Advice on intermediate whistles

houstonwhistler · Post by **houstonwhistler** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:33 pm

As someone who has accumulated a small arsenal of inexpensive whistles, I am considering upgrading to a "mid-level" whistle. Any advice as far as a Tony Dixon or a Susato or the like. I'm kind of a purist, so I'm not sure how I feel about PVC/plastic whistles, although I've heard good things about Susatos. Any advice on a good upgrade would be appreciated.

Thenks,
HW

Adrian · Post by **Adrian** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:58 pm

Can you describe a little more what are you looking for e.g. loud, quiet, pure tone, complex tone, back pressure, easy player etc. What is your favorite cheapie and why?

Steamwalker · Post by **Steamwalker** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:04 pm

I have one of the plastic Dixon tunables in D which I am quite fond of. It's currently my main whistle for practicing. It's clean sounding with nice volume. One thing I noticed when I first played it, it sounded very different than any of the cheap metal ones I had. It sounded cleaner and required less air but maybe that's characteristic of plastic whistles in general. I never played a Susato but I suspect my Dixon isn't as loud as Susatos are supposed to be.

houstonwhistler · Post by **houstonwhistler** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:19 pm

Well, volume isn't really a concern. I haven't reached a point where I play in public or with other musicians. I'm still an advanced beginner/early intermediate player. My favorite cheapie is a nickel Clare. I like the tone and that it is very well in tune with itself.
Thanks,
HW

khl · Post by **khl** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:37 am

For me one of the best ventures from cheapie to midrange was to buy an O'Brien copper whistle. It will cost a little bit more than a single Susato, but it has a nice sound -- different enough from the cheapies to know you've got a real, new whistle and not just a "glorified" cheapie. (And if you save just a little bit more you can get a set.)

Here's a link to his website: http://www.obrienwhistles.com/index.html

Key_of_D · Post by **Key_of_D** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:56 am

What exactly is an intermediate whistle? Do you mean intermediate as in cost?

jemtheflute · Post by **jemtheflute** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:37 am

I can't offer any specific positive advice on mid-price whistles due to lack of experience of them, but I can say, with feeling, DON'T go Susato!!!!! - At least, not if you want to sound like a whistle player.
Susatos, for their price, are extremely good little musical instruments - robust, well in tune, responsive, loud..... all the positives - except!!!! - they don't sound like whistles. They sound much more, though not precisely, like recorders. There. I've said it again. The R word..... It's such a pity really. If Susato would just alter the tone quality, they'd totally corner the market! We just wouldn't need all those lovely high-end wooden etc. whistles!

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:59 am

I'd like to second the recommendation for O'Brien whistles. My O'Brien narrow bore brass D is my second-favorite session whistle, second only to my Colin Goldie Overton D--I rank it slightly better than my Burkes.

Also you REALLY want to check out Mack Hoover's work. Lovely whistles, and a wonderful man: an honorable country gentleman, one of the last of a dying breed. His whistles play and sound very similar to Burkes but cost less. I have several of his whistles and they are wonderful, particularly for smaller sessions or for playing at home when you don't want to disturb anyone.

Susatos are an oft-repeated subject here on the boards. The Susato is a hell of a lot of whistle for the money, and contrary to what some will tell you, it is controllable. If your Susato sounds like a recorder, it means you don't know how to control it yet. If you get a Susato be prepared to spend some time--I mean serious time, months or years--to learn the control necessary to play it well.

I'm willing to walk the walk and demonstrate this to anyone, anytime, either in person or any other way you'd care for me to. Just ask Nano!

--James

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:58 am

To my thinking a Freeman-tweaked Mellow Dog would be an "intermediate" Whistle, and a fine one at that. I love its tone and its responsiveness.
pastorkeith

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am

jemtheflute wrote:I can't offer any specific positive advice on mid-price whistles due to lack of experience of them, but I can say, with feeling, DON'T go Susato!!!!! - At least, not if you want to sound like a whistle player.
Susatos, for their price, are extremely good little musical instruments - robust, well in tune, responsive, loud..... all the positives - except!!!! - they don't sound like whistles. They sound much more, though not precisely, like recorders. There. I've said it again. The R word..... It's such a pity really. If Susato would just alter the tone quality, they'd totally corner the market! We just wouldn't need all those lovely high-end wooden etc. whistles!

You need to go here: http://www.kerrywhistles.com/dl.php?group=19 and find the clip of Kevin Crawford of Lunasa playing a Susato.

rhulsey · Post by **rhulsey** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:32 am

I have a Freeman tweaked mellow dog - in fact, it was my first whistle - and it's very nice - even compared to all these others that i've grabbed up in the many months since - some quite expensive and "sought-after".

I do recommend, too, Mack Hoover. Great guy, easy to work with and can do about anything.

Reg

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:33 am

There are an awful lot of players in Ireland and the UK that think the Susato is the whistle to play. I like mine. I like the Dixons too. I have Dixons in low G and low D. They are quite good. There are so many choices that it is hard to recommend any particular whistle. I like the Alba Q1 but it may be more than you want to spend. The Humphreys are also great whistles.

Ron

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:41 am

houstonwhistler wrote: ....... I'm kind of a purist,

......

You'll need a whistle made of tin then, won't you?

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:44 am

talasiga wrote:
houstonwhistler wrote: ....... I'm kind of a purist,

......
You'll need a whistle made of tin then, won't you?

Shaw it is then!

Jason Paul · Post by **Jason Paul** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:04 am

I have a few suggestions (which have already been suggested). I have all three of these, and I would probably be considered "in transition" from beginner to intermediate.

All three of these are great whistles.

Mellow Dog. It's a bit of a soft blower, so it takes some practice to keep the low D in the first register, but it's not terribly difficult. It's relatively quiet and has a very pure, sweet tone. This one plays cleanly and easily up to the third D (and probably higher with practice). If you get one, spend the extra $5 and get a C body as well.

Hoover Whitecap (mine is usually on a Feadóg or Oak body). This one has about the same volume as the Mellow Dog, but has slightly more chiff, or character. It's still a clean tone, but not quite as clean. This one has more backpressure than the Mellow Dog, so you can lean into it a bit more. This takes a bit of getting used to, because you may tend to honk the high A and B if you're not used to more backpressure than the standard cheapies. You might also check out Mack's Blacktops.

O'Brien (I have a nickel-plated copper C/D set). This one is louder than both of the others. The tone has significantly more chiff than the other two - quite a bit more complex. It also has more backpressure than the others, and obviously more than a standard cheapie. The response on the O'Brien is very fast - cuts are very quick and crisp. Physically, it's also a much more substantial whistle, quite thick and heavy. It almost feels like a piece of equipment.

I really like all three of these. Of the three, the only one I've had much of a problem with is the O'Brien - and it's just me needing to continue to get familiar with it. I still get more honks than I like on the high A and B. Plenty of others (with more experience than me, I'm sure) have had no problems in this area, so it's not the whistle. Also, I'm getting better with it. Interestingly, I think I like the tone of this one the best, and the poppy ornamentation is great.

In addition, all three of these makers have been very friendly and easy to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to order another whistle from any of them.

Hope that helps.

Jason

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