I also agree this has convinced me not to buy the aluminum version, because it is so similar to the one I already have, which is the plastic. And I love it!! IF I ever get another low D Whistle I want it to be very different than what I have now.
Exactly. I think you would be a little disappointed having them both since hey are so similar. The Tony Dixon brings that more traditional whistle sound in a low D. It would be good to add one that offers a clear tone like many of the low D whistles do. That way you can enjoy both options.
I had the same thought, because, having the same head, I think they should be quite similar, and then I already have an aluminum low whistle in D built by a friend of mine who I met at an Irish music festival which works well but which is very challenging because it has huge holes that are almost double the diameter of the one we have from Tony Dixon.
The Tony Dixon polymer Whistle I have is the easiest one to play and I think it has a beautiful tone. That’s why I considered the aluminum one but it sounds too similar.
Wow thanks for all these reviews! I have a couple High D and a High C whistle (Freeman D/C set and a Parks Ghost High D) and am looking into Low D tunable whistles but also don't want to pay an arm and a leg! At first I was looking at the Dixon tunable resin but then started looking at the "one step above" whistles (Kerry Optima, Dixon Aluminum, MK, Chieftan, etc although the latter two are quite pricey!). I'm not a very good player by any means and mostly just like to improv a bit over music (worship in particular). There is a chance I could be playing live in the future but for now it's mostly just playing around at home if I have the chance and desire. That said, what do you think would be the best whistle to consider picking up? I saw a pretty high recommendation for the Kerry Optima from you in the other video on that but it seems hard deciding...
Love your story. Playing at home and in worship (if you get drawn into your worship band now and then), you’ll want a whistle that has a solid tone top to bottom, that plays easily, and that you can be expressive on without being too loud. Yes, you definitely want tunable. I think you are looking for a step up, like you said. You mentioned some great whistles. A tuneable Kerry Optima would be good, a Howard, an MK Pro, the Chieftain (which I have not played) These and a few others are good options. Listen to as many videos as possible of people playing. Let me know what some of the factors you really want (clear tone, airy, loud, soft, etc) and I’ll think through your options some more
@@LowDWhistle Thanks! I think I'd want something that can get fairly loud but not quite sure on tone yet. Something that would likely cut through a mix fairly well though. Are there any whistles that can produce BOTH clear AND airy tones by chance? For some reason, I want to say I lean more towards "airy" but I'm wondering if that would sound very good in a mix with a bunch of other instruments.
That's a great question. I think an airy whistle would sound good with other instruments, so long as it didn't lag. There are a few options, but if you get to whistles that can be be louder but also permit softer playing you are getting into more expensive whistles. I'd still say the Howard is an option, the MK Pro, and some of the Kerry whistles are options. You could begin with Phil Hardy's new Kerry low D. it is not tunable, which is not great, but it is good volume and a slight breathiness. The Kerry Optima is an option as well, as you said. I just received a Busker low D from Kerry whistles, It seems quite responsive. It is not incredibly breathy, but does have a little bit of buzz to the tone. I'll think a little more.
I tried a few of the ones I have. I think the tunable Kerry Optima is a good option. It's a little airy, slightly buzzy, with a good volume and tone. It is inexpensive enough that you won't be crushed if you don't love it. I'd then look at the Howard (or look there first if the cost was OK). The Howard is not very airy, but the tone, volume, and playability are excellent. If you could afford it I would look at the MK Pro, which is very flexible with excellent depth and some airiness. I have ordered a whistle from Clover, and they permit you to customize the tone, but you'd have to wait. And if you are not certain what you want you should wait until you are to have a custom one made. I hope this helps.
@@LowDWhistle nice! Thanks for the suggestions! What about Susato whistles? Also, for Howard whistles I think I briefly read something on Chiff and Fipple about how how there are big differences between the newer and older models? Are there Howard whistles that were made in a certain period of time that are more desirable than others of the same?
I find it interesting that so much of the sound comes from the head, I have heard plastic heads don’t clog as easily as metal but I’m sure that varies a lot between different makers also. The only all metal Whistle I have is a shearwater and I love it but it’s a low F, non-tunable. I have pondered getting one of his Low D whistles, someday.
Thank you for saying. Since this video I have experimented with my Mike and done a better job bringing it closer to me. I’m glad you said though, as it confirms what I was thinking.
i think the original whistle would have been wooden tbh. Overtone made the first low whistles as they were actually not an "old" thing at all but that whole low whistle craze started in the late 60's early 70 with the kind of music that attracted whistles. Low whistles are not traditional at all.
Thank you so much for answering my question; therefore spacing and diameter of the holes between the two low whistles is very similar. Thanks again!
My pleasure. Thanks for asking. Caused me to think better about the differences and similarities
I also agree this has convinced me not to buy the aluminum version, because it is so similar to the one I already have, which is the plastic. And I love it!! IF I ever get another low D Whistle I want it to be very different than what I have now.
