Hudson Wind - Observations
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:22 pm
Introduction:
I'm not sure why, but this whistle - since becoming a blip on the whistle radar screen - had more reviews, and was the genesis of more discussions, fomentation of discourse, and general chiff & fipplery than any I've seen in such a short period of time. So, I'm doing something a little different from my usual verbose reviews.
Now I am a hobbyist, and whistle obsessive and player. That means I really enjoy good whistles and playing good whistles. Yet, due to other priorities, I lack sufficient time in practice to learn to play better than good enough to fascinate young children and my mother, and amuse discerning adults. I also have this fantasy that some day I will learn to play really well - humph. If I was to listen to my own playing I think I would say "Not bad! Not good. Sounds like he's having a good time - good for him."
There is one thing I do pretty darn well (much better than my whistle playing) - namely, take photographs. I've also dabbled in live audio engineering and recording over the years. This because I am gadget friendly and have musicians in my family. So I will introduce the Hudson Wind to you using skills other than my whistle playing.
1. First with seven photographs so you can see how very lovely it is (I like lovely things).
2. Next with a couple sound samples. Admittedly. I play the whistle in the sound samples, but just so you can hear what it sounds like (certainly not to marvel at my proficiency). Click here to see it played well. The below sound samples are captured by a high quality, digital, large diaphragm, studio condenser microphone - no processing - slightly noisy room - straight to disk - then converted to MP3s.
I follow with a bit of a summary of my experience with the whistle and how it rates in my mind against my other favorites.
First the photos:
Now the Sound Clips:
This is a comparison clip of a Nickel Silver Copeland, the Hudson Wind, and a Burke DBSB. First a run through the two octaves and a scale starting at G with the C nat, then a bit of an Aire through a couple notes past a C nat - both on all three whistles in turn:
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/ImageGall ... _Burke.mp3
To satisfy my curiosity and deep admiration for Reyburn whistles I had to do one more thing. This is the same thing as I did above, with a bit of a tune tossed in the middle, played on a Reyburn High D from a D/C set.
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/ImageGall ... eyburn.mp3
Summary:
I've played the Hudson Wind nearly exclusively since I received it a couple weeks ago - both to give it a fair shot, and so I could make comments on it.
Visual Aesthetics: Beautiful Whistle, you can see for yourself.
Mechanics: Very well made with great attention to detail. The slide is friction fit and works perfect. Very sound construction.
Playability: Well balanced, ornaments can be comfortably played, slides work well. I'll keep it and play it often.
Tuning: Listen to the clips. I used little or no effort to play them into tune (better than the Copeland, about the same as the Burke).
Voice: Listen to the clips. Pure, focused, and breathless, with the nice open sound of a conical bore.
I like it. I like it very much!
Compared to a Copeland; the Copeland has a Pop and presence when you really play it that the Hudson Wind doesn't have. And the Copeland is more expensive.
Compared to a Burke; I like it better than a Burke for flexibility, playability, conical bore voice, and all around feel. That's really subjective I know - a Burke is a no nonsense workhorse, the Hudson Wind has a bit of character that I like. But the Burke is a bit less expensive.
Compared to a Reyburn; The Reyburn has more presence, it's tuning is better (in tune, in balance C nat), it behaves a little better in ornamentations. And the Reyburn is less expensive for a single whistle in D, and still less expensive for a D/C set.
If you were to ask me to choose one: Reyburn C/D Set US$140, Burke DBSBT US$150, Hudson Wind US$165, Copeland Nickel US$312 - I would say the Reyburn C/D Set is the best choice by far. I would choose the Hudson Wind over a Burke. And the Copeland, like an Overton, is in a different class - that's for a different discussion thread.
I'm not sure why, but this whistle - since becoming a blip on the whistle radar screen - had more reviews, and was the genesis of more discussions, fomentation of discourse, and general chiff & fipplery than any I've seen in such a short period of time. So, I'm doing something a little different from my usual verbose reviews.
Now I am a hobbyist, and whistle obsessive and player. That means I really enjoy good whistles and playing good whistles. Yet, due to other priorities, I lack sufficient time in practice to learn to play better than good enough to fascinate young children and my mother, and amuse discerning adults. I also have this fantasy that some day I will learn to play really well - humph. If I was to listen to my own playing I think I would say "Not bad! Not good. Sounds like he's having a good time - good for him."
There is one thing I do pretty darn well (much better than my whistle playing) - namely, take photographs. I've also dabbled in live audio engineering and recording over the years. This because I am gadget friendly and have musicians in my family. So I will introduce the Hudson Wind to you using skills other than my whistle playing.
1. First with seven photographs so you can see how very lovely it is (I like lovely things).
2. Next with a couple sound samples. Admittedly. I play the whistle in the sound samples, but just so you can hear what it sounds like (certainly not to marvel at my proficiency). Click here to see it played well. The below sound samples are captured by a high quality, digital, large diaphragm, studio condenser microphone - no processing - slightly noisy room - straight to disk - then converted to MP3s.
I follow with a bit of a summary of my experience with the whistle and how it rates in my mind against my other favorites.
First the photos:
Now the Sound Clips:
This is a comparison clip of a Nickel Silver Copeland, the Hudson Wind, and a Burke DBSB. First a run through the two octaves and a scale starting at G with the C nat, then a bit of an Aire through a couple notes past a C nat - both on all three whistles in turn:
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/ImageGall ... _Burke.mp3
To satisfy my curiosity and deep admiration for Reyburn whistles I had to do one more thing. This is the same thing as I did above, with a bit of a tune tossed in the middle, played on a Reyburn High D from a D/C set.
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/ImageGall ... eyburn.mp3
Summary:
I've played the Hudson Wind nearly exclusively since I received it a couple weeks ago - both to give it a fair shot, and so I could make comments on it.
Visual Aesthetics: Beautiful Whistle, you can see for yourself.
Mechanics: Very well made with great attention to detail. The slide is friction fit and works perfect. Very sound construction.
Playability: Well balanced, ornaments can be comfortably played, slides work well. I'll keep it and play it often.
Tuning: Listen to the clips. I used little or no effort to play them into tune (better than the Copeland, about the same as the Burke).
Voice: Listen to the clips. Pure, focused, and breathless, with the nice open sound of a conical bore.
I like it. I like it very much!
Compared to a Copeland; the Copeland has a Pop and presence when you really play it that the Hudson Wind doesn't have. And the Copeland is more expensive.
Compared to a Burke; I like it better than a Burke for flexibility, playability, conical bore voice, and all around feel. That's really subjective I know - a Burke is a no nonsense workhorse, the Hudson Wind has a bit of character that I like. But the Burke is a bit less expensive.
Compared to a Reyburn; The Reyburn has more presence, it's tuning is better (in tune, in balance C nat), it behaves a little better in ornamentations. And the Reyburn is less expensive for a single whistle in D, and still less expensive for a D/C set.
If you were to ask me to choose one: Reyburn C/D Set US$140, Burke DBSBT US$150, Hudson Wind US$165, Copeland Nickel US$312 - I would say the Reyburn C/D Set is the best choice by far. I would choose the Hudson Wind over a Burke. And the Copeland, like an Overton, is in a different class - that's for a different discussion thread.