Temptations of ALBA

[IDAwHOa]

Stacey, do you now produce, or have plans to produce a low D whistle?

Yup, she does, and even more than that:

http://albawhistles.com/whistles/shopwhistles.htm

She even makes whistles that are NOT on this page, like the Q1 series.

[Joseph E. Smith]

Stacey, do you now produce, or have plans to produce a low D whistle?

Yup, she does, and even more than that:

http://albawhistles.com/whistles/shopwhistles.htm

She even makes whistles that are NOT on this page, like the Q1 series.

This very groovy....hmmmmm...what should I get myself for X-mas? Hmmmm....

Thanks, he who was formerly know as NorCal....

[amar]

who is now the funky beets..

[Wanderer]

Stacey, do you now produce, or have plans to produce a low D whistle?

I was quite happy with the Alba Low D I got my hands on..

http://www.tinwhistler.com/music/review ... /index.htm

[CHIFF FIPPLE]

ALBA WHISTLES

I have never had a whistle lower than a Generation Bb.
I am interested in the lowest ALBA which is the Low Bb.
What is the tone hole span from top to bottom and between each tone hole?
I have no difficulty playing Irish flute although I have small mits.
Could I handle the ALBA low Bb?

Any comments from any person (whistle makers included )

Thanks

Time to dispel some of these myths.
LowBass Bb flat is not the Lowest whistle I make that would be Bass A.
the Low Bb is playable but no matter if you put yor fingers on a rule that will not tell you if you will be able to play a low whistle.
The Soprano D i make is not windy and is not quite.
The Q1 is the quite one.
I have made Low D's longer than any other Key of whistle.

[littlejohngael]

ALBA WHISTLES

I have never had a whistle lower than a Generation Bb.
I am interested in the lowest ALBA which is the Low Bb.
What is the tone hole span from top to bottom and between each tone hole?
I have no difficulty playing Irish flute although I have small mits.
Could I handle the ALBA low Bb?

Any comments from any person (whistle makers included )

Thanks

Time to dispel some of these myths.
LowBass Bb flat is not the Lowest whistle I make that would be Bass A.
the Low Bb is playable but no matter if you put yor fingers on a rule that will not tell you if you will be able to play a low whistle.
The Soprano D i make is not windy and is not quite.
The Q1 is the quite one.
I have made Low D's longer than any other Key of whistle.

'Tis true. She makes a rockin' Low D. I've also got one of her Low G's and one of her Q1 Soprano D whistles. They're all lovely. The Q1 is great for practice, but precisely because it's not a loud whistle, I will soon also be getting an Alba Standard Soprano D. (She also makes a square headed Sop D -- the SE -- that is very loud from what I understand.)

I've not played an Alba I haven't loved. I got my hands on a Low C, and it was so sweet I'm going to have to get one of those as well.

Best to you,

LJ

[talasiga]

.......the Low Bb is playable but no matter if you put yor fingers on a rule that will not tell you if you will be able to play a low whistle.
.......

I don't need you to tell me this. What I need you to tell me is what is the
1. distance between the lowest tone hole and the highest tone hole on your low Bb.
2. the distance between each consecutive pair of tone holes.

I reckon I can work the rest out for myself. Ta.

[CHIFF FIPPLE]

.......the Low Bb is playable but no matter if you put yor fingers on a rule that will not tell you if you will be able to play a low whistle.
.......

I don't need you to tell me this. What I need you to tell me is what is the
1. distance between the lowest tone hole and the highest tone hole on your low Bb.
2. the distance between each consecutive pair of tone holes.

Why?
how will knowing this help you decide if you will be able to play it or not.
I have seen folk with long willowy fingers who can' play an alto G and who say the streatch is to far for them, and I have seen Ten year old lads who can pick up a Low D and go for it right away.
Part of getting to play the large whistles is about streaching your fingers and part is being able to wiggle them about while doing so.
If you want to play a Low Bass Bb you have to get one and work at it un till
you can.
Sorry to be Blunt but thats the way it is bottom line

[talasiga]

.......the Low Bb is playable but no matter if you put yor fingers on a rule that will not tell you if you will be able to play a low whistle.
.......

I don't need you to tell me this. What I need you to tell me is what is the
1. distance between the lowest tone hole and the highest tone hole on your low Bb.
2. the distance between each consecutive pair of tone holes.

Why?
how will knowing this help you decide if you will be able to play it or not.
I have seen folk with long willowy fingers who can' play an alto G and who say the streatch is to far for them, and I have seen Ten year old lads who can pick up a Low D and go for it right away.
Part of getting to play the large whistles is about streaching your fingers and part is being able to wiggle them about while doing so.
If you want to play a Low Bass Bb you have to get one and work at it un till
you can.
Sorry to be Blunt but thats the way it is bottom line

If you can't answer simple questions of fact regarding your products, I would call that a bum line rather than a bottom line.

There is no need to be sorry about your affectation of bluntness.

[Gerry]

the Q1 i just got has quickly become my favorite high d whistle (my others include a brass copeland, burke dan, o'brien, also susato, clarke, gen etc). great sound and response, just loud enough and zero shriek. it is my first alba but it won't be my last.

Agreed about the Q1. I've just bought an alba alto G, which I haven't been able to put down since it arrived.

Thanks Stacey!

[CHIFF FIPPLE]

No problems Gerry

affectation

Wow that word is bigger than Marmalade!!
Sad that you have to make a big deel over it

[The Weekenders]

Hey when do I get the free Alba high D for coming up with your sig line??
Its xmas season, after all. And I never ask for your measurements.

[CHIFF FIPPLE]

Well you could try looking in over at the gaelic crossings I will be giving folk over there a chance to win a Alba whistle in my Between the Pud and bells compo
boxing day to newyears day for you sasernacts!

[PhilO]

I want to say something here, because I believe in part Stacey is referring to the common misconception Ta that what is commonly referred to as "reach" that is the difficulty in physically handling the whistle, has to do with more than simply the distance between tone holes. Respective tone hole size, shape, and depth, bore diameter, whether conical or cylindrical have great impact on an individual's physical comfort with a given low whistle. Moreover, when taken together with air requirements and elements of octave and volume balance, the whole thing of coordination of breath and hole coverage on a real big whistle tends to vary considerably person to person, distance between tone holes (an element as well) notwithstanding.

I have 5 low D whistles now - Copeland, O'Riordan Traveler, O'Briain, Burke Viper, Kerry - and am familiar with the Overton. Opinions as to "reach" vary considerably and really amount to more than reach. The Copeland has a fair reach and is heavy but most find it easy to play because of the conical shape with its tapering bore diameter, while some don't like the air reqirements. The O'Riordan, for example, I find easy to play because of the relatively small tone holes, whilst Brian Lee thinks the reach difficult. The O'Briain has not a great reach, but for me large difficult tone holes. The Burke I love, but others playing it have said it was too "fat" (bore diameter and cylindrical shape).

Bottom line is I understand what Stacey is saying and furthermore she is one of the many really fine makers here who has solid return policies if you don't bond well with a whistle in a reasonable time.

Philo

[CHIFF FIPPLE]

Thanks PhilO.
For taking the time to write what I should have said but have not the time to do.
Please understand Guys this time of the year is not called the silly season for nothing, and as every year I'm up to my neck in work!!!