Advice on choosing Whistle

Subject: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 08:05 AM

I bought one for my wife 6 months ago – fairly inexpensive Waltons Irish D whistle. She's taken to playing it, but with her birthday coming up I was thinking of a better quality – possibly wooden one – can anyone give me any suggestions? We have been told you can get a cleaenr sound from a wooden one?

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 08:08 AM

Why not have a look at Tony Dixons whistles? High quality, not overly expensive. They are hand finished plastic which is easier to maintain than wood.
http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/index.html

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 08:27 AM

It is, sadly, far too simplistic a statement to say that you get a 'clearer' sound from a wooden whistle than a metal one - some metal whistles are very clear-toned (my all-metal Harper high whistle is very clear-toned, for example, whereas Bleazley wooden whistles are very woody indeed!)

The advice I always give in these circumstances is the same -

Do some research on prices on websites etc;
Decide what your budget is (including how far over that budget you're prepared to go for that special instrument that is just right but slightly over the original price bracket);
Then take the instrument-player out shopping.

That way the player gets to choose the best whistle for them (because they'll be the one playing it), they get all the added fun of trying out the various types and makes your local whistle emporium has to offer, and you get both (a) the kudos of buying the whistle they really want, (b) some input into the process, and hopefully (c) the pleasure of listening to it for a long time afterwards.

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:32 AM

Go with Manitas:

Why not have a look at Tony Dixons whistles? High quality, not overly expensive. They are hand finished plastic which is easier to maintain than wood.
http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/index.html

L in C#

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:41 AM

Myself I do like Susato great intonation and tone

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:43 AM

My vote is for Dixon as well ! I cant make up my mind wether they are the best of the cheap whistles , or the cheapest of the Good whistles , and i have generations , shaws and Chieftains

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:58 AM

I had an expensive wooden Sweetheart D once which was only good for concealing spliffs, though I liked the wooden Tamlin (?) I tried in Forsyths (Manchester) a few weeks ago. For organic whisles I favour bamboo, like the one I bought in the gift shop of Cromer Zoo for £1 back in July. Trouble is, whilst you'd be hard pushed to find a better sounding whistle at any price, and whilst it's just about in tune with itself, at a pitch somewhere in the hinterland between F# & G it's not going to be much use in a session.

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 10:15 AM

She's already got a whistle. Now get her a recorder. Even the pink or green plastic recorders are nice to play.

Also buy a recorder method book to go with it.

Subject: RE: Advice on choosing Whistle
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 11:27 AM

Thanks for all the advice - she had previously been advise don Dixons as well, so might start there.