Well, first of all, for a general introduction, read my other thread Newbie alert. To hell and back with the Redneck whistle. As mentioned there, I live on a sailboat in a Celtic music wasteland in the Caribbean. I crave a new whistle, something that will be a step up from my tweaked Soodlum's and I would appreciate the advice of the learned company. I'm sure the "What Whistle" question has been discussed here before, but my requirements are not necessarily the same as those of the previous posters, so I hope I will be forgiven for starting a new thread.
I prefer a mellow note as long as it still sounds like a tin Whistle and is able to carry it's way in a group setting. That is, mellow, but not quiet. For the kind of money I'm spending I would prefer a tunable whistle. I've played the Susatos and found them to be too far from my idea of what a whistle should sound like. Also, I have to admit that plastic doesn't really "do it" for me.
I often find myself enjoying good company in the cockpit of my boat or someone else's in the evening hours and the Caribbean is a windy place, so I need a whistle where the music will not be whisked away by every little breath of wind blowing across the mouthpiece.
I see a couple of manufacturers are now producing what I have seen described as D+ whistles. A whistle that can play the low C. This sounds like a damn good idea to me, and I sort of suspect that such a whistle would sound better when playing the mid C with all 7 holes closed than what is the case with most D whistles with the normal fingering? This is not an absoulte requirement. I'd rather have a good whistle with 6 holes than a mediocre one with 7.
The Dixon Trad has been suggested to me, but I have heard some mixed reports. Some say the C# is flat on all of them. I think I'm more willing to live with a flat C than a flat C#. The flat C (or just muted as on my Soodlum's) seems to be more generally accepted as a fact of life. Another Dixon Trad owner mentioned that the whole whistle was flat and needed the tube shortening. I would also like to learn to play the flute, and have noticed the Dixon flute / whistle combo for around $46. Has anyone here played this? Any comments, particularly on the whistle part of the combo? No point in buying it if it is unsatisfactory as a whistle.
Another whistle that has caught my attention is the Eagle / Clare two part. I see mixed reviews, but even if it's not a perfect instrument, it might be handy to have for it's portability in addition to the "good" whistle, but I suppose the Dixon whistle/flute combo will be just as portable, at least if I leave the flute moutpiece at home.
The new Sweetheart made of Dymondwood has also caught my attention. A bit more pricey than my budget, but a beautiful instrument and I understand it does sound like a whistle, not a recorder. I have a Dymondwood Puny Tunes whistle, so I know the material.
To get some idea of my style and abilities, you can have a listen to me playing (the pre-tweaked Soodlum's) via the link at the bottom of the page.
BTW, before suggesting whistles that are way out of my budget because I'd be "so happy with it", please remember that I will not be happy with a whistle that is so precious that I wouldn't dare take it anywhere, and... I'm broke which means I'd also welcome suggestions that only use 1/3 or less of my budget...
Finally, I'm a boy, and boys want their new toys NOW, so I'm not going to order a whistle that has a six month waiting list. I welcome input from whistle makers or tweakers who think they can supply what I'm looking for within my budget and within a reasonable space of time.
PS. The Findu page (the link below) seems to be temporarily out of commission. I am reporting my position, but it is not being displayed on the page. Don't know why.
Regards,
Owen Morgan
Yacht Magic
Anchored in the lagoon, St Maarten
My new blog.
Click here for my latest reported position. (Use the satellite view.)
