Feadog

ChrisLaughlin · Post by **ChrisLaughlin** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:48 am

I just looked at the pictures posted above. There is definately a new line of Feadogs. Mark 4 we'll call it. The head looks nothing like the old heads and much more like a Generation, but made of much better plastic. I tried some Mark 3s and thought they were pretty crap, but the Mark 4, as I mentioned in my previous post, is superb.

Chris

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:15 am

Can you post a picture, Chris?

Best wishes,
Jerry

Post by **Dale** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:20 pm

The new Pro is on the right and the new regular Feadog in brass on the right.

The company sent me a handful of Feadogs recently, along with the Pro. I played them for a couple of weeks. On all of them, I found the second octave raspy and unstable.

Chris is a better player than I am, by a long shot. (No sarcasm here.) So, I'm tempted to defer to his skills, but I just don't get it.

Also, I can't see a difference between this new mouthpiece and the Mark III.

Dale

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:27 pm

That does look like a normal Mark III mouthpiece. I wonder if there's been a mixup and the whistle they've sent isn't the right one? It sounds like what Chris has is different from what you have.

Best wishes,
Jerry

vomitbunny · Post by **vomitbunny** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:47 pm

I got feadogs a few months ago. Green heads on brass bodies, and a black head on a green body. The M3. I couldn't tell any difference.
The mouthpiece definitly does show promise. One of them tweaked up to be my best cheap whistle by far, but it didn't come out of the box that way.
I've tried the brass and nickle in C too. Not much difference.
They tweak up nice, but seem to be a little trickier than tweaking gens. That could just be me though. One will come up very pure, while the next will come up with chiff. I like a pure sound with a good chiff. I really don't care for rasp or growl much.
I still say they should be able to come up with a consitantly good mouthpiece right out of the box. Oak comes pretty close to it. But they charge a bit more for thier product. Feadog may feel that they can't. Supposidly most whistles sold are sold as toys or souvenieers,and not actually played, so that may be a valid reason. Quality control does cost money.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 2:57 pm

DaleWisely wrote:

The new Pro is on the right and the new regular Feadog in brass on the right.

Dale,

Is that a crack I see forming in the green/brass one? If so, I should probably write Paul and let him know. A couple of people have mentioned a crack forming in the mouthpiece after the fact. They may have some defect in the mold

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:13 pm

Many plastic whistleheads have a subtle line along the length of the top of the casting. This isn't a defect. I believe it is where the molten plastic meets from the sides as it fills up the mold during the casting process.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Post by **Dale** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:49 pm

Wanderer wrote:
DaleWisely wrote:

The new Pro is on the right and the new regular Feadog in brass on the right.

Dale,

Is that a crack I see forming in the green/brass one? If so, I should probably write Paul and let him know. A couple of people have mentioned a crack forming in the mouthpiece after the fact. They may have some defect in the mold

No, there's no crack forming there. It's a artifact.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 5:42 pm

I have two Mark III Feadog whistles.

The first was terrible...you couldn't play in the upper register without shrieking, and the second-octave G was just plain impossible to hit. It wouldn't play it.

I tweaked this whistle, and it now plays decently, but it took a lot of tweaking to get it there.

The second, bought a couple of years ago now, was physically identical, but plays wonderfully. I have never tweaked it and never will: it would only mess it up.

It's got a pure tone with lots of chiff popping in between notes, good pitch stability, is not shrill on the upper end, and is almost as loud as a Susato but with a much easier-to-control second octave.

Here's what it sounds like, on an odd little tune I learned from our sessions, "Salmon Tails Up the River":

http://www.flutesite.com/samples/salmon_feadog.mp3

The only thing about this whistle is that, like an Oak, you have to warm it or play it for a couple of minutes before it sounds its best.

From my own experiences and from what I've read on the boards, I've come to wonder if like some other inexpensive whistle companies, there are quality control issues...

--James

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:52 pm

Come to think of it, I get a new Feadog for Christmas, from a relative who doesn't know what I have in my collection, and it's no different from the one I got 3 years ago...both are excellent.

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:22 am

From the official Feadóg web site: https://www.feadog.ie/aboutus.htm

"From there we went on to develop and produce our Mk.II Feadóg
which brought us through the next ten years. But still striving for
improvement, we decided to invest heavily in further development of the
instrument. Much thought, research and testing took place over a lengthy
period of time in collaboration with professional musicians. In late 2001
we launched the Mk.III Feadóg Whistle. This has been a great success
and the Feadóg whistle is now enjoyed the world over by everyone from
young children to professional musicians. We continue to invest in R & D
to further expand the Feadóg range.

2003 saw the 25th anniversary of Feadóg Teoranta. We can now look
back and celebrate a quarter of a century of bringing music to millions.
But we will also be looking forward to the future, to bring you new Feadóg
products and endeavouring to produce a Feadóg Original Irish Whistle
which is better still, whilst maintaining that same great level of
affordability. You can follow our progress by checking this web-site
for product information."

Pictures of Feadóg products at: https://www.feadog.ie/buy.asp

Contact: whistles@feadog.ie

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:21 am

The crack I mentioned started out as a mold line as jerry said but after a few months it cracked all the way through on that line. As I said a little super glue made a nice repair that has lasted for a long time. It plays nicely and is one of the whistles that I turn to from time to time.

Ron

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:55 am

Paul at Feadog sent me a new Feadog Pro and regular Feadog Mk III, last week. I am impressed. The pro is basically an oak-style thick barrell with Mk III head, I think, but it really works. Give the whistle more body, and a bit more punch.

The Feadog sound is there, that sweetness tempered by a bit of edge and chirp. It is very stable, plays beautifully, and is easy enough. It's not as forgiving as some, but everyone who has advanced a little on the whistle will appreciate the control and expression that provides.

In short, I haven't been able to put it down.

The regular Feadog is great, too, but since I know those already, it hasn't got as much play time as the Feadog Pro.

I can't really judge consistency, and there are some shriekers among the Feadogs from time to time, but the next guy who asks me what cheapo he should buy, I tell: Feadog Pro.

I'll try to write a bit more soon, but it's busy at the moment.

lyrick · Post by **lyrick** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:52 am

This is from Paul at Feadog when I asked him about the Pro model and what the difference was between it and their regular model:

"The Mark III mouth piece has been used on all our whistles since 2001. The Feadóg Pro D is a whistle with the more professional musician in mind. It has a heavier barrel than our standard whistles. This makes it louder and some think it gives it a superior tone...We have been getting very favourable reports back from all who have tested it and we plan to put it on general sale shortly."

He said they'll have it on their site soon, and gave me a price of E6.95 plus shipping if I wanted one. Don't know if that'll be the price when it goes on their site, but it's a lot better than what you'll see elsewhere.

So it sounds like it is the Mk III fipple but with an improved sound because of the thicker tube. I'm going to get one, I'd love to have a good cheapie.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:41 pm

lyrick wrote:
He said they'll have it on their site soon, and gave me a price of E6.95 plus shipping if I wanted one.

The usual suspect is advertising it on GC for ONLY 12 euro and calls it a silly price. How right he is although I am sure this is not what he meant. In fairness, you probably get the free pouch worth 2 euro thrown in.

(edited t otake account of the overnight price drop from 16 to 12)