Cleaning a John Sindt whistle

[TomJohn]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering if any of you could advise me on the best way to clean a john Sindt whistle (or any for that matter). The tone is still beautiful and sweet but in recent months it has become a little 'muffley' and 'hissey' - can anyone help?

Thanks,

Thomas Johnston

[straycat82]

Usually if your whistle tone is suffering it is because of gunk in the windway or on the blade/ramp. The latter is more obviously discernable but it's worth cleaning both now and then anyways. John's windways are very narrow so it can be difficult to get in there but do not use anything hard or abrasive as that will scratch the delrin. I have used dental floss for mine with success. For the roof of the windway, push some floss through it and out the window so that you can hold onto both sides and sweep back and forth to clear any obstructions. For the floor of the windway, push some floss through it and out the end of the whistle head so that you can hold onto both ends and sweep back and forth across the floor.

If the blade needs cleaning I just use a cotton swab with a light detergent/water solution.

To clean the tube, just go to a music shop and pick up a piccolo or recorder cleaner (looks like a giant pipe cleaner). You shouldn't need much more than that to keep your whistle playing nicely.

[TomJohn]

Thanks so much for that - very helpful! I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

[Steve Bliven]

Of course, if all else fails, you could ask the maker....

Best wishes.

Steve

[Denny]

shirley

[TomJohn]

shirley??

[Denny]

you jest?

[Denny]

long time running gag, suffered the usual abbreviation years back...

only a bit more PC than d'uh

[Steve Bliven]

Is there a long-time running gag sticky?

Best wishes.

Steve

[Denny]

that's twice


the quickest way to make a thread disappear, make it a sticky