I have only really played on very basic whistles. I made my own low D from a piece of 1" diameter aluminium tubing, but I want one that's easier to blow, which is what brought me to your video
Welcome. You’ll love a better whistle. Good for you for making your own. I’m impressed. I’ll bet that requires a good bit of air. Most inexpensive whistles are not easy to play, and don’t sound great. A nicer whistle is, well, so nice! If you want a less expensive one, I ordered an aluminum Dixon that should arrive in the next couple days.
@@LowDWhistle I made a fipple from the end of an old broom handle and made the end like a Clarke whistle. Although I burned the surface of the wood slightly to make it more water resistant. I offset the holes to fit my fingers. Took hours to tune it. I had to use tapered reamers to open out the holes making each one sharper as it got bigger. Then smoothed the edges of the holes by filing across them with a round file.
I bought one of Tony Dixon’s 3 piece flutes - when I visited his workshop, about 20 years ago - and it’s a great instrument. I’ve still got the instrument and I play it as often as I play my ‘Pratten’-style rosewood flute… they’re great!
I just got my low D whistle, and it is a Tony Dixon. Honestly it's not bad, light smd definitely easy to play and nice to listen to. Definitely not the best, but it's also not awful
Indeed. My initial reaction was not great, but it’s a fairly good whistle for the money and definitely has a place in the market as well as many folks who really like the tone. I agree. It sounds better than it is easy to play.
i think a beginner needs to be sure her mistakes dont come from the whistle being so-so, it mean spending a bit more, especially as an adult beginner who has no nagging parent to keep playing even when it's impossible to make a sound. I think it's when possible a question of putting money aside for a bit longer and getting somethin proper, sale thing for any instrument, and try and find a maker (buy from the maker! no second hand! you never know: it might have been used as a toy for a teenage rotveiler dog!) that has a 30 days return no questions asked. it's all a question of priorities of course when money is low, but there is always birthday etc and it's always possible to tell the family to get you a groupped gift you choose (i've seen it done, it worked folks were happy to know the birthday boy would be 100% happy
I have to say I'm sorry to learn that ten years after I bought a Dixon Low D-- and sold it a few years later-- that it still isn't a very good whistle. I really found it disappointing. It wasn't tuned to A440 (not that a lot of whistles show up right on concert tuning), didn't handle the second octave well at all, and the root D was practically impossible to play with volume. I sold it to a guy who was just starting a collection of just about any kind of aerophone,, and was happy he bought it. I have recently started a new search for a new low D as well.
For the money I also expected more, though I really respect the folks at Dixon. With that said, there are many more low D whistles available today. It depends on the tone you’re after and the $ you’re willing to spend.
I'm just getting into whistles and I can't really stand high pitched whistles, so I've settled on low D. This model sounds like an adequate place to start.
Sorry for the delay. My wife and I are on the road trip. It would be an acceptable place to start. If you wanna pay just a little more, the Tony Dixon TB012 is tunable and would have a little better tone because it has a little more material in it. You could probably get it on sale by signing up to receive emails from some folks like McNeela Music, or some of the other stores. Hope that helps. Enjoy getting started.
@@LowDWhistle I would also like to plug Takahe Flutes, found on Esty, a craftsman who offers traditional tunings and several alternate tunings as well. See his Draco whistles for a very visually attractive whistle, quite unique.
How is the finger spacing though? I had a Kerry low D and could not get to grips with it (literally) so I sold it. But now wish I hadnt. This looks a decent alternative to me
The finger spacing is about the same. The Mountain Made whistle has close finger spacing and is reasonably inexpensive. It is a very quiet whistle, but it does the job. Nick Metcalf addresses the need for close finger spacing by offsetting the third and sixth holes on his standard low D. This helps because you don't have to wrap those fingers. On the more expensive end Howard has a version of their low D that includes a key for the sixth hole. The Carbony sells a low D with close finger spacing that eliminates the finger stretch issues, but those are a little more expensive again. I'll do some checking to see if I can find any other low D whistles with close finger spacing.
I've been checking around. I realized Susato has a key available for their low D. I think you would have to get that directly from Susato. I don't really know how affective the key is. It is more like a wrap cover that you press. I imagine it works well enough. I would likely stick to one of the other options. I hope this all helps some.
I am a beginner, and what I have to chose from is this one (but the tunable to which one can buy a flute head), or the Chieftain V5. But I cant find any comparison between those two, maybe because they are in diffrerent divisions... Anyway. I play bass recorder, and am looking for a louder instrument that will work in mixed ensembles. I like the woody sound but also loudness. Which of these two should I try? Coming from bass recorder (with church organ, harpsichord and piano as first instruments...), they both are low cost for me... ^_^ Please link if you can find any comparison video of these two! Since I played bass recorder and simple system flute, I guess the air volume should not be to hard to handle.
