Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: GUEST,stigweard no cookie
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 01:49 PM

Hell's teeth, my spelling is bad. I apologise.

stigweard

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 08:37 AM

Aw heck, now I'm completely confused. I have emailed Phil with some questions as the small curved hole above the plug (fipple?) that you blow into is marlkdly off-centre but he said they were hand-made almost to perfecton, which I guess means it won't make any difference.

As for not getting the top E, I can get it alebit with an intersing range of harmonics (and burst eardrums), which I think is becasue I'm crap rather than this excellent whistle!

Got the Dixon, which is a plastic tuneable so I can practice whilst playing in the Bleazey. Nice whistle too - I like the tone anwill probably use this one to pop into my pocket when on my travels.

stigWeard

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 07:06 AM

Bottom note on a D is D , Octave up is into top Octave , and if the mouthpiece is halfway decent there should at least be an E above the top D - ie TWO full octaves and one full tone ! If you cant get the top E , DONT buy it !!

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 05:47 AM

On a D whistle the second octave is above the second D. I opine that most whistles are happy up to the third D.

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 04:00 AM

Hmm, that's not what I meant. I meant the second octave where you have to blow a bit harder . . .

And I'd settled on the Dixon too, so I may get one this morning.

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 07:58 AM

"Have trouble getting ony note over the second D "... not many whistles do that, even less listeners would thank you for doing it.

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 07:47 AM

I cannot make my mind up as to wether Tony Dixon makes the best of the cheap whistles , or the cheapest of the good whistles !

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 05:08 AM

I was wondering about getting a decent one to rest the wooden - good advice.

Now, any recommendations?

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Tootler
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 04:58 AM

Enjoy your new whistle.

Consider getting a good plastic one so you can rest the wooden one. I often practice on a plastic recorder to avoid overplaying the wooden ones.

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 04:38 AM

Ok, I let it dry (I haven't played it that much and it lives in a cloth bag so can breathe), and have oiled it. Let me have a go . . .


That's much better. Just did todays 15 mins. Sounds a little deeper perhaps? Still some of the squeaks but they don't come as easily as before and as I have said previously I think that is me. Have trouble getting ony note over the second D still but that must be me :)

This advice is invaluable - thanks!

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:37 PM

Let it dry out thoroughly before you oil it.

I nearly ruined a tenor recorder by not playing it in properly. I thought I had done so, but I hadn't and used over a long period one day. After a time the top notes would not speak properly. I rested it and played a plastic one for a while and it recovered, but was not quite the same. Play it for too long and the top notes (usually top A and above) would not speak cleanly. I recently sent it for revoicing and that seems to have resolved the problem - I hope

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 05:22 AM

G'day stigWeard,

I just noticed this thread from down here in the antipodes ... all the way down I was getting ready to advise a little bottle of almond oil and a mop ... but I see that one has finally soaked in!

You should see dramatic changes when you oil it up to the maker's recommendations.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 04:30 AM

I realise this now having logged onto Phil's site yesterday to see if I could find any care instructions, but I have been playing it a bit more than 15 minutes a day in the first week, and I didn't oil it first. I will be buying some Almond Oil this morning, making a mop and following the instructions on Phil' site.

stigWeard

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 04:15 AM

Another, completely different point.

You have a brand new wooden instrument. The need playing in. They will not take the abuse you can hand out to a cheap whistle. About 15 minutes a day for the first week, gradually building up over 4 - 6 weeks until you can play it all the time. There is advice on Phil's website on playing in new instruments. Follow it.

It will also need oiling from time to time - about once or twice a year is enough.

HTH

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 04:02 AM

Oh no! Another squeak has appeared where one didn't exist before!

A tiny harmonic squeak whenever I change notes whilst tongueing.

This could take some time . . .

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 07:28 PM

"a bit of tongueing and a slight slide in can make things a bit less squeaky"

going bye bye now...

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: JohnB
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 11:13 AM

Try supporting the breath from the diaphragm, a bit of tongueing and a slight slide in can make things a bit less sqeaky.
Also blow through the whistle with your finger over the fipple hole a couple of times to warm things up a bit first.
Good Luck, JohnB

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 09:27 AM

Practice consists of repeating the bits you don't do very well, until you have nothing left to do...

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 05:04 AM

Excellent advice - thanks a lot. I know it's me so I'll get on and practice.

Cheers,

stigWeard

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 03:25 AM

I haven't got one, but I played a couple for about half an hour when I went to visit Phil back in March. Yes, the top octave is a little harder to blow than a Clarke's, but I found it perfectly true and very responsive. As a beginner, your breath control is bound to be iffy, so just persevere. And if it worries you, just listen to Cathal McConnel or Seamus Tansey or one of that lot playing the flute: playing about with the octaves is part of their style. So make a virtue of necessity, and use your inexperience as an opportunity to develop your style.

Subject: RE: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: ET
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 05:07 PM

They are excellent. I have a low D - No trouble with Octave 2 except top D which can be a bit hard. Try tounging the second octave - the extra blast can work.

Subject: Bleazey Whistles - anyone got one?
From: Stu
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:14 PM

I just got my luverly new Phil Bleazey high D whistle in Mopani. What a looker - a superb bit of craftsmanship. The first otave sounds beautiful, but I'm having trouble getting the second octave steady - sometimes I can't hit it at all.

Now I have to admit I may be a bit impatient here. I've only been playing a few weeks and most of that on a Clarke's Meg that cost £1.50 from a local music shop. I realise my new whistle will take a bit more getting used to, but has anyone else experience this? I don't want to phone Phil up saying 'this ain't right' when I think it's almost certainly me getting it wrong!

stigWeard