Torrin Riáin wrote:Terrible luck, crushing whistles, a man I know once ran over a Burke whistle in his car! It was never the same again...
Best of luck!
I initially misread "a man I know once" as "I once" ... I was thinking, "Wow, you ran over a Burke whistle in Michael Burke's car? What were you doing in his car, and where was he at the time?"
I lost a newly acquired Burke Brass Session D before NewYear. I went to town to pick up my son, and when I came home the whistle was not in my bag. I went back to town and looked and asked around, nothing! I was devastated.
A week later I read in our community advertiser that someone had found a whistle. It was found by a neighbour on the narrow lane a few steps from my home! It must have slipped out of the bag when I stepped into the car. I was overjoyed receiving it back, in its padded pouch. But the tube was crushed! A car must have gone over it, perhaps even myself? Still, mouthpiece and barrel were fine, just a crushed tube. I straightened it out as good as I could, and it plays as before.
I am most grateful for my neighbour, and for the padded pouch!
I sat on a whistle one dark night at a festival and snapped the head right off. Now I never, ever, ever put a whistle down where there is a chance something could happen to it.
It's a painful lesson to learn. My thoughts are with you.
Finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. It's only taken 6 years.
Infernaltootler wrote:I sat on a whistle one dark night at a festival and snapped the head right off. Now I never, ever, ever put a whistle down where there is a chance something could happen to it.
It's a painful lesson to learn. My thoughts are with you.
That would make for a great Halloween story ... "It all began one dark, dark night at a festival. The night air was filled with the sounds of music, laughter, and gaiety -- until one man's anguished cry drowned all the merriment."
My Mellow Dog arrived today, and it's an absolute stunner! It certainly takes the sting out of the loss of my Dixon, which -- despite being bang back into shape -- isn't the whistle it once was. I'll either order another body from Tony or see about combining his cap with a Generation or Walton.
Meanwhile, I'm 100% satisfied with my Mellow Dog and can't believe it's taken me this long to get one.
Anyone who's been thinking of taking the mellow plunge: do it! You'll be thrilled ... and in the unlikely event you're not, you can sell it to me (give my clumsiness, it would be smart of me to stash away a spare!).
waltcamp45 wrote:see about combining [the Dixon head] with a Generation or Walton.
Just keep in mind that the Dixon head is slightly longer and fatter than a Gen type head. It will fit on a 1/2 inch D tube with a little Teflon tape, but will also extend the blade-to-bell length around 12 mm. Which actually gives you a usable Db whistle, with a little putty in the bell to choke the lower notes flat.
Or you could try cutting down a Gen tube to match the shorter Dixon tube.
waltcamp45 wrote:see about combining [the Dixon head] with a Generation or Walton.
Just keep in mind that the Dixon head is slightly longer and fatter than a Gen type head. It will fit on a 1/2 inch D tube with a little Teflon tape, but will also extend the blade-to-bell length around 12 mm. Which actually gives you a usable Db whistle, with a little putty in the bell to choke the lower notes flat.
Or you could try cutting down a Gen tube to match the shorter Dixon tube.
Thanks! I hadn't thought about that. I'll consider my efforts a learning exercise instead of a bona-fide whistle-improving endeavor.
