Opinions Needed

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 6:11 pm

My significant other has now become interested in a whistle of her own - but not just any whistle. She fell in love with Ralph Sweet's whistles at the Gebhart Woods Dulcimer Festival and wants one. Now the nice part of this is that when she loses interest... And of course, if it's for her, price is suddenly a non-issue.

OK, so here's the question. She really likes the look of the Blackwood/Sterling models, but likes the Rosewood as well, just not as much. Is there any difference in tone or playability? Are there any clips out there?

Thanks.

Wandering_Whistler · Post by **Wandering_Whistler** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 7:30 pm

I've played several of Ralph Sweet's whistles (they're one of the few that Melody Music here in town carries a ton of) in various woods. The biggest impression I've gotten off of any of them that I've tried is that the high G, A, and B required enough breath pressure that I thought I was going to bust a vein in my temple

Other than that, they all sounded similarly. That said, I don't think melody carries the blackwood one.

Greg

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Wandering_Whistler on 2001-08-28 21:31 ]</font>

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 9:07 pm

I've played both the blackwood and
the rosewood, indeed, I've played
them all. I think the blackwood is
significantly better than any other
Sweet whistle, both in appearance and
sound. When all is said and done,
when it comes to wooden whistles, it's
hard to beat blackwood. On the other hand,
Sweet whistles, while good, have a sound
that isn't very celtic--which isn't
necessarily bad--and the blackwood whistle
is loud, which you may or may not want.
Also, my sense of the thing is that the
blackwood whistle is the most responsive
to ornamentation that Sweet makes.
Hope this helps.

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 10:02 pm

I used to have a rosewood one. It was too loud for me in the upper octave. The person I sold it to was very happy with it. I'd say the upper octave was considerably louder than the lower. The air pressure requirement was nominal, however. And like Jim Stone intimated, if I can put words in his mouth, (hey, I'm a ventriloquist. I'm not saying Jim has a wooden head), it didn't sound all that tin whistley. (Should I have left out the 'e' in whistley?)
Tony

GlennM · Post by **GlennM** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 10:26 pm

I talked to Ralph a few months ago, and he wasn't happy with the voicing on his blackwood models. He was working on but hadn't resolved it to his satisfaction. I bought a blackwood in D that had a significant buzz, and he gladly exchanged it for a rosewood. The rosewood sounds OK, very bright and clear, but I agree it's much louder in the upper register. Of all Ralph's whistles I prefer the C's.

Grannymouse · Post by **Grannymouse** » Tue Aug 28, 2001 10:34 pm

I'd buy her a blackwood Thin Weasel. Hard to beat! Gm

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 7:27 am

Really, Chuck...don't do it. I agree with Grannymouse.

Jessie

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 9:09 am

GM / Jessie

No argument here - I don't really like a wooden recorder tone much myself. What's the current wait/cost on one of the Thin Weasels?

rosenlof · Post by **rosenlof** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 9:12 am

I have a Sweet D whistle in maple. It's not my favorite, that's a Sindt, but I get it out and play every now and then. The low octave is nice, the high octage is a little buzzy. It does get loud in the high notes, but no more than the average whistle.

ErikT · Post by **ErikT** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 9:28 am

She fell in love with Ralph Sweet's whistles

Ok, I'm going to go against the crowd and say that if she fell in love with it, at least try one from some place that has a return policy. I know that consistency in the Sweets has been a previous topic, but she tried one and liked what she heard. Is there any reason to try and convince her otherwise?

Just a thought,
Erik

Post by **rich** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 9:33 am

On 2001-08-29 00:02, TonyHiggins wrote:
(Should I have left out the 'e' in whistley?)

I think you're on to something here. Leave out the 'h' and the 't', and then transpose the 's' and 'e'.

Coincidence? I think not.
<ul>-Rich</ul>

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 9:57 am

[/quote]Leave out the 'h' and the 't', and then transpose the 's' and 'e'.
[/quote]

Huh?

Jessie

adrianh · Post by **adrianh** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 10:03 am

You get something like :-

wiesly

I think.

Hinting at a Weasel I presume.

Hey ho, the strange mind of a Perl Programmer reveals itself again.

A
><>

Post by **rich** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 10:04 am

Er, "and transpose the 'e' and the 'l'". It was the Crystal People, I swear.

adrianh · Post by **adrianh** » Wed Aug 29, 2001 10:06 am

Wisely done Rich, Wisely done !!!

A
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