Overton Whistles

Subject: Overton Whistles
From: Louisey
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 12:32 PM

Does anyone know places in the Midlands where I can buy/try an Overton Whistle or something similar? I can only find online-shopping, and would rather buy in 'real life'!

Also if anyone knows anything about this kind of thing and could give me some advice on choosing a whistle, that would be fab. I'm a competent musician (piano/clarinet) and have been messing around with cheap D, G and Bb cheapy generation whistles. I get on best with the D whistle, but prefer playing Bb as it has a lower tone. I'm after something more high quality and with a low tone. My parents have recommended Overton as they used to know him, but to be honest, I don't have any information about other makers.

Thanks!

Louise

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Vixen
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 01:39 PM

I have no experience with Overton, nor have I heard anything negative about them.

I just got a Copeland D in brass and it is wonderful--great tone, perfect intonation, nicely balanced in the hands, and a pleasure to play. I ordered online, without ever having played one, and I must tell you, the people there are very helpful.

For cheaper whistles, I like the Susatos--I have a D, C, low G and low D, and I've had no problem buying those online either.

I understand your reservations--especially for this kind of money. My experience with these two manufacturers has been excellent.

fwiw,

V

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 07:26 PM

Louisey - Overtons are very good , but VERY expensive !! Chieftens are about two thirds the price and as good , but for Value for Money try Tony Dixon - PVC , Tunable , and start at about a fifth the price of an Overton ! Run from High D through C , BFlat , A , G , F , and Low D the last time I bought any !! Also Flutes and all sorts of other bits and pieces !

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:47 PM

Actually my favourite Low Whistle is a Howard Low C (early edition) before he modified the mouthpiece to get a louder tone - I prefer the haunting orchestral sound. Somehow the Low D % E he does don't quite get there - they should use slightly narrower bores I feel.

The next favourite is a Shaw Low D - breathy and sweet - needs about 4 times the flow of air though.

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Geoffw
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 11:39 AM

If you want information about whistles, Chiff and Fippleis the place to look.

I find the style irritating at times, but there is lots of information, including a comprehensive listing of whistles high and low; cheap, expensive and all in between. Many of them have quite detailed reviews.

I am quite happy with my Generation D. They tend to play sharp, but that is easily fixed by holding them under the hot tap to soften the glue and pulling the head out a little. Mine needed to be pulled out about 1/4".

Geoff

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 06:27 PM

I can pull mine out further than that ...... oh sorry.... :-E|

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 06:38 PM

Check out the whistle forum and Marketplace at Gaelic Crossings. Folks are always buying and selling whistles. I recently bought an almost new low G from Kerrywhistles through that forum and saved 50% off the list price.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 09:38 AM

Try Hobgoblin in Nottingham...
Good luck!
D

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Chris Green
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:00 PM

I may be wrong but if it's Bernard Overton I'm thinking of he's based in Brinklow (about three miles north of Coventry). If you send an enquiry via email to [e-mail], there should be a plethora of people who'll give you contact details for him.

Cheers

Chris

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 08:34 PM

Definitely follow the link to Chiff'n'Fipple and read up a bit. The problem is that he (Dale Wisely, who runs that website) tends to praise everything to the heavens, perhaps so he won't kill the golden goose that lays all the freebies he gets. But you can read between the lines, and watch out for what others say. (Well-informed message boards are part of the C'n'F package.)

The problem with Overtons these days is that you don't always know what you're getting. (I'd be happy to enlarge on that in PMs.) Be sure it plays well across the range before buying, and have a tuner handy to check that it is exactly the pitch it's supposed to be (I'm not aware of any Overtons that allow for pitch adjustment).

If you go to Hobgoblin in Nottingham, you'll probably finish up with a Howard Low D, which is excellent value for money at £85 - or that was the price the last time I checked. There is some degree of tunability at the mouthpiece.

Tony Dixon's low whistles are cheap enough but very basic, and are not very well tuned within themselves. (This gets significantly worse if you use more than a fraction of the vast amount of pitch adjustment that's available.)

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: s&r
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 05:23 AM

Speak to Phil Brown - a nice guy with good stock and knowledge.

Stu

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 05:56 AM

You could do a lot worse than arrange to visit the workshop of Weston Whistles in North Lincolnshire. The wooden ones have a wonderful tone, and the iron ones are well reviewed on the Chip and Fipple, and as the manufacturer is establishing his reputation, the unit cost isn't prohibitive. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 08:12 AM

As Peter K says, play it and check the pitch before you buy it.
   I believe Susatos are good, but I haven't got one yet.

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 09:32 AM

I have 2 Low D Susatos, one conical & one straight bore. They are Ok, but very neutral in tone - the straight bore sounds slightly more 'reedy'.

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Paul Burke
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 10:09 AM

I hate high Susatos, they are breathy, loud, and the tuning between the octaves is inconsistent.

The old- style conical whsitles are usually untuneable, which is a pest in sessions.

Generation Ds are as good as almost anything- IF you get a good one. Tune as someone said above. I've found one useful technique is to clean up the flash around the mouthpiece, using a VERY sharp craft knife. You have to be careful not to overdo it, but I've converted a few so-so examples into good ones this way.

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: Louisey
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 04:32 PM

Thanks for all your help, it's confused me even more! I've been in contact with Bernard Overton and taken a trip to Hobgoblin in Notts where they were very helpful. Unfortunately low D whistles are huuuuuuuge and my fingers dont even nearly reach the bottom holes :( I'll take your advice and try and tune my generation whistle as it is horrifically sharp (almost a whole semi-tone!) no doubt it'll all go wrong and I'll be back on here for help on how to fix it!!

Subject: RE: Overton Whistles
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Aug 05 - 07:43 PM

There are two schools of thought to getting your fingers to cover the holes.

The Irish method - 'piper style' - don't use the fingertip pads, push your hand past the holes, and use the next joint on the fingers.

I play my large whistles in the 'flute style' - the hand is angled relative to the tube. One way to get there is to hold the whistle sideways (as a flute) then rotate the whistle back to normal playing position, sliding things around but keeping the holes covered. I end up using the sides of the pads of the tips on some fingers.

Whatever you are more comfortable with.

When attempting whistle surgery - work slowly, take care and think it through first!