Whistles with good upper ranges

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:47 pm

Is it folk's experience that certain D whistles play better in the upper range (B, C, third D) than others or is it merely a function of experience/skill? If certain whistles do, could folks make some suggestions?
Thanks and Blessings
pastorkeith

scottkent · Post by **scottkent** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:01 pm

Some of my whistles seem to play up there better than others. My Sweetheart Pro D is great up there and depending on where I set the tuning slide, my O'Brien Rover is good up there too. My bamboo whistle can hardly make those notes and most of my cheapies are just too shrill up there. If I need to play higher notes like that I sometimes just reach for a higher key whistle like an Eb, F, or G Generation.

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:55 pm

Experience does have a lot to do with it, but it's by no means the only issue. A professionally tweaked cheapie (Feadog would be my recommendation) will get you to high D without screechiness or scratchiness. It WILL be loud though. I can get to third octave D "safely" on my home tweaked Generation and Feadog.

dapple · Post by **dapple** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:07 pm

Burke narrow bore aluminum D does well.

BEC · Post by **BEC** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:09 pm

My Dixon aluminum bodied D (DX002) has by far the easiest response up to that top D (and even the E above) of all the whistles I have. However, it's the version Tony Dixon no longer makes....

sbhikes · Post by **sbhikes** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:16 pm

The Sweetheart Pro D sure looks like a, dare I say it, a recorder.

CranberryDog · Post by **CranberryDog** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:52 pm

The mezzo soprano D whistles that I own which can accomplish this feat are: a Copeland, Overton, Thin Weasel, and Sweetheart Pro. Others that can do it without cracking mirrors are my Generation Bb, Overton tenor D, Copeland alto A, and Copeland low F.

Breath control is an important asset.

Bill Hennessy · Post by **Bill Hennessy** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:39 pm

It's good to see that others have this problem! I've found that my Dixon Trad D goes to the upper range really well, and sounds wonderful. I have a Sweetone C that can play in that range pretty well, too. I've just started working with a Gen Bb, but it sounds pretty good in the upper register. But if I work at it and really control my breath, most of my cheapies can do pretty well. Mostly I try to stay away from much music that requires it.

Peace,
Bill

cavefish · Post by **cavefish** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:26 pm

sbhikes wrote:The Sweetheart Pro D sure looks like a, dare I say it, a recorder.

i like it -its something new---------------it carries a tune well into the third octave(if needed)

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:05 pm

Burkes are great for high notes, as well as all other notes.

CranberryDog · Post by **CranberryDog** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:42 am

cavefish wrote:
sbhikes wrote:The Sweetheart Pro D sure looks like a, dare I say it, a recorder.
i like it -its something new---------------it carries a tune well into the third octave(if needed)

For me, form follows function. Put a recorder side by side with a Pro D and I believe you will see a difference; play them side by side and the difference is clear.

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:45 am

Most of the whistles I have play easily well into the third octave (excludes the Bleazey I no longer have). I think experience helps as you have to learn to play third octave notes much shorter to keep them sweet.

My favourite whistles for very high playing are the aluminium Burkes.

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:43 am

My Seery Delrin Whistle is smooth all the way up. Also Lon Dubh. At least the ones from 2005-2006. I haven't tried the newer ones but I bet they are just about the same.

If you're handy, you could cut the blade out of a susato and replace it wit a chunk of guitar pick. This makes for a nice smooth whistle all the way up too... Much quieter than a regular susato... more like a dixon but without the intonation issues.