mahanpots' thumb rest for low whistle

[mahanpots]

Here's my version of a simple thumbrest. Just wrap some string (colored or not) around where your thumb needs to rest and it provides me with a slight edge to rest my thumb against.

If you don't know how to wrap, try this page:

http://www.merricktackle.com/tips/perfection2.gif
















Michael

[Whistling Archer]

Good idea. I dont really need a rest, but I think Ill try it out and see>
Thanks

[fearfaoin]

Is that one of those Nickel-covered brass low whistles that are all over ebay?
(for example, here)

If so, what caused the patina? It's a pleasant color, and looks rugged with the wrapping...

[mahanpots]

Not hardly. It's a whistle I made from an aluminum shower curtain rod following online instructions. I made two and this one sounds quite nice really. A little quiet.
sound sample at:
http://www.whistlethis.com/index.php?co ... RjMQ%3D%3D

Michael

[MTGuru]

Here's my version of a simple thumbrest. Just wrap some string (colored or not) around where your thumb needs to rest and it provides me with a slight edge to rest my thumb against.

That seems nice and simple, Michael, and it looks good too. I tried a similar idea with rubber bands, and someone else mentioned using a large O-ring for extra non-slippage.

In my case, I decided I wanted something to support the entire weight while experimenting with hand positions. And the most comfortable position would involve wrapping over the B1 hole itself. Besides, as a former sax and clarinet player, I guess the idea of full thumb support seemed natural. Hence the strap.

P.S. I looked at your pottery on your website. Beautiful pieces! The tree pots are particularly striking.

[fearfaoin]

Not hardly. It's a whistle I made from an aluminum shower curtain rod following online instructions. I made two and this one sounds quite nice really. A little quiet.

Neat! I apologize for maligning your craftsmanship, that sounds way better
than those ebay specials. In the third picture, it looked coppery inside, which
is why I asked.

[mahanpots]

MtGuru wrote:

That seems nice and simple, Michael, and it looks good too. I tried a similar idea with rubber bands, and someone else mentioned using a large O-ring for extra non-slippage.

In my case, I decided I wanted something to support the entire weight while experimenting with hand positions. And the most comfortable position would involve wrapping over the B1 hole itself. Besides, as a former sax and clarinet player, I guess the idea of full thumb support seemed natural. Hence the strap.

P.S. I looked at your pottery on your website. Beautiful pieces! The tree pots are particularly striking.

I found my whistle kept sliding out of my fingers, and my wrapping worked for that purpose. I see how your idea could free your hands up to experiment with hand positions. My problem with the whistle in my photograph is my Left-hand grip. If I don't use the pipers grip with that hand, I get pains in my fingers. My Shaw low D is designed with chimneys in the G hole and the E hole I believe which shortens the space between holes, making for a more comfortable grip, but the damn thing takes so much air. Then, the more I play it, the easier it gets. But then, the more I play it, the less I play my flute, and that's my main instrument.

P.S. Thanks for checking out my website; I'm hoping to bring some pots over to Ireland in February and find a market for them there, eventually creating a space to work over there.

fearfaoin wrote:

I apologize for maligning your craftsmanship...

Actually, I looked at the picture on Ebay of those whistles and thought they looked much better-crafted than my shower curtain rod whistle.

By the way, how did you view the 3rd picture. It doesn't show up in my browser. Part of the problem may be that the last ] won't transfer when I upload the page.

Michael

[Ctrl Alt Del]

I can't view the third picture either

BTW: where did you get the instructions for making the whistle? It sounds pretty good.

[fearfaoin]

Actually, I looked at the picture on Ebay of those whistles and thought they looked much better-crafted than my shower curtain rod whistle.

They're not, I assure you. The toneholes are equally spaced and the same
size, so the intonation is not great... It's a get-what-you-pay-for kinda thing.

By the way, how did you view the 3rd picture. It doesn't show up in my browser. Part of the problem may be that the last ] won't transfer when I upload the page.

I quoted your post and fixed the ], then hit Preview. Like this:

You should be able to click the Edit button on your original post and fix the ]
You probably just accidentally backspaced over the ] when you first posted it.

[MTGuru]

By the way, how did you view the 3rd picture. It doesn't show up in my browser. Part of the problem may be that the last ] won't transfer when I upload the page.

I think you can edit your post and add that last bracket manually.

Oops, fearfaoin beat me to it.

[mahanpots]

I feel soooo stupid. I tried several times to edit my post to get that third picture to show, and finally was about to give up, and I thought: 'Okay, I'll Cut the picture, then Paste it at the bottom........ OOOOOH, I've been trying to edit the wrong f-ing picture.....

Thanks anyways.

[sbfluter]

Did that whistle come from the bottom of the sea? It looks like it's been down there for a while.