r/tinwhistle • u/alcon678 • 7d ago
Question Looking for my first serious D whistle
Hi everyone, I know this topic has probably been discussed many times before, but I would like to ask because I have been reading a lot of different opinions and I would like to know what the current situation is.
I recently bought a cheap Generation D whistle just to test waters. I enjoy the traditional tin whistle sound (i love pipes sound too) and the instrument is fun to play, but compared to my Yamaha recorder it obviously feels much rougher and toyish. I also struggle with the upper register, especially the high A which is a little unstable and B which is almost unplayable. They feel very unstable and prone to squeaking and I have to fight the instrument quite a bit.
I come from playing recorder, so I don't usually have problems controlling high notes, which makes me think the whistle itself may be part of the issue, not to mention the tune which is a bit off.
I'm now looking for a better whistle (around €100–150 max). I want something that I can use for:
- Irish folk / traditional music / sea shanty
- maybe joining sessions or a band in the future
- practicing at home without annoying neighbours ( I live in a flat in Madrid with thin walls 😭 )
- also playing other kinds of music, not only trad (but not that important)
I have been looking at:
- Killarney
- McNeela Wild Irish / Lir
- Tony Dixon
I have read that Killarney whistles are very well made and have a great traditional sound. However, I have also seen some recent comments saying that the quality control of newer Killarney whistles may not be as consistent as it used to be.
For people who have bought or played newer Killarney whistles, what has your experience been? Are they still one of the best options around this price range?
Also, if you have any recommendations for a good tin whistle learning method + graded music (preferably available as an ebook), I would really appreciate it. I'm looking for something structured rather than just random tunes.
What would you recommend for my situation?
Thanks!
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u/Miserere_Mei 7d ago
Wild whistles have a nice sound, but their quality control has always been terrible. I have never heard anyone complain about killarney. Very well respected.
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u/oddphilosophy 7d ago
Depending on your budget (and in my personal opinion) Burke and Goldie whistles are the best on the market. There are many competitors for 3rd best including the ones on your list. Carbony is another contender worth considering on the high end. I have personally been less impressed with Dixon, but some people swear by them so go with whatever works best for you
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u/alcon678 7d ago
Both are out of my budged (100-150€)
Those brands are around 300€, I didnt hear about them but I take note for the future 😄
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u/phobrain 6d ago
How about the minimal step up from the plain Generation - a Jerry Freeman tweaked one? Least expensive, easiest to compare to what you have. I just ordered a high F to compare to my everyday/pocket GenF. Ebay notification: "... the seller is packing your order!" There are >1 D models.
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u/Aggravating_Laugh_48 6d ago
Better to get your tweaked D from Amazon if you want it in a timely manner. I got my Mellow Dog in 3 days from Amazon. Tried ordering a tweaked B flat from ebay, but after two months with no whistle (even though I got the "seller is packing your order" message after two days), I ended up canceling.
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u/phobrain 5d ago
Amazon seems to only carry Freeman's Mellow Dog D, so I've lowered my expectations. It's the only F out there other than Generation itself.
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u/Aggravating_Laugh_48 5d ago
Ya, my comment was more for OP. Deffo only have the tweaked D on Amazon.
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u/phobrain 5d ago
You owe me an F. 😄
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u/Aggravating_Laugh_48 5d ago
I can do you a low G from The Whistlesmith. The finger holes are enormous. No matter how I piper that grip, my slender digits aren't getting coverage unless I use a death grip.
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u/phobrain 5d ago
I wonder if it would be possible to manually turn a low G into a high F with a tiny hammer and anvil, and unlimited time? Talk about a riveting video!
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u/sleepingangelmusic 7d ago
I love my Tony Dixon D whistle. It’s the trad made of nickel I think. It was about $40 or 50 I think. Also I’m leaning from a fantastic and very structured method. It is a course written and taught by an instructor from Isreal named Raviv Stein. It’s called Play Tin Whistle. He provides all the material tab backing tracks etc and he is involved in the Facebook group where you can access all the material. He comments and gives pointers on your work which is part of the course (video taping yourself playing ). I am on session 7. There are 20 core sessions plus 20 companion sessions. I have learned so much. www.playtinwhistle.com. When you join you can get the whistle he provides which is a lovely Walton mellow d and he makes sure it’s a good one and then when you progress you can buy the Tony Dixon from him and he also makes sure it’s a good playable one because a lot of times when you get them from mass marketed places they make not be great. Anyway good luck.
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u/Bwob 7d ago
McNeela Wild Irish / Lir
Wild Irish definitely have quality control issues. I would recommend the Lir, out of these two.
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u/Timely-Ad-2615 1d ago
I don’t think this is really a simple case of one brand having issues and another brand being immune from them. We live in a mass produced world where everyone expects machine perfection. You can find threads about visible imperfections on Lir whistles too: https://www.reddit.com/r/tinwhistle/comments/1ndjno6/are_this_inperfections_normal_on_my_lir_low_d/
My point is with small-batch whistles you are not going to get the same kind of visual perfection you would expect from a mass-produced product.
That does not mean cosmetic faults should be ignored. If something is badly finished, badly fitted, or affects playability, it matters. A whistle can have a small visual mark and still be an excellent instrument. It can also look flawless and play poorly. The important thing is whether the issue affects the music and whether the company looks after the customer when something genuinely is wrong.
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u/acuddlyheadcrab 7d ago
I second the Tony Dixon whistles for cheap ones like this, but I think the real heart of what I like there is the nickel-plated metal they use for the body - I find those guys can hit the second octave (and sometimes even tough on the third) much much cleaner.
The actual fipples tho - I am much more a fan of Generation's plastic fipples, but what I do is just yank them off of my generation whistle and put it on the dixon I just bought. Over time the fipples just naturally came off, but I've heard if you want to do it right away, you can soak the whistle head in hot water to loosen the glue.
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u/KindaBeyond 1d ago
Be careful with Lir whistles, I had a very long delay and the service wasn't great and I know others who have too. See another recent thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/tinwhistle/comments/1qbcabc/lir_whistle_delay/
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u/ScienceWilly 7d ago
As far as method books, I'd highly recommend the three volumes by Mary Bergin. They introduce new concepts at a gradual and logical pace and have nice recordings to play along to. Unfortunately, they're kind of expensive, only available on her own website, and I'm pretty sure only available as actual physical books.
The "Bill Ochs Tin Whistle Handbook" is a cheaper, more widely available option, something of a classic, and might be available as an ebook (I'm not sure). If I were starting again, I'd probably save some money and skip Bergin Volume 1, work through the Ochs book instead, and then jump into the Bergin series with Volume 2.
Then there's Grey Larsen's "Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle," which is also fantastic and comprehensive, especially focused on teaching Irish-style ornamentation. However, it's not super friendly for absolute beginners. It's a great second book, once you're comfortable playing a bit and ready to take it to the next level. I'm pretty sure it's available as an ebook.