Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

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Boog
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Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Boog »

Hi folks:

I saw this instrument on the internet about a year ago. It looked like a low whistle (diameter) but uses a Sax mouthpiece. Just wondering if anyone here has a link to this instrument.

Cheers,
Boog
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by MTGuru »

Vivat diabolus in musica! MTGuru's (old) GG Clips / Blackbird Clips

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Boog
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Boog »

"xaphoon" ... that's it! Thanks MTGuru!
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Elvellon
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Elvellon »

Be aware that if you're like I was :) and think that it's similar to the whistle, no - it has different fingerings and, as a closed cylidrical pipe, overblows at the twelfth.
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Boog
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Boog »

Elvellon wrote:Be aware that if you're like I was :) and think that it's similar to the whistle, no - it has different fingerings and, as a closed cylidrical pipe, overblows at the twelfth.
Hi Elvellon:
How did you find it. Is it well made.

Cheers,
Boog
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Elvellon
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Elvellon »

I found it while being interested in folk reed instuments with whistle fingerings. Found out it's not as easy as fitting a different mouthpiece.

As for their quality, I really don't know.
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Chiffed »

They're decent. I wouldn't really recommend them for those who don't play sax or clarinet. The embouchure required is just too finicky. They are capable of some pretty astounding sounds, from 'good alto sax' to 'high bass clarinet' to 'duck going through a meatgrinder feet first'.
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Boog
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Boog »

Chiffed wrote:They're decent. I wouldn't really recommend them for those who don't play sax or clarinet. The embouchure required is just too finicky. They are capable of some pretty astounding sounds, from 'good alto sax' to 'high bass clarinet' to 'duck going through a meatgrinder feet first'.
'duck going through a meatgrinder feet first'.

LOL :D

Thanks Chiffed!
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by WD-40 »

I had a xaphoon once. After struggling with it for about a year, I've sold it - the embouchure is indeed something I couldn't master with my typical amount of practice of 1 hour per week... I kept floating significantly around the right tuning all the time, and the amount of air required was too much for me. The fingering is also far from being intuitive. But the tone itself is brilliant, make no mistake.

After that I've found the whistle - and it's sooo much easier to learn and play! :love:
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Boog »

WD-40 wrote:I had a xaphoon once. After struggling with it for about a year, I've sold it - the embouchure is indeed something I couldn't master with my typical amount of practice of 1 hour per week... I kept floating significantly around the right tuning all the time, and the amount of air required was too much for me. The fingering is also far from being intuitive. But the tone itself is brilliant, make no mistake.

After that I've found the whistle - and it's sooo much easier to learn and play! :love:
Thanks for the comment WD40. I decided to get one. I'll put up a video when it arrives :)

Boog
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by pancelticpiper »

I actually put a clarinet mouthpiece and barrel on a Susato low F whistle. I cut a thumbhole so that I could get a whole octave.

It actually sounds pretty cool, though of course it's limited to that one octave.
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Brigitte
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Re: Whistle with a Sax mouthpiece?

Post by Brigitte »

We have one of these "whistle hornpipes" with whistle fingering in Low D for a few years. I find it pretty loud and very similar sounding to a clarinet or such sounding instruments and quite a low, bassy voice.

I am sure you will have fun with it in any case :-)

Brigitte
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