Recommend a couple of whistles for a newbie?

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:19 pm

Hi again.

You'd think this has been done to death, but I really haven't found too many recent threads on beginners' whistles. And yes, I've read the beginner stuff both here a C&F and at The Whistle Shop.

I was planning on ordering today and was trying to decide. I was thinking about getting maybe two to make it worth the shipping.

I will probably get a Clarke Sweetone, unless I hear too many bad comments. It just seems to be well-liked in general.

What about the second?
Clarke Meg?
Clare?
Something else cheap and easy to get?

I will probably also get a couple of clear pouches and a thumbrest. I'd like to keep this first order under $20 total - even that might be a bit much. I'd also like to avoid anything that "needs" to be tweeked.

If posssible, please compare the Sweetone to the Clare. If they're comparable, I'd rather not get both. Which is better? Impossible question I know.

Which two whistles in the $5.00 range would you recommend? What if you could only get one?

Thanks,
Jason

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:26 pm

I like the Meg I've got, and I taught a kid on a Sweetone and it didn't sound too bad. $5 is a tight budget.

Beginner's whistles somewhat over $5 that I would suggest are:

<a href="http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/w ... ">Dixon</a> - $19 - a good all-rounder to start on
<a href="http://home.bresnan.net/~mackhoover/">Hoover whitecap</a> - $60 - The maker can make it quiet or louder to your preference, but it probably requires a bit more breath control to make it sound its best. On reflection now that I know the current price I wouldn't recommend this one for you.
<a href="http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/w ... >Susato</a> - $29 - a good starter one if you're not going to be playing in a small or echoey room all the time - can be very loud.

If you're really limited on funds I'd say get yourself a couple of Megs (so if one is out, you know it's you and not the whistle). If you can spend a little more I'd say get either a meg or sweetone, and a Dixon.

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:33 pm

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound cheap. I could spend a little more and just get one. I just thought that getting two in the $5-$7 range might be a good idea.

Here's the thing. In the last few years, I've spent over $1200 on kites, a few hundred on an RC plane, a few hundred on kettlebells, and now want to spend $100 on a Native American flute. I've had to convince my wife that this is all good, all along the way.

So, I'd like to keep this whistling thing cheap for the moment.

I already told her that it would only cost $10 or $15 to try out.

Thanks,
Jason

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:36 pm

(I've added links and prices to my previous post)

Hehe. Whistling, cheap. That won't last long.

OK then. Get two Megs in different colours, and this:

http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/t ... cketbo.htm

And this:

http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/t ... tepone.htm

Total cost $15.90 plus shipping.

Also get a CD of Irish music if you don't have one, or 'borrow' some tracks from us here.

If you don't like whistling, this lot will be enough to convince you. If you do like whistling, spend some time selling your hobby gear that you don't use, 'cos you'll be needing the money soon...

khl · Post by **khl** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:45 pm

Sweetone is a nice whistle to start with. Why not get a Feadog to go with it? The Sweetone is, well, breathy and sweet. The Feadog is a bit more brash--has more character or bite to it. They'd be two different/contrasting whistles. I think you'd find the Sweetone easier to play and that you'd find the Feadog takes just a little bit of getting used to. But this is actually a good thing, since the variety of whistles around all have a getting-used-to aspect and you'll learn how it goes.

(I haven't played the Clare to compare it to either Sweetone or Feadog.)

As you already know, and as you'll see as people make recommendations, there's lots out there. Have fun.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:00 pm

Clark Sweetone or a Clark Sweetone and a Feadog.

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:04 pm

khl wrote:Sweetone is a nice whistle to start with. Why not get a Feadog to go with it? The Sweetone is, well, breathy and sweet. The Feadog is a bit more brash--has more character or bite to it. They'd be two different/contrasting whistles. I think you'd find the Sweetone easier to play and that you'd find the Feadog takes just a little bit of getting used to. But this is actually a good thing, since the variety of whistles around all have a getting-used-to aspect and you'll learn how it goes.

These would be my first two recommendations in the cheap/inexpensive category, too. Megs are essentially Sweetones, but made in China of cheaper materials. They're a dollar or so less expensive, but unless you're buying them a dozen at a time the difference in cost is negligible.

Generations can be wonderful whistles, but they have a reputation for poor quality control (and the one's I've bought bear this out). Fairly easy to tweak most of the time, but this can be a bit daunting starting out.

I like the Walton's C and "Mello D" (large bore D) whistles, too, but I don't care for their standard D whistles.

I *do* like Oak D and C whistles, but they need better breath control than I had as a beginner, especially the D.

I own a reasonable number of handmade whistles by a variety of makers, and wouldn't want to give them up, but I still play my favorite cheap whistles on a daily basis. It's no accident that many of the high-end whistles are often described in terms such as "plays like a good Generation".

Kingfisher · Post by **Kingfisher** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:14 pm

If you're considering a Sweetone , which is a good "starter" whistle , you might want to check for one of Jerry Freeman's tweaked versions on Ebay. I think they're still running around $15 . Good Luck !!

Have a Great Day and Fun Whistling !!

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:59 pm

I think the Sweetone and the Meg are too similar (both nice). Get something different for the second one. The Feadog is a good, very traditional choice.

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:08 pm

OK, it sounds like one Sweetone and one Feadog (both in D) would be a good start.

What about a thumbrest? Is it useful, or is it a waste of two perfectly good dollars?

Thanks,
Jason

khl · Post by **khl** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:11 pm

Don't worry about the thumbrest.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:26 pm

I started on a Sweetone and I never regreted it but I did tweak it and trade it. I also owned a Feadog whyich was alos tweaked and sold. I would also recomend not starting on a Dixon as any other whistle will have a larger air requirment.

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:05 pm

How do you pronounce Feadog anyway?

So, no thumbrest eh?

One more question on the Feadog - brass or black? Does it matter? Does paint affect the tone? Will black just look clean longer? I'm leaning toward the black.

Sorry if I seem to be overanalyzing a couple of $6-$8 purchases. For me, that's part of learning and part of the fun.

Thanks,
Jason

chas · Post by **chas** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:23 pm

I think the Clare brass is the best inexpensive whistle. I've bought several, and the only thing I've had to do to tweak them is the sticky-tack tweak. They have a wonderful sound, and a good balance between backpressure and air requirements. I also like Oaks, but they're not for most beginners.

If you're not beholden to the key of D, I'd recommend a Walton's nickel in C. Maybe even better than the Clare D.

Mr.Nate · Post by **Mr.Nate** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:36 pm

I bought a hoover whitecap and put it on my two piece clare.
The whitecap was 20$(old price) and the clare was 12$
My new favorite whistle.
I guess for a starter whistle a meg/sweetone wouldn't be bad, especially if you already have 1200$ in kites....could have bought a good used button accordian for that, but that's another topic altogether!! (just kidding, I have alot of different interests too!)

Nate

Chiff and Fipple Forums

Recommend a couple of whistles for a newbie?

Recommend a couple of whistles for a newbie?

cheep whistles