Sweet non-chiffy whistles

[eedbjp]

I'm interested in finding a sweet sounding, not very breathy or chiffy whistle but not in wood. Sounds pretty picky, but I think it exists. Any whistles fit this description?

[Thomaston]

I once had a narrow bore aluminum Burke that was purer than any other whistle I've played.

[ecohawk]

It exists in so many places I don't know where to start.
In no particular order:

Sweet Delrin
Burke anything
Sindt
Copeland
Thornton
Harper

There's plenty more.

How many do you want?

ecohawk

P.S. Sorry for the snippy sounding answer but seriously, there are a lot of whistles that fit this description.

[jkrazy52]

Have to agree with Thomaston -- a brass Burke is about the purest metal whistle I've played. However, I just got one of Jerry Freeman's Bluebird whistles. Sweet & fairly pure is a very good description of the one in my possession. Definitely a keeper.

[JTC111]

another vote for any Burke. they just don't get more pure than that.

[maki]

I've have a used Susato, it's not very chiffy.
In expensive and rugged too.
I don't know if I'd call it sweet.

[pancelticpiper]

The sweetest whistle I've ever played is the old c1980 Feadog that is still my #1 D whistle. Jerry Freeman's "tweaked" Feadogs play very much like it. The second octave is incredibly easy and pure and sweet, but the low octave is still full and round.

Narrow-b0re Burkes are very similar, a lovely pure sweet second octave.

[robert schuler]

I have a circa. 1981 Oak D... USA made. I think the new ones are from GB. so I can't vouch for new models. But if you want a clean clear whistle tone give the Oak a try. They are a bit tempermental to play but if the new models are like mine you will love it... Bob.

[Carey]

If I may, I make a $25 Ghost Whistle might be something you'd like. The plastic and especially the clear pipe is not everyone's cup of tea, but it makes a great pure sound.

Here's a customer in Brazil who has recorded a number of YouTube videos that do a pretty good job of showing what the whistle sounds like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns_BVPJDAdo

Best,

Carey

[Peter Duggan]

Any whistles fit this description?

Dixon DX203.

[Unseen122]

I'd have to agree with the Burke suggestions, it really doesn't get much purer than an aluminum Burke.

[swizzlestick]

Add Mack Hoover's whistles to the mix. My Burke narrow bore is close, but my White Cap has the edge. But it does have a lower volume.

[Flexismart]

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=83907

Ronnie has a Kerry Songbird for sale. They're no longer made by Phil Hardy. I've had one for about 4 years and it's an outstanding flutey sounding high D whistle.
I bought it originally because I had a hard time finding a whistle to play against a Bugari accordion - and this one proved to be perfect - in tune, not chiffy and very responsive.

I'd recommend the Kerry Songbird - if you could find one.

[AvienMael]

I play my Mack Hoover black cap D whistle every day - and it's the only whistle I can say that about. It is sweeter than a Burke narrow bore, and just as clear and stable, but it still boasts a nice amount of chiff that is well proportioned to it's tone - which is what I love about it. It is, and has been for a few years now, my most-favored whistle in my entire collection. I also have a black cap on a Gen C tube that is the best C whistle I have ever encountered. I have culled a lot of high end whistles out of my collection over the past couple of years, but I have never even considered parting with any of the 3 Hoovers I own.

I would also agree with the comments on the Oak whistle. It is my second most-played D whistle. It does take more breath control, as Bob suggested, but it rewards generously. I have an older one... honestly don't know how old exactly (12 years maybe), and I bought another about 2 years ago when I misplaced the first, and I've had and lost or given away at least 3 others I can think of over the years. The most-recent one is very close to the original, but not quite as sweet in the upper octave. Actually, I just found the original a couple of months ago, and I have been very happy to have it again. I think that, as with any other make of mass-produced whistles, the playing characteristics are likely to vary slightly from one example to another; although the differences don't seem to be as pronounced as with Gen, Feadog, and Walton's. However, I'm not sure that an Oak is what the OP is after... it's definitely a "trad" whistle at heart. I have thought about buying another and sending it to Jerry Freeman to see what sort of tweaking interpretation he might come up with for one...

[robert schuler]

One theory I have as to why my old Oak whistle has a pure whistle sound could be the heavy weight of the whistle. I don't know if new models are the same but the older models are heavily plated with nickel. Perhaps the density of the body absorbs lower frequency vibrations so only the clear high freq. is heard. Everybody gave good recommendations but each of us has our own definition of what "sweet" is... Bob.