Advice on buying a low whistle
Advice on buying a low whistle
Howdy,
I have been playing generation tin whistles (high) for about 20 years now..and I have always wanted to try moving to low whistles....
I have smaller hands than most people, and suffer from asthma so may not have as much breathing power as other people....
so I am looking for recommendations on which low whistle to try....
cheers
Eoin
I have been playing generation tin whistles (high) for about 20 years now..and I have always wanted to try moving to low whistles....
I have smaller hands than most people, and suffer from asthma so may not have as much breathing power as other people....
so I am looking for recommendations on which low whistle to try....
cheers
Eoin
- Martin Milner
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Welcome to the Board Eoin!
Dixon. Get an A, a G and a Low D, and work your way down in stages. Breath requirement is not too great on any, they all have a lovely tone, and the price can't be beat. They won't stand out in a big crowded session though.
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that schwing
- littlejohngael
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Hey efwren,
I'm somewhat asthmatic too (i.e., mine doesn't act up a lot, so I'm not on an inhaler). Anyway, I recently got a Kerry Low D. It's very nice, but does take a bit of air. I sometimes can't finish a song. BUT, I have noticed that in the month-and-a-half that I've had it, I can now finish some songs that before had me huffing and puffing by the end. Hope that helps.
Little John
I'm somewhat asthmatic too (i.e., mine doesn't act up a lot, so I'm not on an inhaler). Anyway, I recently got a Kerry Low D. It's very nice, but does take a bit of air. I sometimes can't finish a song. BUT, I have noticed that in the month-and-a-half that I've had it, I can now finish some songs that before had me huffing and puffing by the end. Hope that helps.
Little John
- Easily_Deluded_Fool
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Dixon!
Get the tuneable if you change buildings or play with other musicians.
Low breath requirements, and has a lovely sound.
It's a quiet whistle, loud enough for home or quiet sessions etc.
Also it's cheap - as in price - not as in quality.
HTH
Get the tuneable if you change buildings or play with other musicians.
Low breath requirements, and has a lovely sound.
It's a quiet whistle, loud enough for home or quiet sessions etc.
Also it's cheap - as in price - not as in quality.
HTH
No whistles were harmed in the transmission of this communication.
- PhilO
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G is a nice way to ease into low whistledom and is a useful key. The rest depends on what you want to spend and what volume level and tonal qualities you want. There are some really fine Low G whistles out there - Copeland is great but a bit expensive and you might want to start with a Copeland soprano D anyway; O'Riordan is great, but currently unattainable, unless second-hand; Overton is great, but requires specific tastes and approach; there are others less expensive also that have been mentioned. I can't speak for water weasel G specifically, but my A is exceptional and I've heard great things about the G as well. Now that's a really fine whistle that's affordable. Again, it's taste - it's fairly loud with strong tone at both ends, but some hate and some love the plain plumbing pipe look of it. I love mine.
Good luck.
Philo
Good luck.
Philo
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- Doc Jones
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I have owned both low- d Dizon and a Low-D laughing whistle. I think the Laughing whistle requires less air than any whistle on earth but both are very quiet and not suitable in my opinion for playing with others.
I've also owned a Copeland and an Overton. THe Copeland requires much more air. The Overton requires a lot of air pressure but not necessarily a lot of air volume.
The only low D whistle I still own is an offset hole just-tuned Reyburn. Best low-D whistle on Earth. Does require some air though. I eventually gave up on Low Ds because of the volume issues (lots of fiddlers in my clan) and switched to flute...tons more volume but more air requirement than most low-D whistles. I couldn't part with the Reyburn and play a lot with it but only solos or small groups. The Reyburn sound is just astonishing and, in my opinion superior to all other low-Ds.
Seems like a lot of other Low-D whistles are flute wanna-bes but the Reyburn has such a unique tone and still preserves the essence of what made me fall in love with whistles in the first place.
Anyway, to sum up...for zero air requirement and small hands I'd say the Laughing whistle would be tops and has a really delightful tone but it's really quiet. I bet Beth (avanutria) could email you or post a clip of one if there's not one on clips and snips.
Doc
I've also owned a Copeland and an Overton. THe Copeland requires much more air. The Overton requires a lot of air pressure but not necessarily a lot of air volume.
The only low D whistle I still own is an offset hole just-tuned Reyburn. Best low-D whistle on Earth. Does require some air though. I eventually gave up on Low Ds because of the volume issues (lots of fiddlers in my clan) and switched to flute...tons more volume but more air requirement than most low-D whistles. I couldn't part with the Reyburn and play a lot with it but only solos or small groups. The Reyburn sound is just astonishing and, in my opinion superior to all other low-Ds.
Seems like a lot of other Low-D whistles are flute wanna-bes but the Reyburn has such a unique tone and still preserves the essence of what made me fall in love with whistles in the first place.
Anyway, to sum up...for zero air requirement and small hands I'd say the Laughing whistle would be tops and has a really delightful tone but it's really quiet. I bet Beth (avanutria) could email you or post a clip of one if there's not one on clips and snips.
Doc
- Martin Milner
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Efwren,
If you're looking for a Dixon Low D in London, the only place to look is Hobgoblin, or possibly (pushing it) Macari's on the Charing Cross Road. They'll certainly have Low Ds in Gobby's, and they'll let you try them. Whether they have a Dixon in will be pot luck.
You can e-mail Hobgoblin to ask them if they have one in stock:
check the website at: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/home.htm
If you have no luck and it must be a Dixon, the best bet is to order one direct from Tony Dixon's site.
If you're looking for a Dixon Low D in London, the only place to look is Hobgoblin, or possibly (pushing it) Macari's on the Charing Cross Road. They'll certainly have Low Ds in Gobby's, and they'll let you try them. Whether they have a Dixon in will be pot luck.
You can e-mail Hobgoblin to ask them if they have one in stock:
check the website at: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/home.htm
If you have no luck and it must be a Dixon, the best bet is to order one direct from Tony Dixon's site.
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that schwing
Dixon arrived yesterday
Well my DIxon Low D arrived yesterday....
and I was pretty much able to play it straight away.....and it sounds great.
thanks for all the advice everybody
Eoin
and I was pretty much able to play it straight away.....and it sounds great.
thanks for all the advice everybody
Eoin