The Low Tech Whistle - My Reaction
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:26 pm
I wanted to post my reactions to the Low Tech Whistles made by fellow Chiffer Guido Gonzato (aka: Guidus). Guido and I started exchanging emails after his posting about “Making Water Weasel-like Whistles”. Since I have recently had similar thoughts, I jumped into the thread to share some of my experiences on the subject.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... cff31ce161
After exchanging PMs and a few emails, we decided to exchange whistles. I had seen the photos on Guido’s web site, read Wanderer’s LTW review and even built a few whistles from the plans on the Low Tech Whistle Site but… One whistle can be worth a few thousand words!
I have made a simple plumbing pipe whistle for a number of years. I imagine quite a few members of C&F do the same. My original intention was to make an inexpensive whistle that kids might construct in a workshop and then learn a tune or two. You know, make a gateway whistle to hopefully hook them for life. The design I use works and plays in tune but would never pass for a “real” whistle. It is too breathy and it’s plumbing product origins are obvious. Based on Guido’s post, I thought he may be having similar issues with his design. Wrong!
The Low Tech Whistle is a very good whistle from the perspective of tone, tuning and playability. That's the stuff that matters. It may be simple in concept and construction but putting that aside – it plays like a champ. The volume is good, plenty loud for a session. The response is quite good too. The second octave A, B and beyond are easily accessible and do not require the push or extra air that many larger bore D whistles require. It is a very musical piece of work. Fit and finish are good too all things considered. The fit of the tuning slide is very good too and surprising to me considering how it is accomplished (see Guido’s web site).
http://profs.sci.univr.it/~gonzato/whistle/#Low
Of course this is all my humble opinion. I have to give Guido the props he deserves in making the Low Tech Whistle as good as it is.
In his original post. Guido was looking to the Water Weasel as a possible model to help improve his whistle design. I think the Water Weasel and the Thin Weasel are about as good as you can get and there is a lot to learn from any of Glenn’s instruments. And I don’t think anyone can replace Glenn Schultz. But, we’ve probably all heard the story of a young player approaching the old pro and professing that they wanted to play/sound just like the pro. The old pro, of course, advises him to spend his time practicing to discover his own sound. Wise words. Guido has been practicing. The Low Tech Whistle has it’s own sound. And I like it.
Feadoggie
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... cff31ce161
After exchanging PMs and a few emails, we decided to exchange whistles. I had seen the photos on Guido’s web site, read Wanderer’s LTW review and even built a few whistles from the plans on the Low Tech Whistle Site but… One whistle can be worth a few thousand words!
I have made a simple plumbing pipe whistle for a number of years. I imagine quite a few members of C&F do the same. My original intention was to make an inexpensive whistle that kids might construct in a workshop and then learn a tune or two. You know, make a gateway whistle to hopefully hook them for life. The design I use works and plays in tune but would never pass for a “real” whistle. It is too breathy and it’s plumbing product origins are obvious. Based on Guido’s post, I thought he may be having similar issues with his design. Wrong!
The Low Tech Whistle is a very good whistle from the perspective of tone, tuning and playability. That's the stuff that matters. It may be simple in concept and construction but putting that aside – it plays like a champ. The volume is good, plenty loud for a session. The response is quite good too. The second octave A, B and beyond are easily accessible and do not require the push or extra air that many larger bore D whistles require. It is a very musical piece of work. Fit and finish are good too all things considered. The fit of the tuning slide is very good too and surprising to me considering how it is accomplished (see Guido’s web site).
http://profs.sci.univr.it/~gonzato/whistle/#Low
Of course this is all my humble opinion. I have to give Guido the props he deserves in making the Low Tech Whistle as good as it is.
In his original post. Guido was looking to the Water Weasel as a possible model to help improve his whistle design. I think the Water Weasel and the Thin Weasel are about as good as you can get and there is a lot to learn from any of Glenn’s instruments. And I don’t think anyone can replace Glenn Schultz. But, we’ve probably all heard the story of a young player approaching the old pro and professing that they wanted to play/sound just like the pro. The old pro, of course, advises him to spend his time practicing to discover his own sound. Wise words. Guido has been practicing. The Low Tech Whistle has it’s own sound. And I like it.
Feadoggie