Irish/English Whistle makers

Subject: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Stu
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 10:59 AM

Can anyone recommend a good maker of high D whistles that works in the Isles?

(I put Irish/English, but could be Scottish or Welsh too!)

stigWeard

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 11:31 AM

Tony Dixon !!!

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Paul Burke
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 12:19 PM

Phil Bleazey makes some very nice wooden whistles with tuning slides, and not expensive for an instrument of that quality. I've got one of his flutes, and can vouch for his craftsmanship.

His wooden low D whistles, while more expensive than many ally tube ones, have a beautiful sound - the bottom D has a lovely buzz.

He might be difficult to get hold of at the moment though- his wife Cathie has recently died after a long illness.

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Folkiedave
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 12:29 PM

Dave Shaw http://www.daveshaw.co.uk/SHAW_Whistles/shaw_whistles.html

Brian Howard http://www.howardmusic.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Stu
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 07:01 AM

Thanks folks!!

I have a Howard low D whistle that my wife bought and I am now learning to play, but I am after a high D now. I like the look of the Dixon, plus they are not too expensive. I have never come across Dave Shaw before - any feedback on his whistles?

stigweard

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 07:16 AM

any feedback on his whistles?

Go on then - I'll be the pratt to say it.

Only if you turn the volume up too much...

There you are. No one else has to do it now.

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 07:29 AM

Shaws are tapered - a bit like Clarkes , but a lot better ! I personally prefer a Straight Bore as in the Dixons ! I can never make up my mind wether Dixons are the best of the cheap whistles , or the cheapest of the 'good' whistles !

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 08:47 AM

Vin Garbutt, Paddy Moloney and Sean Potts all play Generations.

eric

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 08:57 AM

I personally like the Susuato brown plastic whistles. A very clear tone and reliable. There were two versions, a single part and a two part whistle, the two part is adjustable for fine tuning.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Tootler
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 05:51 PM

Tony Dixon Website Here

I have a tuneable polymer tenor flute in D. It has a very nice tone and is excellent value for money. However, I never really got to grips with it and have stuck to my recorder though I do play it from time to time. If his other instruments are as good as this, they are quality instruments at reasonable prices.

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: 8_Pints
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 06:46 PM

Not only is Dave Shaw a fine maker of whistles but also a brilliant maker of, and performer on the Northumbrian Small Pipes and Scottish Small Pipes.

He was with Pete & Chris Coe in "Red Shift" many years ago, and I saw him perform at the first Bladon Festival this year.

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: SussexCarole
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 06:48 PM

I agree with you Phil - Phil Bleazey makes wonderful flutes, but I havn't tried his whistles. So sorry to hear about Cathie

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 06:56 PM

G'day stigweard,

I own (and occasionally make) too many different whistles to have a clear idea of which is best (or what "best" means!) ... but I bought a Dixon two-head set ('whistle/fife') in black polymer at this year's (Australian) National Folk Festival.

The whistle (obviously tunable) works well and keeps its tuning firmly in place. With the fife head (bought because I'm always telling myself I should work at being better on fife / crossblown) I found that I could play much better than on other one-piece metal and plastic fifes I own.

I think Tony Dixon is doing a lot of things right ... and, for a hand-made, multi-format instrument - the price was very good.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 11:46 PM

Shaws are instruments for 'Dolly Parton' players .... I'll let you work out that on your own... :-)

Howards take about a quarter of the breath to blow...

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 11:54 PM

Er... G'day Foolestroupe,

I skipped my remarks on Shaw whistles ... I was going to say that Dave Shaw seems to think that all whistlers have the lung capacity of pipers!

I still don't really know how my Shaws sound ... by the time I get a reasonably coherent phrase out - hyperventilation has set in and I'm getting high on oxygen.

I have heard of "tweakers" reworking Shaw whistles ... mainly by cementing in a thin strip of plastic (~) to narrow down the windway. They are made of material much too sturdy to "nudge" in and out the way I always did with the Clarke tin whistles.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 12:05 AM

Bob,

"Dolly Parton"

"tweakers"

my mind's gone...

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 01:00 AM

G'day Foolestroupe,

Honi soit qui mal y pense

... Mind you - that is the motto of "The Order of the Garter" ...

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Stu
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 07:16 AM

Hmmm, I like the sound of the Bleazey and the reviews are all good. I love the sound of a wooden whistle so I might go for one of those.

BUT, the Dixons look good too . . .

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Ruler
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 09:00 AM

Try chiff and fipple - there'll be more reviews of whistles than you can shake a stick at.

But my ten pennorth:

I have played with Clarke, Shaw, generations, Susato and Dixon whistles and generally prefer the raspier sound that the tapered metal whistle provides. So Shaw and clarkes get my thumbs up (although I found Clarke whistles need some playing around with to get the sound right). This is just my preference.

I do agree that the Shaw whistles tend to take more air to blow (but it's not that much more)than cylindrical bore metal instruments. For the price they are a good whistle (especially the low G and A whistle).   

I also have a Bleazey wood whistle which I adore - the notes given by cross fingering come true and the tone and volume itself is so much more better and clearer than i have ever experienced with a metal whistle, but it requires significantly more air than the Shaw whistle. However, the benefit is that I can even hear myself at a very loud session.


Good Luck,

Steve.

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: s&r
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 10:24 AM

Fred Rose
Nice guy nice whistles

Stu

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: s&r
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 10:26 AM

And check out Phil Brown's stock

Stu

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Feadan
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 10:30 PM

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Paul Hayward maker of Silkstone Whistles. I haven't tried the PVC models but the have the alloy D, Low D & D+ models. Brilliant intonation, superb balance between the octaves and very sweet voice.

My 2 cents, David

P.S. Shaws too breathy for my tastes. Nice reedy sound though. Dixon's I also find too breathy. Not a lot of character IMHO. Would never spend money on another Howard after the badly out of tune rubbish they first produced and then refused to allow a trade up when they eventually began to make playable whistles. Not exactly good business practice. Still have that P.O.S. model kicking around >:-p

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:56 PM

I have an early silver finish Howard Low C (definitely NOT modified mouthpiece). It is the best whistle I have. Sweet, orchestral, and as in tune as far as I can tell. Would dearly LOVE to get a Low D similar - best I have been able to acquire from later runs (black finish) sounds lifeless in comparison.

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Stu
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 09:44 AM

Well, I ordered the Bleazey, in mopani wood.

Can't wait for it to arrive. Thanks for all the advice!

stigWeard

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: SussexCarole
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 04:56 PM

The mopani wood is beautiful, that's what drew my eye to my Bleazey Pratten flute in the first instance. Then when I saw the workmanship and played it - I couldn't leave without buying it.
Enjoy your new whistle!

Subject: RE: Irish/English Whistle makers
From: Stu
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 04:31 AM

Looking forward to it!