Encore Music/Brass Tin whistle D

[SunnyWalker]

I just ordered my first tin whistle from Encore Music. A one piece brass tin whistle. It is all metal (brass). No plastic fipple. I am just starting and does any one have any advice about this type of whistle? The plastic fipples just do not appeal to me. I also am interested in the sounds of the A whistles. Any in put would be appreciated.
-SunnyWalker

[Scott McCallister]

Welcom to the board.

Never heard of your whistle. There are lots of all metal makes out there, but most have at least a bit of plastic or other material as the fipple.

Don't write off the plastic ones completely though, there are some prize finds out there.

Check the board frequently... there are usually lots of good discussions about materials and such

[SunnyWalker]

Sure, I will keep checking. But the photo when you enter Chip and Fipple-he has this type of one piece-no plastic- whistle. Is this type only for the advanced players? Thanks.

[SunnyWalker]

Encoremusic.com
This is where I purchased the Tin whistle. I was looking for a one piece, not roolled metal, all metal with no plastic fipple.

[s1m0n]

I have a couple of all-brass (or at least mostly brass-like) metal whistles, which I suspect came from India. One's in low A and the other Bb. The A is a sweet-sounding instrument although best in the bottom octave. The Bb is badly tuned and unplayable.

I'd play the A more, but there's no way to tell what metals are in the solder holding the fipple together. It's whiter than the brass, and I suspect it of being an alloy of lead.

[hoopy mike]

Sure, I will keep checking. But the photo when you enter Chip and Fipple-he has this type of one piece-no plastic- whistle. Is this type only for the advanced players? Thanks.

that'd be a low whistle?

Shaw make all metal high whistles (with a wooden fipple) and then there's the Clarke original.

[MTGuru]

I was looking for a one piece, not roolled metal, all metal with no plastic fipple.

Why ????

[jim stone]

Seconding Simon. Nondescript brass whistles are often from
India. The picture on the Encore site certainly looks like one.
I lived in India for three years and in my experience metal
whistles from the third world can have ANYTHING in them.
Well worth avoiding, simply for health reasons.

A standard plastic headed whistle is a good place to start.

[Ballyshannon]

Yup. The one in the photo on the Encore site is an Indian-made whistle. Been there and done that. I very clearly remember trying three of them in the key of D several years ago out of curiosity. Bought one....returned it for a replacement. Returned the replacement for another replacement. Finally returned the second replacement. Why? None were anywhere near the key of D and they were basically simply crap. Some of the notes sounded ok, but most were pretty awful. On top of that, all three whistles (if you can call them whistles) had an odd lingering taste that made me a bit leery of even placing them in my mouth.

BTW, the whistle in the photo to which you're referring being playing by Bernard Overton when you enter the C&F site is an all-metal Overton low whistle. And yes, it's definitely for advanced players...and not cheap.

Since you're just beginning, I'd agree with Scott and Jim and suggest not writing off whistles with plastic mouthpieces and/or fipples.

[Protean]

I suppose I could see someone wanting to avoid a plastic fipple. It could be considered that they make the whistle look even more like a kid's toy (which seems to be a relatively common perception of whistles). If you really want to go all metal, I'd say go Clarke Original, as many have already suggested. Plenty of sites sell those. That said, nothing's wrong with a plastic fipple. Heck, nothing's wrong with a plastic whistle! The great majority of whistles out there seem to be metal w/ plastic fipple, including many high-end whistles.

Just get over the "all metal" hang up and get yourself any number of the fantastic whistles out there.

Or don't, and get yourself a Clarke Original. Then get over your hang up and get some more whistles, this time with plastic fipples.

Every whistle I own has a plastic fipple, and one whistle is all plastic. They all sound lovely, too. At least they would if I could play better... they sound lovely to me, anyway.

That reminds me... I want to get a Clarke Original... maybe after Christmas.

[Rhadge]

When I was new (some 3-4 months ago), I didn't like the idea of plastic fipple either.
It didn't seem very authentic to play an old type of instrument with a plastic mouthpiece.

Then, it occurred to me that it's the music that is important (no sh*t, Sherlock). People claimed the plastic fipple was a great improvement for whistles, so I tried it out. Now I don't really care if it's plastic. You get used to it.