Whistle for Wife?

reefrat · Post by **reefrat** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:09 pm

Hi all,
Found your excellent forum and would like some help if possible!
I'm not a whistler (an "average" acoustic guitarist) but during a recent browse in a music shop my wife picked up a Walton Mellow D whistle and has been practising/ playing every day since.
This surprised me as she hasn't shown any previous inclination toward musical instruments and now appears to have a bit of a flair for it!
Apparently she played the recorder in primary school and this has helped.
Anyway, it's her birthday at the end of next month and I've decided to buy her a nice whistle.
To this end I have been perusing the net, learning about whistles in general and trying to determine which one to buy.

The criteria for selection includes:
Has to sound good for Irish/ Celtic music
It has to be "easy" to play (I think she finds breath control the most difficult part at present)
Dosen't have to be especially loud
Must look nice!! (shiny etc)

So far I've narrowed it down to either a Burke or Silkstone alloy high D, probably in session bore.
Am I on the right track?? :roll:

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:31 pm

You can't buy better than Burke. And the Burke brass is pretty, so I think you'll be very happy with it.

jen f · Post by **jen f** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:19 pm

I'm a fairly new whistler myself. I have a Burke brass session bore, and I am very happy with it. It has enough volume for a session without being overpowering. It plays easily, and you can play it either gently or aggressively; it will take either. It will tarnish, but your wife can keep it polished if she likes.

You might also look at an Elfsong http://www.elfsongwhistles.com/ . I have a brass E that I just bought from another board member, and if the D is anything like the E, your wife will probably like it. It has a low breath requirement, and it is extremely responsive (plays easily). And they're beautiful--available in all kinds of colors, and finished with a clear coat so they won't tarnish. Plus, she can get a C tube for it later on. They are on the quiet side, though, and you do have to wait about 8 weeks.

reefrat · Post by **reefrat** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:10 pm

Thanks for the info.
I hadn't considered whether to go for the brass or aluminium body, apparently the brass has a "warmer" tone.
Is there much difference?
A deciding factor may be availibility!! I would need it delivered within 5 weeks and it seems there could be a waiting list?!

jen f · Post by **jen f** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:16 pm

I got mine within a few days. Unless something's changed recently, I don't think he has a waiting list for D whistles.

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:43 pm

I read your thread heading and was about to point out that I'd never respond to a whistle.

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:46 pm

I read the thread heading and thought he was looking for a trade.

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:49 pm

I have the DAN (high D, aluminum, narrow bore), and it has a relatively sweet, pure sound.

I also have the CBW (high C, brass, wide bore). It's a bit less pure, but I'm not sure if this due to the difference in key, material, or bore size-or some combination of two or three elements.

I find both easy to play. (I got the DAN about a month after starting, and had no problems with it.) They aren't "especially" loud. I'd say they are medium loud.

The Burke aluminums are very pretty, and tend to stay that way as long as you're careful about not getting them scratched up. The brass ones can be kept shiny with Wright's brass polish (non-stinky, non-toxic). Someone laughed at me when they saw that mine was polished. Apparently some folks like the patinaed look, but I prefer shiny.

reefrat · Post by **reefrat** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:23 pm

I've re-read the title of my post and no...I wouldn't swap my wife for a whistle (a nice custom acoustic guitar maybe..thwack "ouch")!

I'll go with the alloy Burke session D and Song of the Sea advise me they have one in stock.

Sorted..thanks again for all your help and I'll try not to start playing the whistle myself, I already have quite enough interests!!

Incidentally I also ordered her a tuitorial video by a guy who is supposed to be Irelands best!!

Cheers

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 4:46 am

Re the wife:
Is she tunable?
Does her head come off?
Is she quite or loud and screechy?
Is she a 'high' or 'low end' wife?
Can you give us a sound sample?

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 2:36 pm

emmline wrote:I read your thread heading and was about to point out that I'd never respond to a whistle.

I was thinking along similar lines... like, "how'd you get her to allow the training?"

Ness · Post by **Ness** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 3:39 pm

I am a brand new whistler and the only one I have is a D Clarke SweetTone, it's inexpensive and it's been wonderful for learning on. I figure once I get better, I'll buy some different models. For now, I'm liking what I got.

reefrat · Post by **reefrat** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 6:30 pm

I noticed the harmless looking little learn-to-play tin whistle book by Waltons sitting on the cabinet as I walked past a few times during the day..didn't think anything of it.
Evening comes...wife visiting a friend...boring mindless crud on the TV, should go an practise guitar. Out of the corner of my eye the little book beckoned.
Casually I picked it up and flicked through the pages..hmmm
Picked up the whistle and followed the fingering diagram to hit a few notes..pretty straightforward, so that's how you get get the 2nd octave!!
Could be fun...
Suddenly realised what I was doing
No Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

LisaD · Post by **LisaD** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 6:38 pm

Sounds as if you belong here. You might as well give in.

Resistance is futile ...

jkrazy52 · Post by **jkrazy52** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:46 am

Hope you ordered that Burke as a matched set -- sounds like you need 2. And don't forget to invite your wife to come out & play with us here, too.

Welcome to WhOA, reefat.

~Judy

PS - If you decide to try a whistle on the plastic end of the scale, Dixons are great. I have 3 (D,A,G) and love them all! Then there's the Burke, the Alba, the Chieftain .... oh well!

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Whistle for Wife?

Whistle for Wife?

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