Thanks for the welcome!

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:07 pm

Hello, everyone, sarcastic or not, and whether or not you like what you've seen of my work. Opinions are like... uh... well... hrm! We all know what opinions are like.

You can, indeed, make a whistle just like mine from either the .035 wall chrome moly, or from Type L copper. Both of 'em are, as someone surmised, heavy, but the chromoly low D flute makes a pretty intimidating weapon, as well as making music, so you're getting double duty! I began with thinwall, but went with the heavier materials because I like the way they sound. What a concept!

The whistles are, indeed, simple. The materials don't cost very much. The design is vaguely similar to, well, lots of other whistles, including some shown in articles I found on the Web. What did some 'o' yer think -- I live in a vacuum and thunk it all up about fipples and blades all by myself?! Shoot, though, you gotta admit, some of my tools (railroad spike, 4-lb brass sledge hammer) are kinda unique!

As a whistle-maker, I am a rapidly-advancing semi-amateur. "rapidly" because I began as a silversmith, worked as a machinist, and pick up mechanical skills required to do good work rather quickly. And rest assured, if a whistle I make looks or sounds crap, it doesn't get out the door. I tune and test before decorating, and there have already been some B-flat and G's turned into C's, with their lousy heads chopped and dumped into the meltdown-tank! My rather simple premise of doing business is, if I wouldn't buy it, then I won't sell it. The last thing I want is a rep as a cheat, a liar, or a purveyor of crappy junk.

As to decor, the only absolute is the somewhat silly-looking snake on the back, and it's my mark, and it's a private joke, and I'm putting it on every one. So there. Nyah, nyah. If ya don't like it, file the durn thing off!

So, again, thanks for the (in certain cases, somewhat dubious) welcome! Heck, I'm enjoying this place already! Hey, Paddy! Another Guiness!
Cheers,
Bill Whedon
Serpent Music

Kim in Tulsa · Post by **Kim in Tulsa** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:16 pm

Hey, if you're passing out pints, I'll take this!<center><img src="http://www.haagen-dazs.com/img_db/pro/p ... Welcome and nice to meet you.

Kim
(A slightly pudgy housewife that plays a mean "It's a Small World" on her Feadóg D!)

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:17 pm

Well, I can't wait to read a review of your whistles, Bill.

So, what's the serpent joke?

vaporlock · Post by **vaporlock** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:20 pm

Welcome aboard Serpent! Most of us are well behaved individuals...but then again, we're not the ones that make things so interesting around here.

Kick your shoes off, sit back, relax and make yourself at home.

Eric

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:20 pm

Bill I think it's great you're here and I also think it's neat (and fortunate!) you showed up when you did.

Be welcome here among us loonies!

The Voices tell me you sound like a really nice guy!

Best wishes,

--James
http://www.flutesite.com

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:47 pm

James, those aren't 'voices'....
They're C///\\\\%$#[[[tal \///ple

Hello, Serpent. . .welcome to the Undisputed's Realm. . .the rest of us are along for the ride.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 2:37 pm

Hi, Bill! Welcome aboard!

A rail road spike? That's clever!

I'm glad you didn't let the earlier serpent whistle thread bother you. You know what it's like dealing with musicians. They're temper-mental. (Half are temper, the other half mental.)

Looking forward to hearing your whistles,

Gary

LeeMarsh · Post by **LeeMarsh** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 2:52 pm

Well come Bill, the maker.

Enjoy the place here and share in the delightfull fullishness that is practiced.

Connect with the lunatics that are passionate about what others call 'that toy flutty thing'.

Imbibe in the tonic of music living in the hands of just folk sharing ear and air and wiggly fingers.

Enjoy your making.

And most of all ...

_________________

Enjoy Your Music, Lee Marsh 

[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-08-22 16:54 ]

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 5:55 pm

On 2002-08-22 15:07, serpent wrote:
The whistles are, indeed, simple. The materials don't cost very much. The design is vaguely similar to, well, lots of other whistles, including some shown in articles I found on the Web.

Clarke's are even simpler, but the test of time has proven them to have staying power. Keep up the whistle making.

ysgwd · Post by **ysgwd** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 12:13 pm

Bill,
Thanks for coming out to play with us.
Lisa

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 12:58 pm

The snake joke: I have an Irish friend who swears that I'm making Irish whistles. I told him it ain't so, 'cause there aren't any snakes in Ireland. Pretty lame, but he got a chuckle.

I'm shipping the high whistles (C and D) to reviewers on Monday, 8/26. When those come back, I'll ship the low whistles (F and G). What I'm shipping is one chromoly plain, one copper totally decorated. The whistles for review were built at the same time as the rest of the batch, using same jigs and fixtures, and were already tuned and ready, sans decoration. So the only thing that'll be done this weekend is the deco on the copper - nought to affect play. I want opinions on the _average_ whistle, not summat specially-built-for-review.

As to getting offended by people on the group, what would be the point? Nor do I want to become nasty in return. If people start out thinkin' yer an arsehole, gettin' nasty just proves 'em right!

And until somebody has one or more of my whistles in his/her hand to test, I'm just still an unknown quantity. I respect (and encourage) your right to be cautious!

Cheers,
Bill Whedon
Serpent Music

On 2002-08-22 15:17, Bloomfield wrote:
Well, I can't wait to read a review of your whistles, Bill.

So, what's the serpent joke?

Cees · Post by **Cees** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 1:46 pm

Welcome, Bill! Glad you could join us.