Chiff and Fipple Forums

Average Whistler wrote: ↑Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:36 am Welcome, Andrew!

My in-laws emigrated from South Africa, and when I told them I was taking up the penny whistle, they said it used to be a common instrument, particularly in the townships (although I doubt they played ITM ). Is it still played much in SA?

I wouldn't abandon the Clarke Original quite yet. It's an excellent whistle, particular for starters, because the conical bore keeps it in tune over both octaves and makes the octave jump easy. I found it breathy as you do, with a lot of air requirements, but I squashed down the windway and it took care of both. Once the windway is flattened, the sound becomes less breathy, more focused, a bit louder, but retains the wonderful Clarke Original sound (and without requiring as much air). If you do choose to try flattening the windway, ensure you are pinching the sides in with a pliers or wrench to ensure they don't pop outward (the fipple is glued in and will fall out). Some players also try to straighten the m-shaped sound blade but I discourage it... it isn't needed once the windway is flattened, and it's a tricky tweak. You are more likely to end up with a non-playable whistle.

Regards,
Just another average whistler

Andrew Legg wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 1:31 pm Hi Folks, coming at ya from Cape Town, SA, where I have just started whistling. 40 Years back I played a lot of recorder and then clarinet in the high school orchestra, but not much between then and now. I bought a Generation D here - which is all I can find locally. Fair instrument given the price, but tuning is terrible. I then asked a travelling family member to bring over a Clarke Original D. That proves to be better sounding (I quite like a breathy whistle), but I find the high notes tough to hit without a fresh set of lungs and a space without other humans around. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a decent mid-range whistle in high D that one can buy in the UK that has a bit of breathiness (is that even a word), but is also a vaguely decent musical instrument? Somewhere up to about £60’ish. My brother comes out in about 6 weeks and hopefully he can bring it out for me. I prefer the breathy sound to the pure ‘recorder’ type sound. Thanks for any advice and look forward to reading up a lot on this forum.

Dixon Traditional seems like a decent option?

ecadre wrote: ↑Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:52 pm
There was a South African maker, by the name of Ian Turnbull. He seems to have fallen off the whistle map so to speak about a year or so ago and he doesn't seem to be making his whistles any more. Hopefully everything is OK with him and his family otherwise.

Anyway ...

The whistles he made are nice, a bit louder than a Generation but still with that "traditional" sound. He marketed them under the name "Impempe", you may be lucky and pick one up in your musical circles there.

btw. It is possible to tune a Generation whistle. Generation whistles can play in tune, you just need to have the head in the right position. Dip the plastic end in hot water, then hold it in a towel and pull/twist it off the tube. The hot water will make the ABS plastic expand and since it has a significantly higher expansion co-efficient than brass, so with a pull and twist, it will come off. Place the head back on whilst it is still warm, I apply a little bit of vaseline just to keep it moving whilst I tune it.

PS. Woops, I just noticed that Impempe whistles have already been mentioned. Zero marks for my skim reading skills

ytliek wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 2:01 pm Welcome to the whistle forum. Keep your whistling fun and enjoy it. The suggestions provided above are a good start. Be well!