Best penny whistle book chiff and fipple

Shaw whistles are a slightly up-market, better-made cousin of the old-style Clarkes. The old style Clarke whistles, with the wooden block, can be nice, but they are temperamental, as the wood expands and contracts as it takes on and loses moisture (eventually, if it dries out too much, it starts to leak air around the edges, or may fall out altogether.) So, IвЂ™d probably plump for Feadog over Generation nowadays.Д¬larkeвЂ™s Sweetone and Meg whistles (which are identical, as far as I can tell) have never done it for me - the tone doesnвЂ™t have enough вЂedgeвЂ™ for my liking. Meanwhile, Generation whistles have become very inconsistent tone and quality - a couple of years ago, I sorted through a box of Generation D whistles and out of about 10, I found 3 that were, to my ear, acceptable (all those I didnвЂ™t buy were duly cleaned with antiseptic wipes). Feadog introduced a new fipple design about 10 years ago, giving a tone much closer to that of the Generation (the older design had a slightly вЂmushyвЂ™ sound, as opposed to the вЂpoppierвЂ™ sound of the Generation), and they seem to be quite consistent in quality. IвЂ™ve found in recent years that they are better than Generation whistles - and much the same price. I donвЂ™t know if theyвЂ™re still being made.'ДЇeadogs are still around. 'An Irish whistle called the вЂFeadogвЂ™ was in circulation decades ago that seemed very like the GenerationвЂ¦. IвЂ™ve heard some that are impressive, but the prices might be that too, and I have not as yet felt stirred to buy one. Lots of individuals are making and marketing whistles of various kinds, made of various materials. I find their sound over-loud and insensitive and 'plastic-sounding', if you know what I mean.

IвЂ™ve got two, and theyвЂ™re both like that. Its very top notes donвЂ™t come out properly, IвЂ™ve found - I just get squawks on mine.

IвЂ™ve found the black Clarke вЂMegвЂ™ in D an inferior thing. I donвЂ™t know if theyвЂ™re still being made. I never bought one though I believe it was quite popular with players. Every so often a tune crops up thatвЂ™s not in the basic D-G-A range that the D whistle handles.ДЄn Irish whistle called the вЂFeadogвЂ™ was in circulation decades ago that seemed very like the Generation. And I assume theyвЂ™re still (relatively) very cheap, and that it doesnвЂ™t cost much to acquire the range of different sizes / keys. Whistle freaks do endless things to them, no doubt to better effect than I did, and no doubt they will be submitting their tips here.ДЄn ordinary well-functioning brass Generation is for me as good as any whistle gets, and IвЂ™m not looking out for any other kind. Way back I destroyed more whistles by trying to 'improve' them than I ever brought home as actual duds. I think youвЂ™d be unlucky to buy a whistle blind that didnвЂ™t function properly. The brass ones come with a thin shiny patina, which may well present the same problem (itвЂ™s so long since I bought oneвЂ¦), but this quite soon frays off and youвЂ™re left with the true brass underneath on which the fingers find a firm purchase, whether the instrument is held tightly or relatively loosely. Though some people who donвЂ™t have this problem definitely prefer them. Maybe the nickel ones sound a tad better and fuller, but IвЂ™ve found personally that any sweat at all on oneвЂ™s fingers makes them slip about in a way that is a nuisance and an impediment to playing them. Regarding the tube вЂ“ just make sure there are no rough edges around either the holes or bottom end and ensure there are no dents. You can remove flash with a craft knife, but its better if you donвЂ™t have to. Make sure that the blade (the sharp edge at the bottom of the window) is a clean crisp moulding. No two ever sound quite the same!ДЄll you need to do is avoid any you see with moulding flash (surplus bits of plastic) in either the airway (hole you blow down) or the window (rectangular hole in the mouthpiece). The downfall of cheap whistles lies in the inconsistency of their manufacture. They are all made to a 'price point' rather than a quality standard. Heres a bit of buying advice for you as wellвЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦.ДЄll cheap (under ВЈ40.00) whistles are mass produced. I also recommend our member Michael Eskin and a certain Jesuit priest - both on utube. Geraldine Cotter wrote a good tutor - copies always available on Ebay/Amazon etc. Then again, if you donвЂ™t play one yourself, that might be pointless. Not sure about trying in the shop, canвЂ™t hurt to ask though. Reasons for this include price, musicality, tone, breath requrement, provenance (did somebody already mention that lass Bergin and that Moloney chap?), tweakability, tunability. Nickel plated Generation D would be my top choice. But to answer all your questions in turnвЂ¦вЂ¦вЂ¦ I posted an answer to the self same question on another site recently. How strange that this should come up again.

Best penny whistle book chiff and fipple