Freeman Whistles?

Subject: Freeman Whistles?
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 25 Jul 04 - 10:09 AM

Any whistle players come across "Freeman tweaked whistles" at all? I believe the gentleman lives in the US and adapts whistles by a number of makers.I've just bought one of his versions of a Shaw's soprano D whistle but would love to hear any information, background, opinions etc.

thanks - Dáithí

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 25 Jul 04 - 10:23 AM

Try going to Chiff & Fipple. The primary resource on whistles.

chiffandfipple.com

Tweaking your whistles

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 06:23 AM

Thanks Blackcatter - there was a piece by Jerry Freeman himself on the link. Glad I bought one, rather than tried to follow the DIY instructions though!
D

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 01:05 AM

No problem. I've met Jerry at a workshop. nice guy. Haven't bothered to buy any of his mods.

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 11:41 AM

Anyone who wants to play with tinkering a whistle, run out and but a "Generation".   They almost always need severe tweaking in order to sound and play halfway decently, but are cheap enough so it's not a big deal if you bollox one up in the attempt. Give the failures to your little Nephew or the bratty snotnosed kid down the street to annoy his parents with!

I'd stick with the little weeine ones (the cheapest, generally) until you get the hang of it, though.

Properly tweaked, a Gennie can be a pretty decent whistle, actually.

They make a great backpack / auto console sort of instrument that can take a beating and are not a big deal if some gremlin walks off with it or it gets run over, slammed in the door, or otherwise falls on bad times. You don't want that happening to your Oak, Cheiftan, Susato or Soodlum, now do you?

I think not! };^{)~

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 10:55 PM

G'day Uncle Jaque,

All you say of the (current) Generation whistles should be set to change. British pipe-maker Brian Howard, who was out here for the (Australian) National Folk Festival, in Canberra over last Easter, told me that he is redesigning the Generation head. They have no plans ... or even manufacturing patterns ... for their past heads (which have deteriorated as the mould suffers wear and tear) - so he is starting from first principles. I hope this means we will soon see Generation whistles with accurate, responsive head joints and consistent quality control!

All that said ... you should have tried to play anything listenable on the larger Generations when I first encountered them (c. 1964). Anything larger than the 'D' was so unresponsive as to be unplayable. (And, that was pretty early into their plastic heads ... there were still shops with old stocks of the cylindrical brass Generation whistles with lead fipples! I knew people who sought them out - they sounded great ... not too good for your health! One was left to me by an old player, Herb Gimbert, who died at 88. I occasionally play it - on its own, since it is in old ["high" or "Kneller Hall"] pitch, where A = 454 Hz - so I have covered the mouthpiece with 'shrinkfit' plastic to minimise contact with the lead mouthpiece.)


Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Freeman Whistles?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 03:55 AM

Bob,
I have seen stocks of 'The Meg' in Brisbane.

Robin