from the newbie: what's so bad about Susato whistles?

lauragayle · Post by **lauragayle** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:36 pm

Greetings-
I have a Susato on order, and after reading these posts, I'm a little concerned... what is so bad about them? Please enlighten the newbie!

thanks!

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:54 pm

You may like yours a lot. I haven't liked the two I tried, but when I gave them to a friend, she did like them, so it's just personal taste, I'd say.

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:56 pm

Fear not, there's nothing "wrong" with Susato whistles... they're just different.
They're certainly not for the person who desires a traditional tinwhistle sound, but they are still quite respectable whistles.
If you still have any worries, just listen to Mick Woodruff playing 'The Mason's Apron' on his Susato soprano D... that'll make you mad with anticipation to receive yours!

http://www.fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:14 pm

I have a Susato Kildare Sop. D, and I really like it a lot. It's got good volume, and is in excellent pitch, in addition to having a pretty tone. However, it can get kind of piercing on the high notes...

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:17 pm

Susatos were voted the most popular cheapo a while back. You can look for it on the main Chiff & Fipple web page.

Do you play another whistle, too? And what did you order, a VSB D, a SB D, or maybe a different key? I think that Susatos are not the best first whistle because they require quite a bit of courage & determination for the upper notes, and I remember being shy at first about playing the high notes...

lauragayle · Post by **lauragayle** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:22 pm

raindog1970 wrote:Fear not, there's nothing "wrong" with Susato whistles... they're just different.
They're certainly not for the person who desires a traditional tinwhistle sound, but they are still quite respectable whistles.
If you still have any worries, just listen to Mick Woodruff playing 'The Mason's Apron' on his Susato soprano D... that'll make you mad with anticipation to receive yours!
http://www.fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html

WHOA! That's fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing that! So, controlling the highs will be something to listen for! I'm really looking forward to this coming!

lauragayle · Post by **lauragayle** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:31 pm

Bloomfield wrote:Susatos were voted the most popular cheapo a while back. You can look for it on the main Chiff & Fipple web page.

Do you play another whistle, too? And what did you order, a VSB D, a SB D, or maybe a different key? I think that Susatos are not the best first whistle because they require quite a bit of courage & determination for the upper notes, and I remember being shy at first about playing the high notes...

I did read the Chiff & Fipple cumulation on popular cheapos -- I'm a librarian and can't resist the research urge!

I ordered a Susaso Kildare in D -- regular bore. And I have to confess to getting the laser etching -- to honor those onery Celts in my ancestry.

This (and two less expensive whistles) are the first I've ordered. My first instrument was clarinet and I've played (shhh) bass clarinet and recorder, so I'm not as worried about having enough wind, but modifying old habits and listening carefully to what these instruments require.

THANK YOU -- you all are a fabulous group of folks!

McHaffie · Post by **McHaffie** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:45 pm

It's all in the ear of the beholder!

Like others have said and I'm sure will say, don't knock it 'till you've tried it. You may very well fall in love with your new whistle!!!

I've not ever played a Susato, but I've heard many of them, and I think they have a unique 'voice' to them... one of them was REALLY LOUD, but the others weren't quite so, and they sounded ok to me... so who am I to judge somone elses creation!?!?!

Just be sure to post a clip after you get it, or at least tell us about it!!!!!!!!

Take care,
John

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:48 pm

As stated, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Susato whistles.

They are quite nice, and they can be played quite sweetly, though it takes a good whistler to do it.

Here is an example:

http://www.flutesite.com/fianna/arran_boat.mp3

That is Sam McReynolds on a plain old Susato D whistle, me on German flute, Pat McReynolds on Yahama 12-string.

Best wishes,

--James

ScottStewart · Post by **ScottStewart** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 9:32 pm

As so many have said, it's all in what you like. Find what sings to you and enjoy it. I have some expensive whistles, and some inexpensive, including Susatos. I still have all the VSB's they make and I use them fairly regularly. They can be a little shrill and the tone is not as complex as a more expensive whistle, but sometimes you just need to have something to jam really loudly with.

Isilwen · Post by **Isilwen** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 11:33 pm

James?? That was you that did that wonderful recording of The Arran Boat Song???

WAAAY COOL!!!

That's one of my fav. online mp3 'downloads' to listen to...

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Wed Mar 05, 2003 11:46 pm

I like mine too. What I like is that there is no tweaking needed. They are in tune. They are fairly easy to play except for getting over the mental block to hit the high B. I have a VSB which is a tiny bit quieter than the SB you ordered. You're going to not want to play the upper octave in a small room.

Enjoy.

Ridseard · Post by **Ridseard** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 12:21 am

If you have only played Generation-type whistles, the first things you will notice are the greater volume and stability of the Susato. By stability I mean that it won't slip up an octave when you don't want it to, and also the notes are very centered in pitch (the intonation doesn't wobble much with changes in breath pressure). You do have to lean into the Susato (give it plenty of air) to play in the upper half of the second octave, and those notes could become uncomfortably loud. I keep a bag of small cotton balls (the kind used for removing makeup) with my whistles, and place one loosely in each ear if I'm playing much in the upper register. If you don't find the regular bore Susato to your liking, you might try the VSB. It's a quieter, gentler instrument, which I like very much because it's responsiveness and volume are very similar to my Burke whistles.

whistlebinkie · Post by **whistlebinkie** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:23 am

I've got a bunch of Susatos and love-um. F E Eb D C Bb A G and a Low D
They are louder than the traditional whistles but they're alot easier to play in tune. I ordered the whole kit and kaboodle at once and got a 20% discount. The VSB F E Eb D sound great (after a little practice in the upper octave) I think they're a great buy for the price.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 4:05 am

Hi Laura,

Susatos take a bit more breath, and breath control, than many cheaper whistles, and as has been said above, you need to be bold with it - shrinking violets need not apply. This is especially true playing G and up in the upper octave, you really need to attack the notes.

For a total beginner to both playing music and wind instruments in general, this is usually too much to cope with on top of trying to read the music, put the right fingers down etc. As you have experience of clarinet and other wind instruments, you should have no trouble. I played clarinet (albeit 20 years ago...) and it still took me over a year of playing whistle to have the confidence to use my Susatos. I have a Kildare like yours, and a Dublin (untuneable).

Susatos have really spot on tuning, need no tweaking (in my opinion) and are loud enough to be heard in a big session. I've seen them used by professionals in Ireland, especially when playing into a microphone.

Plus, they come with a thumbrest! If you don't use it for its intended purpose, leave it on but slide it down to the bottom end - the added mass can help stabilise some notes (I think this is a bit like having vent holes - see the vent hole discussion).

all the best!

Chiff and Fipple Forums

from the newbie: what's so bad about Susato whistles?

from the newbie: what's so bad about Susato whistles?

Mason's Apron

what I ordered..

Good, Bad, Ugly.........

and you get a thumb rest!