What whistles do famous musicians play?

Whistlepeg · Post by **Whistlepeg** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 5:30 pm

It's not what you've got, it's how you use it. Good players sound good on any whistle. Bad players sound bad whether they have a $5 whistle or a $500 whistle. Spending a lot of money does not make a good player. Practiice does.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:05 pm

I'm pretty sure I didn't make any connection between what a player plays, and how good they play.

But there's certainly a connection between what a player plays, and the tonal qualities. That is, unless you're willing to go back on your statements that you can't make good music with a Sweetone, Peter. :roll:

If someone hears Mary Bergin, and wants that same tonal quality (again, not the same thing as playing quality), then it would perhaps behoove them to look into the same brand of instrument, don't you think?

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:05 pm

(double post)

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:31 pm

I believe there is some slight correlation between the price of a whistle and the sound it produces in a novice. When you buy an expensive whistle, you either feel like playing more because the whistle is nice, or you feel obligated to practice more because you've spent so much money.
I've been in slumps befor and not played so much, only to bounce back into heavy practicing by a new whistle.

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:49 pm

If I was a newbie just considering purchasing my first or second whistle, I might have an interest in what whistle a "famous" person plays only because I would assume they'd know a good whistle when they played one, but that's the only reason I can think of that I'd have a real interest in what somebody plays. I think the more comfortable you become with your music, the less important it becomes to play the same type of whistle that some well-known musician plays. For me it's become more important to get into the music and not so much into the whistle itself.

Susan

PhilO · Post by **PhilO** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:56 pm

I'm currently studying and practicing a lot now and basically just using two whistles, Burke D and Sindt C; but, I'm not that famous.

I've never been at all interested in what whistles others play, but I've loved to collect and play lots of different whistles myself.

Philo

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:47 pm

Paddy Moloney is playing a brass Generation Bb, a Sindt D, and I believe a Burke Low - can't recall if it was F or D. Carlos Nuniez was playing Swayne whistles I believe I heard him say...could easily be wrong there though.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:31 pm

FJohnSharp wrote:
Peter Laban wrote:Sean Potts had very outspoken ideas about high end whistles last time I talked to him. He played Generations modified by
Peter Hunter but bought a Humphey since.
Can anyone (meaning a pathetic schlub whistle toodler like me) buy a Gen modified by Peter Hunter?

Can they?

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:09 pm

Tom Doorley (when he plays whistle) uses Burkes. Anybody know what Low D (I know he uses Gens for the High D) Rory Cambell from Old Blind Dogs plays?

jkrazy52 · Post by **jkrazy52** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:27 am

I don't know what make whistle any 'famous' players use -- but I like the idea of having a list, like Wanderer is suggesting. I always look on my CD covers to see if the brand of whistle is mentioned. If I like the sound on one song, but don't care for the tone of another, it would be helpful to know what whistle is producing the sound I like. (Yes, I know I wouldn't get that same sound ...

)

Besides ..... I get curious. I can't recognize many whistles at a glance. A few weeks ago James Galway had a TV special on an NPR station here. He played a black whistle with what seemed to be silver fittings (not sure - the TV set's color is kinda wanky). So ... was it a O'Riordan? or what? Enquiring minds would like to know.

Joanie Madden plays Burkes (among others, probably) .... doesn't she?

~Judy

lixnaw · Post by **lixnaw** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:11 am

i believe in general most famous musicians appreciate both expensive and inexpensive whistles
when it comes to high whistles, there's not much difference there.
but there isn't that much to choose from when it comes to low whistles,
the cheap low whistes are like practice flutes, so they buy expensives kinds.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:25 am

Wanderer wrote: If someone hears Mary Bergin, and wants that same tonal quality (again, not the same thing as playing quality), then it would perhaps behoove them to look into the same brand of instrument, don't you think?

Does Mary Bergin's playing have the same tonal quality as Micho Russell?
But go for it, get a Generation eflat and see which of them you'll resemble.

picardy third · Post by **picardy third** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:05 am

Wanderer wrote:What whistles do famous musicians play?

I am almost certain that Elvis did not play Generations.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:38 am

I was just reading an interview with Paul McCartney. He tells of a bass player recognising him in a shop and asking him what strings he used. He thought for a bit and answered 'long shiny ones.'

Perhaps I'm gullible, but I'm inclined to believe the story. Some people are gear heads and some people just aren't.

That said, the right gear can make a difference. When I was fairly new to guitar, I tried for over a year to get the sound I was after out of an electric guitar I owned without success. I even had one of the pickups changed but still no luck. I sold it and bought another guitar. As soon as I plugged it into an amp (before buying), there was the sound I was after. It isn't always the player. In a similar vein, I defy anyone to play well on a leaky and unresponsive concertina.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:27 am

Peter Laban wrote: Does Mary Bergin's playing have the same tonal quality as Micho Russell?
But go for it, get a Generation eflat and see which of them you'll resemble.

So, you'll be switching to a Sweetone then?

Which is it, Peter? The whistle makes a difference, or the whistle doesn't make a difference?