Welcome to the whistle world. You play a wonderful mix of instruments. There are not too many whistles that combine the woody tone with volume. A friend is loaning me a V5 in the next couple weeks and I can compare them then, but I know you’ll likely choose before then. Even though I’ve not played it enough to know well, I think the V5 is a better instrument. It will play more consistently, with good volume, and richer tones. It isn’t that the Dixon is a bad instrument, but the V5 is a better instrument between the two. I hope this helps.
I own more Dixon whistles than any other type, including Dixon polymer whistles from high D to low D, and I really rate them. It's all down to personal preference I guess.
I’m certain it is. I appreciate you saying. I also think that I would like this one much more if I played it more and became more accustomed to it. Everything I know Dixon does a great job up and down their line
@@LowDWhistle Yes. Every whistle has its own particular sound and playing characteristics. I personally dislike whistles that require a lot of breath / back pressure ( e.g. Shaw, Clarke ) to play yet their sound is amazing and they’re good instruments.
I have a few Dixon whistles. The heavy brass is the best high D I've got. The cheap plastic high D is useful because it's quiet, but the tone isn't great. The brass alto A is one of the worst whistles I've played (and I got a replacement which was just as bad). The tuning is off and the notes are unstable (I tried for a couple of years). And even if it did work, the tone isn't anything to write home about. I got a Susato A instead which is great.
With a lower and whistle, my expectations weren’t high, so I was quite pleasantly surprised and happy. That probably caused me to over exaggerate a bit.
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I have only really played on very basic whistles. I made my own low D from a piece of 1" diameter aluminium tubing, but I want one that's easier to blow, which is what brought me to your video
Welcome. You’ll love a better whistle. Good for you for making your own. I’m impressed. I’ll bet that requires a good bit of air. Most inexpensive whistles are not easy to play, and don’t sound great.
A nicer whistle is, well, so nice! If you want a less expensive one, I ordered an aluminum Dixon that should arrive in the next couple days.
What did you do for a mouthpiece on the one you made?
@@LowDWhistle I made a fipple from the end of an old broom handle and made the end like a Clarke whistle. Although I burned the surface of the wood slightly to make it more water resistant. I offset the holes to fit my fingers. Took hours to tune it. I had to use tapered reamers to open out the holes making each one sharper as it got bigger. Then smoothed the edges of the holes by filing across them with a round file.
Wow. Sounds fun and a great learning experience.
There are so many whistles available, depending on how much you want to spend.
@@LowDWhistle That's true. I am having a good look around!
I bought one of Tony Dixon’s 3 piece flutes - when I visited his workshop, about 20 years ago - and it’s a great instrument. I’ve still got the instrument and I play it as often as I play my ‘Pratten’-style rosewood flute… they’re great!
That is wonderful to know. How fun to have visited his workshop. Thanks
I just got my low D whistle, and it is a Tony Dixon. Honestly it's not bad, light smd definitely easy to play and nice to listen to. Definitely not the best, but it's also not awful
Indeed. My initial reaction was not great, but it’s a fairly good whistle for the money and definitely has a place in the market as well as many folks who really like the tone. I agree. It sounds better than it is easy to play.
i think a beginner needs to be sure her mistakes dont come from the whistle being so-so, it mean spending a bit more, especially as an adult beginner who has no nagging parent to keep playing even when it's impossible to make a sound. I think it's when possible a question of putting money aside for a bit longer and getting somethin proper, sale thing for any instrument, and try and find a maker (buy from the maker! no second hand! you never know: it might have been used as a toy for a teenage rotveiler dog!) that has a 30 days return no questions asked. it's all a question of priorities of course when money is low, but there is always birthday etc and it's always possible to tell the family to get you a groupped gift you choose (i've seen it done, it worked folks were happy to know the birthday boy would be 100% happy
Very well said! Thanks
I have several whistles from Goldfinch, Poland, and very much like them.
That is great to hear. I'm looking forward to mine arriving.
@@LowDWhistle Which keys did you get? I have soprano D, C, Bb, G, Low D and C.
I only ordered he low D for now. You have a nice collection. I’ll likely order more soon.
I have to say I'm sorry to learn that ten years after I bought a Dixon Low D-- and sold it a few years later-- that it still isn't a very good whistle. I really found it disappointing. It wasn't tuned to A440 (not that a lot of whistles show up right on concert tuning), didn't handle the second octave well at all, and the root D was practically impossible to play with volume. I sold it to a guy who was just starting a collection of just about any kind of aerophone,, and was happy he bought it. I have recently started a new search for a new low D as well.
For the money I also expected more, though I really respect the folks at Dixon. With that said, there are many more low D whistles available today. It depends on the tone you’re after and the $ you’re willing to spend.
