Bore: Standard
Key: One headpiece and 5 bodies in the key of Bb, C, D, Eb, & E
Case: Soft cloth roll case, I selected B & W Hounds tooth from 4 choices
Price: C$120.00 including shipping worldwide (US$95.00) + C$15.00 for the case
URL: http://www.obrienwhistles.com/
Added 06/24/05: I am adding a new pic after one month to show how a little playing adds character to the copper. Pretty sexy huh?
First let me preface my disclaimers by admitting that I may be easy to please, but I'm not so easy that I will not make special requests. First, I ordered a copper fipple plug - David O'Brien gives the purchaser a choice of copper, clear Lucite, or black Delrin. Then I threw caution to the wind and with wild abandon asked, "Please sir, would you leave the bodies un-plated?" Mr. O'Brien may have thought I had a screw loose, but he kindly obliged me.
Disclaimers first:
1. I'm a beginner so listen to the sound samples for a taste of the voice, and imagine what a good player could do.
2. My review is based on my limited knowledge and experience (1 year playing, owning less than 15 whistles).
3. I'm usually easy to please.
5. Nobody knows who I am, so I don't get free whistles to review - I bought the set.
Having said that - let's get on with it.
Visual Aesthetics:
This whistle has a sturdy look without being clunky. The bore (all five bodies) is about the same as my other standard D's. The nickel plating is industrial chic, a bit like a tool. The special order natural copper bodies look great! (Don't do it for anyone else David, I want the only set). The satin polish finish is nice. The solid copper fipple is joined well and looks nice. The attention to detail is great all around.
Mechanics:
A very sturdy well made whistle - with very clean solder joins. Decent fit at the tuning slide. Slide operation is a little rough, but copper on copper has a kind of sticky/crunchy feel naturally. There is no score on the tuning slide so you'll need a reference to check if it's in the right spot. It's heavy, but well balanced and easy to manage even with the solid copper fipple plug. David applied no-nonsense quality craftsmanship to make this whistle.
Playability:
Comfortable - I don't have another word for it. Substantial and balanced in the hands. The fipple is comfortable on the lips (just don't bang your teeth on it). You don't need to feather-finger this like you would a lighter whistle. You can "rap" on it while playing fast for a dandy, in-tune, quiet metallic percussive ring. Breath requirement is lightish down in low end - especially at the bell note - then climbs pretty quickly to nearly match my Shaw in the second octave (breath deep). Over all it plays very comfortably.
Tuning:
I would like to see David put a score for in-tune. I know it can change with temp and such, but give me some indication - especially with 5 different bodies to slide on one headpiece. So I set my five bodies with a tuner and marked them with a Sharpie. All the bodies are in tune with themselves. The D has a medium volume bell note, and C natural (OXXOOO) is right on at expected breath. The second octave is right on and doesn't climb in volume much, even though the breath requirement is a bit above average up there.
Voice:
Round, very rich, warm, and a little husky. In the low end it doesn't have chiff, it has chuff (I made that up, but I think you can get it). Up higher it has an open, smooth, airy character. It's not "pure" - it's got character, with light harmonic echoes in each note. I think the all solid copper, and the fipple/labium design (see the photo) create a unique voice capable of lots of expression.
Subjective Summary:
I opened the package and my first impression was "Oh, very cool!" It feels solid and balanced while playing it. If you've ever worked with mechanics tools you learn how to feel when you've got a good tool in your hand. This whistle has the same solid, trusty feeling as a good tool. Once in tune, the notes are right on at the relative breath pressure you expect. The voice character is really cool, with both a bit of husky John Hammond (the Bluesman), and rich and warm Gloria Estefan. Over all it's like those broken in hiking boots - trusty, solid, and comfortable (without the smell).
About the special order copper bodies: I really like the two tones of nickel and copper together. The copper has a tiny bit of that sharp smell I remember from carrying a lucky penny in my hand many moons ago (pennies used to be copper when I was a kid). The nickel plating on the headpiece makes it fairly neutral taste wise. I know the copper will oxidize and change color, but I like the idea the whistle body will have character like the whistle's voice.
Your comments and criticisms are welcomed.
Sound Samples:
Lucky for you, the sound sample is NOT my playing. These samples at David's site are a fair representation:
http://www.obrienwhistles.com/copper.MP3
http://www.obrienwhistles.com/OBPWlisten.html
*blush*
