Chiff and Fipple Forums

After having searched the forum, I figured I'd just as well make a new post, with the following question: Are there many low D's to be found, made out of wood rather than metal? What's the name of the brands, makers etc. And, if you've tried one or more, would you say that there are big enough differences between that one and te metal ones to buy one?

https://musiquemorneaux.com/low-whistles/
or an older Sweetheart. Conical bore low Ds. Most low Ds in metal are cylindrical, not conical (a least one exception: Copeland). I found the conical whistles to be a bit more flute-like in tone, and generally easier to finger/cover the holes, because of the taper.

Jonathan Swayne is another maker of wood whistles, including a low D.
https://www.jonswayne.com/whistles

Absolutely no objection to a metal low D, and no humidification required.

There was a Benedict Stewart maple low D for sale here on Chiff a while back -

There’s a Geoffrey Ellis low D for sale at the Irish Flute Store:
https://www.irishflutestore.com/collect ... llis-low-d
Not sure what the wood is (Blayne would know) but sure looks exotic.

I was the member who had the Benedict Stewart up for sale. There wasn’t a lot of interest so I still have it. I consciously play it more these days. It is actually too good an instrument for someone of my limited ability.
Has a much more gentle flute like sound than the aluminium Syn and MK low whistles I have with a sweet easy to reach top end. Light in the hands as it is made of rock maple. I would estimate medium in volume and easy blowing.
Cheers

My thought on wooden whistles is more on upkeep over sound. Even if it has a different sound, wood needs a lot more upkeep. My metal whistles, I pick up, play, put back down. Same with my delrin flute. But my wooden angus flute, never gets played. Its not worth picking up and playing a random tune or something, just so I can have to dry it, and eventually oil it. I got my delrin flute because I never play my wooden one, so I wanted a flute I can pick up and just play and not worry about if its worth playing or not.

If it was a main instrument you play constantly the wood upkeep can be worth it. but when I have wood and not wood instruments of the same key I have no reason to play the wooden one.

To kinda contribute to the main topic, I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that some ellis flutes have a coating or somethign so that they dont need to be dried and oiled. not sure if thats true or not. but a whistle like that would remove the cons of wood. Theres also things that arent actually wood, like Ebonite, which are low upkeep wood alternatives that Ellis also uses.

I have not played one of these, but Reviol makes a cast bore wooden flute with synthetic interior, which vastly reduces care requirements and stabilizes performance.
I don't see that they have a whistle made the same way, all their whistles are metal, but it's a good idea for a low D.

http://www.reviol.co.nz/HTML/CastBoreFlutes.html

Phill Bleazey makes wooden low Ds. I like them a lot, but tend to play the flute (again Bleazey) these days.

Hi DrPhil
The Bleazey low D is effectively one of his flutes with a whistle head. I was in a session with a Bleazey flute player, and we swapped bodies, both worked perfectly with the swapped heads.

In answer to the OP I have Bleazey and Swayne low Ds. I do tend to play the Swayne more than the Bleazey - the weight difference is considerable (Boxwood, I think, versus African Blackwood).
The Bleazey is the only low D I know of that is possible play with finger tips like a high whistle - the tone holes are small (small hole Rudall I presume) and takes a bit more air than the Swayne.

Anyone have more thoughts on the Swayne and Benedict Low Ds? Has anyone had experience with PA whistles (Peter Aschenbrenner)? I’m speaking of Low D or even Low F wooden whistles.

Thanks in advance for opinions.