Q about buying Used whistles

stratochicnic · Post by **stratochicnic** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:15 pm

Maybe it's just me...but isn't there the whole issue of saliva when you buy used whistles? Or do people sanitize the fipples before they trade them? Just curious

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 6:55 pm

stratochicnic wrote:Maybe it's just me...but isn't there the whole issue of saliva when you buy used whistles?

But that's the yummiest part...

Or do people sanitize the fipples before they trade them? Just curious

Well, you can always do that after you get one. I use antibacterial dish soap for anti-condensation purposes, so I haven't been too worried about it. I have four pre-owned whistles, and I haven't caught anything so far.

On the other hand, at the West Coast C&F gathering last June, there was a tremendous amount of handing whistles around. I do think that I saw some folks applying alcohol, but that might not have been for sanitization.

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:13 pm

Just add water.
Makes its own sauce.

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:13 pm

stratochicnic wrote: Or do people sanitize the fipples before they trade them?

Seems to be a matter of personal choice. Stores and vendors almost always use some type of alcohol wipe. I've never heard of anyone catching anything but I'm sure its possiible with immediate transfer.

I have noticed that when whistlers gather, they seem to freely swap and share instruments. Personally when swapping whistle around, I keep hoping I catch a little talent.

Cynth · Post by **Cynth** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:16 pm

Darwin wrote:But that's the yummiest part...

Eeeeeeeew! Yuck!!!!!!!

I also run a soapy solution through my mouthpiece when I am done playing for the same reason Darwin does. I think you could quite safely (metal whistle only) dip the whole whistle in and out of soapy water a few times, then rinse and dry the outside. I don't think I would assume that the seller had sanitized the fipple.

chas · Post by **chas** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:51 pm

Uhmm, the buyer can always sanitize the whistle however she sees fit.

Germs are really not an issue -- one of the most effective ways to kill a germ is to dry it out, which would certainly happen in the cargo hold of a plane if it didn't happen already.

I've bought a couple dozen used whistles, and no complaints. Also, any handmade whistle will have been played by the maker.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:23 pm

Now we know why Amar only buys his used whistles from pretty girls...

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:25 pm

A clean whistle is a happy whistle.

It is a courtesy for the seller to clean it before sending, and a good practice for the receiver to clean and inspect it. I use bleach.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:32 am

Plastics and metal clean easily, but be careful with wood! A little MILD soapy water would be OK, but dry it right afterwards. Get the soapy water only on the actual mouth parts, not the whole whistle.

stratochicnic · Post by **stratochicnic** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:37 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I like Duffy's attitude with sharing whistles...hoping to catch some talent

I feel that way about guitars

So in terms of cleaning your fipple, dipping it in soapy solution seems to work?

miffle · Post by **miffle** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:18 pm

I keep all mine fippleside down in a crock of Jameson's.
Switching frequently, I find that my playing gets better and better.

miffle

Geraint · Post by **Geraint** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:01 pm

Of course, lots of shops will let people try their whistles too, which can give rise to the same santitising situation. I spent the best part of an hour trying some a couple of weeks ago - the owner said that it was nice to hear them being played (tho whether she still felt that after I'd finished I dunno)

Mind you, there's at least one shop in Swansea where they try to give a prospective buyer a weird bellows-type device which makes peculiar asthmatic little wheezes and isn't very controllable on the second ocatave. Or the first....

I just left the whistle

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:12 pm

Geraint wrote: Mind you, there's at least one shop in Swansea where they try to give a prospective buyer a weird bellows-type device which makes peculiar asthmatic little wheezes and isn't very controllable on the second ocatave. Or the first....

I just left the whistle

Mars Music here did the same thing with the bellows thing. Even the guy working the woodwinds counter couldn't get it to get a good sound out of an instrument. I ended up buying nothing as well.

brianholton · Post by **brianholton** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:47 pm

last christmas I was in Naples, where I found an "Irish pub": the staff were Italian, and the music heavy rock, so, bein gth eonly customer at the time, I suggested they play some Irish music - what I got was the Tannahill Weavers, a fine Scottish band....

then I noticed the bar was decorated with, as well as the usual collection of clapped-out fiddles and broken accordions, a pint pot contianing half a dozen Waltons - so I asked to try one and the manager fished one out, stuck it under the espresso machine and blasted steam through it. it played like a dream.

other than that, I've never seen sterilised whistles before. I've always used alcohol as a cleanser, myself.

happy dribbling

brian

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:02 am

The Conn firm of instrument makers markets a liquid for sterilising brass instruments—very useful for brass bands that share instruments. I used it but I'm not sure what is in it. Probably alcohol amongst other things. I don't know what you'd use on an all wooden mouthpiece like a Grinter other than oil.

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