received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

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gregwhistle
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received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by gregwhistle »

The Dixon SV, and the 'Shush' Generation High D Brass.

Both in good condition, both play nicely.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the Dixon SV is very much like my Waltons Little Black in how it sounds and plays. It is quieter than that, as are most things on earth ... well, let's say when you want that sort of thing, it's a good and somewhat quieter version of that sort of thing. :) This beginner finds it much too touchy and needing a perfect precise amount of air for almost every note to not go way off.

Now the 'Shush' Generation High D Brass ... I'm in love :) Pure tone, quite easy all the way to the third octave, very forgiving of various amounts of air. And it actually is quiet (for a whistle) :) Uses the "piece of plastic on the blade" tweak, obviously done very, very well :)

edit
I'll have to add some photos later ...
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narrowdog
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by narrowdog »

gregwhistle wrote:
Now the 'Shush' Generation High D Brass ... I'm in love :) Pure tone, quite easy all the way to the third octave, very forgiving of various amounts of air. And it actually is quiet (for a whistle) :) Uses the "piece of plastic on the blade" tweak, obviously done very, very well :)
I've had a 'Shush' for a good 4 years now and it gets more
airtime than any of the others at home.
It's easy to do the mod on any Gen, just a small piece of folded brass
plate and some epoxy.
Doesn't even wake the dogs :)
Happiness is taking things as they are.
gregwhistle
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by gregwhistle »

narrowdog wrote: It's easy to do the mod on any Gen, just a small piece of folded brass
plate and some epoxy.
Oops; yes, I should have said "piece of metal on the blade", not plastic :)

narrowdog wrote:Doesn't even wake the dogs :)
Now that's quiet :lol:
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cunparis
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by cunparis »

gregwhistle wrote:Now the 'Shush' Generation High D Brass ... I'm in love :) Pure tone, quite easy all the way to the third octave, very forgiving of various amounts of air. And it actually is quiet (for a whistle) :) Uses the "piece of plastic on the blade" tweak, obviously done very, very well :)
edit
I'll have to add some photos later ...
And some sound clips? ;)

I've been wanting a really quiet whistle like this so I can play without bothering the family. On the Generation, does this tweak make it play flat? I've put tape over a whistle window and that makes it quieter but it also makes it flat.
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by gregwhistle »

cunparis wrote: And some sound clips? ;)
Eek ... did I mention that I'm a beginner? ;)

cunparis wrote: I've been wanting a really quiet whistle like this so I can play without bothering the family. On the Generation, does this tweak make it play flat? I've put tape over a whistle window and that makes it quieter but it also makes it flat.
You know, I'll have to check. I didn't think so, but I didn't actually check it against a tuner or another whistle.

I should say that it is quiet for a whistle. Apparently there are some practical limits to the amount of quietude that is achievable :lol:
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by narrowdog »

cunparis wrote: On the Generation, does this tweak make it play flat? I've put tape over a whistle window and that makes it quieter but it also makes it flat.
No, mine plays in tune (or at least near enough) through both 8ves.
At home I learn from recordings slowed down using 'Transcribe'
and I can play along nicely headphones on and everything
sounds in tune to me.
They do take a bit of getting used to due to the very low air
requirements, so don't go swapping from this to an Overton :wink:
Happiness is taking things as they are.
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by Tommy »

cunparis wrote:
gregwhistle wrote:Now the 'Shush' Generation High D Brass ... I'm in love :) Pure tone, quite easy all the way to the third octave, very forgiving of various amounts of air. And it actually is quiet (for a whistle) :) Uses the "piece of plastic on the blade" tweak, obviously done very, very well :)
edit
I'll have to add some photos later ...
And some sound clips? ;)

I've been wanting a really quiet whistle like this so I can play without bothering the family. On the Generation, does this tweak make it play flat? I've put tape over a whistle window and that makes it quieter but it also makes it flat.
No, the Shush tweak will not make it play flat. Obstructing the window with tape, sticky tac, ect. will make it play flat.
Changing the blade by adding to it will not. But it will change the amount of air flow required. Much less on a Shush.

I play a Shush whistle and it takes very little air flow. I also play Snidt, Abell, Chieftain, Overton, Howard, and they each have a different air flow requirement. With practice, breath control reflex allows playing them all.
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by csoroz »

I need one of this things!
Which is quieter? The Dixon SV, or the 'Shush' Generation.
gregwhistle
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by gregwhistle »

csoroz wrote:I need one of this things!
Which is quieter? The Dixon SV, or the 'Shush' Generation.
For me, the Shush Generation.

But that may be due to my poor beginner's breath control, or something.
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Re: received my "quiet" whistles yesterday from BigWhistle

Post by maki »

gregwhistle wrote:
csoroz wrote:I need one of this things!
Which is quieter? The Dixon SV, or the 'Shush' Generation.
For me, the Shush Generation.

But that may be due to my poor beginner's breath control, or something.
Don't over look Mack Hoovers Narrow Bore D.
It's a Rolls Royce, just a fantastic whistle.
http://mackhooverwhistles.com/order_whistles.html
Last weekend I tried a friend's very narrow bore tunable Mack Hoover brass D, which is about as quiet a whistle as I've ever played and still be barely audible in a small group. A tiny little voice, very sweet and easy-playing, taking almost no air. A completely charming instrument, and maybe what you're looking for.

Of course, for practice you can also quiet your Burke with a mute - a paper clip in the fipple window, or a bit of blue tack on the blade. Search the forum for "whistle mute" for other ideas.
~MTGuru
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