount of air for the Songbird, maybe the plastic head is the way to go. They also cost a little less, and are currently available.
On Phil's website, it says that his instruments have a lifetime guarantee. So, would that not include a replacement head if yours cracked?
The Songbird sure looks nice though...
Thanks,
Jason
On Phil's website, it says that his instruments have a lifetime guarantee. So, would that not include a replacement head if yours cracked?
The Songbird sure looks nice though...
Thanks,
Jason
- Tony McGinley
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 9:28 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Co. Kerry. Ireland
Hi Phil - if you are tuned into this thread??
Maybe you can suggest a modification to
the windway of the "Songbird" to reduce
the air requirement?
It really is the only negative thing I can say
about this whistle. if the air requirement was
reduced, I would be playing it a great deal more.
It certainly would be a future modification that
I would suggest for the next series of "Songbirds"
Maybe you can suggest a modification to
the windway of the "Songbird" to reduce
the air requirement?
It really is the only negative thing I can say
about this whistle. if the air requirement was
reduced, I would be playing it a great deal more.
It certainly would be a future modification that
I would suggest for the next series of "Songbirds"
Tony McGinley
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
- Dale
- The Landlord
- Posts: 10293
- Joined: Wed May 16, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Chiff & Fipple's LearJet: DaleForce One
- Contact:
The plastic headed Kerry which Phil Hardy sent to me, some years ago now, would have been pretty good but for an odd buzzing sound in the mouthpiece I couldn't eliminate. One would think this would be due to some thing in the airway, but I cleaned it and still had the buzz. One other person emailed me to say they had that problem with theirs.
I thought the Songbird was solid choice. I did note it demanded a bit of breeze but, being full of surplus hot air, I didn't find that a particular problem, although I do prefer more backpressure.
I thought the Songbird was solid choice. I did note it demanded a bit of breeze but, being full of surplus hot air, I didn't find that a particular problem, although I do prefer more backpressure.
- Jay-eye
- Posts: 408
- Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: Birmingham, UK
I have a huge amount of experience in solving such dilemmas.
You would be welcome to benefit from my wisdom gained from extensive in-the-field training.
I suggest you therefore:
Buy them both.
Take your time deciding which you like best.
Sell the one you don't like as much, via this board or ebay.
Repeat as many times as necessary with different whistles.
Result: Loads of fun, lots of experience gained, and you end up owning your perfect whistle!
You would be welcome to benefit from my wisdom gained from extensive in-the-field training.
I suggest you therefore:
Buy them both.
Take your time deciding which you like best.
Sell the one you don't like as much, via this board or ebay.
Repeat as many times as necessary with different whistles.
Result: Loads of fun, lots of experience gained, and you end up owning your perfect whistle!
Tóg go bog é, dude.....
j.i.
j.i.
- Phil Hardy
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2001 6:00 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Contact:
Dixon Whistle Clip
As promised,the Dixon whistle PRO-FILE is up at UNowhere.
I also found an OS low A Chieftain and made a clip of that as well..jeez...whara stretch...I haven't been stretched like that sice Grace Jones got....mm never mind>
phil
I also found an OS low A Chieftain and made a clip of that as well..jeez...whara stretch...I haven't been stretched like that sice Grace Jones got....mm never mind>
phil
- Tony McGinley
- Posts: 323
- Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 9:28 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Co. Kerry. Ireland
Phil maybe its the wrong thread you have posted in -Phil Hardy wrote:As promised,the Dixon whistle PRO-FILE is up at UNowhere.
I also found an OS low A Chieftain and made a clip of that as well..jeez...whara stretch...I haven't been stretched like that sice Grace Jones got....mm never mind>
phil
but if not, then you have overlooked a few ideas, diectly
addressed and related to you, and which some of us
would like to hear your comments on.
Tony McGinley
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
<i><b>"The well-being of mankind,
its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until
its unity is firmly established."<i><b>
Jason, thanks for asking some good questions. I'm leaning toward a Reyburn, I need to find out if the wood fipple is at all delicate -- I'm guessing that Eastern Hard Maple is as durable as plastic, but also more prone to changes in weather (and less prone to condensation). Also there are some options with bore and offset fingering (any thoughts on these anyone?). The all metal whistles seem to most durable and have that chiffu sound I like. I think you want more of a clear tone, so the Kerry's are a better choice.
You know a sharpshinned hawk would send those budgies flying.
Doug
You know a sharpshinned hawk would send those budgies flying.
Doug