For what it's worth, on the back channels, I'm still working on this issue. It's gotten more than a bit ugly. As is sometimes true of ugly matters, I've made at least a small contribution to the ugliness. For now, let me say that this is the status:
Davy Spillane has asserted flatly to me that he has made and played his own pipes and whistles for 20 or 25 years. He wants people to hear him say that he does not play Overtons, and I presume Chieftains, and has not for some time.
Now two sources have independently told me that that is not so and they have some credibility in asserting that.
I can't account for or resolve the differences. I have an opinion, but it's only that and it's premature for me to share it.
Here, by the way, is text I wrote on the "whistle mysteries"page a few years back:
Another brainteaser, and this time it gets ugly. Davy Spillane, of course, generated huge interest in the low whistle when he played in the band for RIVERDANCE and then the corresponding video of RIVERDANCE sold sixty zillion copies. The video shows nice close-ups of Davy playing a whistle that resembles an Overton or Chieftain. For some time, questions flew around about what low whistles Davy played. Some insisted he made his own. Some believed he purchased Overtons and then modified them extensively. Others believed that he bought Overtons and made relatively minor adjustments.
A few years ago, Davy, whose email from yours truly he's either never seen or never answered, abruptly emailed me to say that somewhere on Chiff & Fipple was an indication that he played Overtons or Chieftains or something and, his email went on to say, the truth is that he makes his own instruments and always had. Cease and desist, yada-yada. In addition, his own website included a whole section about Davy offering for sale his own whistles, which I think he called "D500' or something like that. Should be end of story, right?
Well, maybe it is. But I must point this out: I'm not sure that anyone on the planet has received more whistle related email than I have. In these five-plus years, not ONE PERSON has indicated to me that they have (a) purchased Davy's whistles, (b) played Davy's whistles, or (c) seen one up close enough to describe it.*
Now, there's no reason to believe that Davy is lying about making his instruments. So, I assume that he does and that he has sold whistles to very few players because his touring / recording schedule doesn't allow enough time to make many instruments for others.
*UPDATE May 2004: Musician Talbert St. Claire posted on the message board on May 2, 2004 that he has a Davy Spillane whistle and that Davy tells him they will be in stores in weeks. Standing by. Holding our breath.
I'm no longer sure how much of the above is true.
Stay tuned.
Dale
If you are going to have anything to do with Gaels, at home or abroad, get used to it, Sunshine.
to everybody