Exactly. I think you would be a little disappointed having them both since hey are so similar. The Tony Dixon brings that more traditional whistle sound in a low D. It would be good to add one that offers a clear tone like many of the low D whistles do. That way you can enjoy both options.
I had the same thought, because, having the same head, I think they should be quite similar, and then I already have an aluminum low whistle in D built by a friend of mine who I met at an Irish music festival which works well but which is very challenging because it has huge holes that are almost double the diameter of the one we have from Tony Dixon.
Thanks for saying. Fun to have a whistle made by someone you know. Must be a challenge to have really large holes.
The Tony Dixon polymer Whistle I have is the easiest one to play and I think it has a beautiful tone. That’s why I considered the aluminum one but it sounds too similar.
I was doing the same until I played them both. I was honestly surprised
Wow thanks for all these reviews! I have a couple High D and a High C whistle (Freeman D/C set and a Parks Ghost High D) and am looking into Low D tunable whistles but also don't want to pay an arm and a leg! At first I was looking at the Dixon tunable resin but then started looking at the "one step above" whistles (Kerry Optima, Dixon Aluminum, MK, Chieftan, etc although the latter two are quite pricey!). I'm not a very good player by any means and mostly just like to improv a bit over music (worship in particular). There is a chance I could be playing live in the future but for now it's mostly just playing around at home if I have the chance and desire. That said, what do you think would be the best whistle to consider picking up? I saw a pretty high recommendation for the Kerry Optima from you in the other video on that but it seems hard deciding...
Love your story. Playing at home and in worship (if you get drawn into your worship band now and then), you’ll want a whistle that has a solid tone top to bottom, that plays easily, and that you can be expressive on without being too loud. Yes, you definitely want tunable.
I think you are looking for a step up, like you said.
You mentioned some great whistles. A tuneable Kerry Optima would be good, a Howard, an MK Pro, the Chieftain (which I have not played)
These and a few others are good options. Listen to as many videos as possible of people playing. Let me know what some of the factors you really want (clear tone, airy, loud, soft, etc) and I’ll think through your options some more
@@LowDWhistle Thanks! I think I'd want something that can get fairly loud but not quite sure on tone yet. Something that would likely cut through a mix fairly well though. Are there any whistles that can produce BOTH clear AND airy tones by chance? For some reason, I want to say I lean more towards "airy" but I'm wondering if that would sound very good in a mix with a bunch of other instruments.
That's a great question. I think an airy whistle would sound good with other instruments, so long as it didn't lag. There are a few options, but if you get to whistles that can be be louder but also permit softer playing you are getting into more expensive whistles. I'd still say the Howard is an option, the MK Pro, and some of the Kerry whistles are options. You could begin with Phil Hardy's new Kerry low D. it is not tunable, which is not great, but it is good volume and a slight breathiness. The Kerry Optima is an option as well, as you said. I just received a Busker low D from Kerry whistles, It seems quite responsive. It is not incredibly breathy, but does have a little bit of buzz to the tone. I'll think a little more.
I tried a few of the ones I have. I think the tunable Kerry Optima is a good option. It's a little airy, slightly buzzy, with a good volume and tone. It is inexpensive enough that you won't be crushed if you don't love it. I'd then look at the Howard (or look there first if the cost was OK). The Howard is not very airy, but the tone, volume, and playability are excellent. If you could afford it I would look at the MK Pro, which is very flexible with excellent depth and some airiness. I have ordered a whistle from Clover, and they permit you to customize the tone, but you'd have to wait. And if you are not certain what you want you should wait until you are to have a custom one made. I hope this helps.
@@LowDWhistle nice! Thanks for the suggestions! What about Susato whistles?
Also, for Howard whistles I think I briefly read something on Chiff and Fipple about how how there are big differences between the newer and older models? Are there Howard whistles that were made in a certain period of time that are more desirable than others of the same?
I find it interesting that so much of the sound comes from the head, I have heard plastic heads don’t clog as easily as metal but I’m sure that varies a lot between different makers also. The only all metal Whistle I have is a shearwater and I love it but it’s a low F, non-tunable. I have pondered getting one of his Low D whistles, someday.
It really is interesting. It’s the same with almost all woodwinds. From all I’ve heard from folks in our group his low D is a good whistle.
I think your mic is set a little low. Thanks for the information.
Thank you for saying. Since this video I have experimented with my Mike and done a better job bringing it closer to me. I’m glad you said though, as it confirms what I was thinking.
the original whistle was metal, so i would imagine metal ones have the mist authentic sound
I believe you are right. However, with advances even metal whistles sound different than each other. 😂
It would be really fun to find an antique whistle to play.
@@LowDWhistle true! plus i dont know if ancient metal would change, be coroded and then not make the same sound - complex problem!
So true.
i think the original whistle would have been wooden tbh. Overtone made the first low whistles as they were actually not an "old" thing at all but that whole low whistle craze started in the late 60's early 70 with the kind of music that attracted whistles. Low whistles are not traditional at all.