Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
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Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Hey guys,
I ordered a C/D Mellow Dog Freeman set off Ebay but not sure if or when I'll ever see it. That said, if it comes to the point of things getting canceled is there a good alternative in the same price range/quality for a similar set (or individual whistles)?
I'm just starting out here, so not looking for a $100+ instrument... at least not yet or until I actually learn to play and get better
I ordered a C/D Mellow Dog Freeman set off Ebay but not sure if or when I'll ever see it. That said, if it comes to the point of things getting canceled is there a good alternative in the same price range/quality for a similar set (or individual whistles)?
I'm just starting out here, so not looking for a $100+ instrument... at least not yet or until I actually learn to play and get better
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
I really like the "Oak" whistles or the Feádog "Pro". Another really nice affordable whistle is the Parks "Ghost" whistle. The Waltons "mellow" D is also great (my experience with the standard model was not as good however).
- Wanderer
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
at a slight price increase (around $30 USD last I checked), the Dixon DX-Trad is a nice and easy place little whistle.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Thanks for the feedback!Sedi wrote:I really like the "Oak" whistles or the Feádog "Pro". Another really nice affordable whistle is the Parks "Ghost" whistle. The Waltons "mellow" D is also great (my experience with the standard model was not as good however).
Are these the whistles you're referring to?
Oak:
https://www.amazon.com/Music-Sales-1402 ... 0825603285
Waltons Mellow D:
https://www.amazon.com/Waltons-Brass-Me ... 000VPFOFK/
Feádog Pro:
https://www.amazon.com/Feadog-Pro-Tin-W ... B01CDP4DFC
Parks Ghost:
http://www.parkswhistles.com/item/whistle-ghost-d
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Wanderer wrote:at a slight price increase (around $30 USD last I checked), the Dixon DX-Trad is a nice and easy place little whistle.
Is that this one? https://www.amazon.com/Dixon-Trad-D-Whi ... 001KZTSB6/
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Yes, all those links are correct .
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Sedi wrote:Yes, all those links are correct .
Thanks! I'm listening to all of them on Youtube hahaha. Do you prefer certain ones over others? Or if you were to rank all of these in order of 'preference' to sound/playability/etc, how would you rank them?
EDIT: a cursory listen to all of these across the board I would put the Dixon, Park Ghost and "Oak" pennywhistles (is it really Music Sales of America that sells these?) towards the top of the group in terms of both having fuller and richer tones. The in order of preference the Feadog and the Waltons. The Park Ghost definitely has the cool factor in its look though.
Last edited by jplee3 on Fri May 22, 2020 10:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
The Clarke Sweetone is a good one for beginners. It's consistent, sounds quite good and is amongst the cheapest available.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Right now at the price point, I'm leaning towards the Oak whistle (assuming the Music Sales of America is in fact the 'correct' one). Looks like they have both C and D (although on Amazon someone who ordered the C model said he received the D... so not sure if there's an inventory mix-up there). I'm tempted just to order both those "Oak" models to have the set. But it's also tempting to grab a different brand in another key for the sake of having different branded whistles lol.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
The "Ghost" takes the cake in my book. The Dixon might be better for a beginner in comparison to the Feádog and Oak because it has a slightly larger windway and is therefore a bit more forgiving but also a bit louder. The mellow D from Waltons is also slightly more forgiving in terms of breath control because of the wider bore.jplee3 wrote:Thanks! I'm listening to all of them on Youtube hahaha. Do you prefer certain ones over others? Or if you were to rank all of these in order of 'preference' to sound/playability/etc, how would you rank them?
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Sedi wrote:The "Ghost" takes the cake in my book. The Dixon might be better for a beginner in comparison to the Feádog and Oak because it has a slightly larger windway and is therefore a bit more forgiving but also a bit louder. The mellow D from Waltons is also slightly more forgiving in terms of breath control because of the wider bore.jplee3 wrote:Thanks! I'm listening to all of them on Youtube hahaha. Do you prefer certain ones over others? Or if you were to rank all of these in order of 'preference' to sound/playability/etc, how would you rank them?
The Ghost is really cool but it's non-tuneable which seems like a bit of a drawback (maybe I'm biased since I played Clarinet years ago so am used to having to tune). Also, it says it ships within 60 days - does it really take that long? Or are these built-to-order?
The Ghost and Dixon are nice but IMHO the kind of whistles I'd want to 'step up' to after starting with an 'intro' type instrument (aka gateway drug hahaha). Then again, I went all-in on that Freeman set (but I was paying for the 'convenience' of getting a set too).
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
LOL funny how things work out - right after posting this up, I checked and it looks like the Freeman set is finally shipping out. Guess I'll be holding out on more whistles until I try the Freemans out hahaha. The Oaks are on my radar though, as are the Ghost and Dixon.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
The whistles suggested are all OK. Here's another decent whistle that won't break the bank.
http://tjpottermusic.com/
whistle in hand is worth more than the check in the mail types. Believe it when you recieve it. Just saying.
http://tjpottermusic.com/
whistle in hand is worth more than the check in the mail types. Believe it when you recieve it. Just saying.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Since you mention a "Freeman" version of the Mellow D, you're likely considering more than $20 as acceptable, so that opens up many options. Be patient, you're about to receive a very good whistle.
So from there it depends on what kind of tone and playing characteristics you prefer. In that roughly $20 to $85 price range, WOW, you could go for any of these options: Killarney, Tony Dixon DX001, DX004, DX006 (aluminum), DX005 or TradBrass, Goldfinch, a used Chieftain Thunderbird (Kerry isn't producing high D whistles at the moment), the Walton Little Black D or Guinness model, Hermit Hill, Feadog Pro, Setanta (if you can find them sold as a single whistle), Oak, Parks, Tilbury, Timothy Potter, for starters.
So from there it depends on what kind of tone and playing characteristics you prefer. In that roughly $20 to $85 price range, WOW, you could go for any of these options: Killarney, Tony Dixon DX001, DX004, DX006 (aluminum), DX005 or TradBrass, Goldfinch, a used Chieftain Thunderbird (Kerry isn't producing high D whistles at the moment), the Walton Little Black D or Guinness model, Hermit Hill, Feadog Pro, Setanta (if you can find them sold as a single whistle), Oak, Parks, Tilbury, Timothy Potter, for starters.
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Re: Starter Whistle/set recommendation?
Thanks! I'll look into his whistles too - seems like a pretty good value.ytliek wrote:The whistles suggested are all OK. Here's another decent whistle that won't break the bank.
http://tjpottermusic.com/
whistle in hand is worth more than the check in the mail types. Believe it when you recieve it. Just saying.