A request comes up from time to time asking for instructions on how to modify a Generation Bb whistle to play in B. This is frequently to be able to make a whistle play along with pipes. So I though I would post the collected wisdom on how to go about doing that here in the Tweaks thread since it is a sticky thread.
This modification is a bit more than the usual tweak. It involves cutting the brass tube and some re-tuning. In general the same process can be used
- to make a B whistle out of a Bb whistle
- to make a C# whistle out of a C whistle and
- to make an E whistle out of an Eb whistle.
pancelticpiper wrote:
I made a Generation C# out of a C and a B out of a Bb. The same approach would work for making an E out of an Eb.
1) chop the tube at the top until the upper-hand notes are in tune in the new target key. Usually
xxx ooo
xxo ooo
xoo ooo
oxx ooo
will all be close together and shouldn't need any further adjustment.
Next chop the bottom until xxx xxx is in tune in the new target key. What you'll now find is that xxx xxo and xxx xoo are flat and these two holes will have to be carved out quite a bit. My Gen C# and B play great.
Modifying a Bb Gen to play in B: billh wrote:
As it happens, you can take a Bflat Generation and remove metal from both the top and bottom so that the top note is sharpened a semitone and the bottom note (all holes closed) is also sharpened a semitone. By some weird quirk of Generation's tuning, the resulting notes in the middle are well within range as well, and the resulting scale is an acceptable B scale. At least, it works for me.
Total length of the doctored Generation (metal part, without fipple):
316 mm
Distance from the top end of the whistle to the top hole:
132 mm
Or if you prefer inches and not millimeters:
Tommy wrote:
Remove 3/4'' from the top of the tube and 3/16'' from the bottom.
Here is a link to a thread where this modification was discussed – there are others if you care to search.
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87079Erle Bartlett shared measurements for making a tube in the key of B for a C whistle body in this thread.
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89308Modifying a Eb Gen to play in E: Feadoggie wrote:
You don't have to take a lot of length off from either end of the original Eb tube to get started.
Off the top of the tube - 8.76 mm
Off the bottom of the tube - 4.15 mm
Then check the tuning on the holes.
Nick Whittmer also provides measurements and instructions for making an E whistle starting with a Generation high F whistle. This involves making an entirely new tube which is a fair biit of work but in the interest of collecting the wisdom here is a link to his site:
http://mysite.verizon.net/nwhitmer/ewhistle.htmlI would like to thank each and every member of the forum who has taken the time and effort to share these methods with everyone over the years.
Feadoggie