unfortunately, there are no stores in my area that carry the type of pennywhistle I like (Generation in nickel silver with the blue plastic mouthpiece). There is a store that has the brass ones but not the nickel ones. Therefore I have ordered all mine from Elderly Instruments in Michigan, which means that I just have to take a chance that I will get a good one; I can't try them out beforehand. Luckily, most of the ones they've sent me are pretty good; if they sent me a real clinker I would just have to return it and try another one.

Slightly off topic question...

I recently acquired a wooden Hohner recorder on Ebay...the intonation is not good. Do all wooden recorders need to be "blown" in tune, or did I just get a dud? I'm a beginner on recorder.

thanks,
Wyllow :)