My Budget Tin Whistle Comparison: Clark Sweetone, Feadog, Oak, Dixon DX004

Tin whistle is a great instrument for playing Irish folk music whether you’re looking to make it your primary instrument or, like me, using it to add another sound to your arsenal. I have a small collection of relatively inexpensive whistles, and I figured I’d give you a sound comparison here in case you’re in the market.
The whistles are:
Clark Sweetone (about $15)
Feadog Brass (about $13)
Oak (about $10)
Dixon DX004 (about $30)
*yes I misspoke when I said the traditional Clark has a plastic block, it’s made of wood

[@organman77]

Thanks for this! I appreciate listening to the different sounds. I haven't found many reviews or examples of the Oak so that was particularly interesting.

[@petrzajic4945]

Thank you for the comparison. I Have the Dixon DX004 and it was great to hear the diference with those others. I found it a bit unstable in the higher octave during my playing. I would love to hear your thoughts. :)

[@giorgiolamborghini813]

Except the Dixon Dx004 I have them all, I don't comment on the Dixons which I know are very good. I notice the lack of the Generation, it doesn't matter since it's alwaysmore difficult to find a good one, but if you're lucky, they are excellent. Of the other 3 I would save the Oak, it has a clean sound, it's in tune, many say that the second octave is strident but I don't find it too much or even more than many others, I'm not saying I prefer it to other higher-end ones I own such as example the Lìr or the Killarney which have practically no defects, lately I use more the economic Oak which gives me satisfaction in mastering it and then, when I move on to the better models I feel more at ease and everything is easier, moreover the Oak has that distinctive old school Irish sound that I love so much. I don't particularly like the Clarke Sweetone even if it is perhaps the easiest to play but I find it without personality. The Feadog isn't bad but it has too many flaws, at least the one I own, I find much better a vintage version that I managed to recover which, even if a little out of tune and a little less sonorous than the modern version, has a more pleasant and clean, I corrected the intonation by adjusting the holes and I play it with pleasure. Sorry if I rambled on; I wish you a Happy New Year!

[@heatherjones5983]

The Clarke Sweetone sounds good, the Feadóg is scratchy, and all the whistles except the Sweetone are too loud for my taste

[@joshuab8633]

Crazy, I was literally spending all morning learning this tune and when you started playing it I was thinking something sounded familiar ha..

[@j.p.9522]

Is there any way to remedy the screech at the higher octave on the Oak? Everything sounds great except that part.

[@orlokoclock5353]

I like the Feadog. The Brass vs the Tin sounds more...i don't think I have the word. Less sharp? Warm? But I like the Brass over the actual Tin

[@mattdeblassmusic]

Here's my "fancy" whistle

[@mattdeblassmusic]

The tune:

[@bonenfant96]

I think the Dixon is best.

[@ShadowZero27]

i literalyl had my computer volume on max, browser volume on max, and my external amplified sound system at max and I could barely understand you when you were talking

[@Tuttodunfiato.N.A.F]

👍🏻🇮🇹

[@20Hikecdt23]

Clark-No. Feadog brass- No. Oak brass-maybe. Dixon DX004-fuzzy but maybe. None that rings my bell. Thanks the video and comparison. Appreciate it.

[@munchaking1896]

Budget instruments sound budget, they make my ears want to vomit