I'm just getting into whistles and I can't really stand high pitched whistles, so I've settled on low D. This model sounds like an adequate place to start.
Sorry for the delay. My wife and I are on the road trip. It would be an acceptable place to start. If you wanna pay just a little more, the Tony Dixon TB012 is tunable and would have a little better tone because it has a little more material in it. You could probably get it on sale by signing up to receive emails from some folks like McNeela Music, or some of the other stores. Hope that helps. Enjoy getting started.
Have you considered a Bb or G? I find them a nice, mellow key and more manageable than a low D.
Great recommendation, Michael.
@@LowDWhistle I would also like to plug Takahe Flutes, found on Esty, a craftsman who offers traditional tunings and several alternate tunings as well. See his Draco whistles for a very visually attractive whistle, quite unique.
@@MichaelLevine-n6y they do look amazing. I would love time and resources to try all the fun instruments
How is the finger spacing though? I had a Kerry low D and could not get to grips with it (literally) so I sold it. But now wish I hadnt. This looks a decent alternative to me
The finger spacing is about the same. The Mountain Made whistle has close finger spacing and is reasonably inexpensive. It is a very quiet whistle, but it does the job. Nick Metcalf addresses the need for close finger spacing by offsetting the third and sixth holes on his standard low D. This helps because you don't have to wrap those fingers. On the more expensive end Howard has a version of their low D that includes a key for the sixth hole. The Carbony sells a low D with close finger spacing that eliminates the finger stretch issues, but those are a little more expensive again. I'll do some checking to see if I can find any other low D whistles with close finger spacing.
I've been checking around. I realized Susato has a key available for their low D. I think you would have to get that directly from Susato. I don't really know how affective the key is. It is more like a wrap cover that you press. I imagine it works well enough. I would likely stick to one of the other options.
I hope this all helps some.
I am a beginner, and what I have to chose from is this one (but the tunable to which one can buy a flute head), or the Chieftain V5. But I cant find any comparison between those two, maybe because they are in diffrerent divisions... Anyway. I play bass recorder, and am looking for a louder instrument that will work in mixed ensembles. I like the woody sound but also loudness. Which of these two should I try? Coming from bass recorder (with church organ, harpsichord and piano as first instruments...), they both are low cost for me... ^_^ Please link if you can find any comparison video of these two!
Since I played bass recorder and simple system flute, I guess the air volume should not be to hard to handle.
Welcome to the whistle world. You play a wonderful mix of instruments. There are not too many whistles that combine the woody tone with volume. A friend is loaning me a V5 in the next couple weeks and I can compare them then, but I know you’ll likely choose before then.
Even though I’ve not played it enough to know well, I think the V5 is a better instrument. It will play more consistently, with good volume, and richer tones. It isn’t that the Dixon is a bad instrument, but the V5 is a better instrument between the two.
I hope this helps.
I’ll check and see if I can find any comparisons
@@LowDWhistle Thank you.
I didn’t find any direct comparisons, but I’ll be glad to make one as soon as I am able.
I own more Dixon whistles than any other type, including Dixon polymer whistles from high D to low D, and I really rate them. It's all down to personal preference I guess.
I’m certain it is. I appreciate you saying. I also think that I would like this one much more if I played it more and became more accustomed to it. Everything I know Dixon does a great job up and down their line
@@LowDWhistle Yes. Every whistle has its own particular sound and playing characteristics. I personally dislike whistles that require a lot of breath / back pressure ( e.g. Shaw, Clarke ) to play yet their sound is amazing and they’re good instruments.
I have a few Dixon whistles. The heavy brass is the best high D I've got. The cheap plastic high D is useful because it's quiet, but the tone isn't great. The brass alto A is one of the worst whistles I've played (and I got a replacement which was just as bad). The tuning is off and the notes are unstable (I tried for a couple of years). And even if it did work, the tone isn't anything to write home about. I got a Susato A instead which is great.
Thanks for saying. It's good for me to know, and fun to learn about your whistles.
The heavy brass sounds like a great whistle
Close to the one I have, except mine is adjustable. For 100 or so
I was going to order that one, but I wanted to get the least expensive for my trial. I think there is a world of difference between the two.
Really, a really beautiful cardboard box? A fabulous plastic sleeve? Makes me think you’re over exaggerating.
With a lower and whistle, my expectations weren’t high, so I was quite pleasantly surprised and happy. That probably caused me to over exaggerate a bit.
😂😂
@@LowDWhistle should have also told you I love your videos. Thank you 🙏
Thanks very much.
It's a shame you didn't actually play it.
Sorry. Was early in my learning to introduce whistles and I did not give enough sound examples.
I’ll include it in an upcoming comparison and play a tune.