Specific Dixon Questions

Kar · Post by **Kar** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:10 pm

I apologize in advance if this has been discussed before--please point me to the correct thread if it has!

I am thinking about buying a Dixon because I would like a good either Bb or A whistle (which are the lowest I can play confortably) and I hear good things about Dixons on this board, and I can afford one. I'd like to know:

How is the Dixon sound? I have a Susato A and a Shaw A--which seem to be opposite ends of the spectrum. I like the Shaw, the breathy sound is my favorite--and I DON'T like the Susato. In fact, I never play it. Where does the Dixon fall, if you had to compare it to one or the other?

How are the breath requirements? I can play my Gen Bb easily but the Shaw A knocks me out. (BTW, I like the Gen but I want something a little easier to hit the second octave with)

And finally, if there's someone out there who can tell me--I can usually play an A with few reach problems (I have VERY small hands). The Shaw is fine, I tried a Cheiftan and that was fine, but the Susato fingering is hard for me. Would I be better off with a Dixon Bb or A, fingering-reach wise? Buying over the internet makes it hard to tell. I want to get the lowest key I can COMFORTABLY play. (I play alone so the actual usefullness of the key is not an issue. I just want low but still easy enough to play.)

(My computer doesn't have speakers so I can't listen to clips, by the way--or I'd compare sounds that way.)

All ye Dixon lovers, thanks in advance for your advice!

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:18 pm

Hey there -

I see you're in San Francisco. Have you tried calling Lark in the Morning and seeing if they have Dixons? http://www.larkinam.com

I have a Dixon A but I don't play it much. Email me if you'd like to borrow it.

(remember to take the spam blocker out of the email address)

--Beth

sunshine · Post by **sunshine** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:26 pm

I bought a Dixon Bb about 2 weeks ago and so far hav'nt found it to my liking. I say so far because I did not like my hoover D at first and now it is one of my favorite whistles. As for the dixon Bb I find the lowest note (all holes closed) considerably lesser in volume then all other notes.
I know Shaw makes a Bb and am thinking of making tha my next whistle.

Kar · Post by **Kar** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:29 pm

For those of you who don't like the Dixons, why not?

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 12:41 pm

On 2002-07-09 14:18, avanutria wrote:
Hey there -

I see you're in San Francisco. Have you tried calling Lark in the Morning and seeing if they have Dixons? http://www.larkinam.com

Lark in the morning doesn't carry Dixons, for some reason I've never understood.

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Tue Jul 09, 2002 1:35 pm

I agree that the Susato 'A',is a bit of a bugger to play if you have small hands,or like me, skinny fingers - it's that b£@@#y whopping great bottom hole! also, i find the tone a bit (oh no-here we go)'recordery'! I haven't played a Dixon 'A', but i do have a low 'f',which i have been playing earlier today, with great pleasure.The hole size and stretch are quite easy,and the sound is mellow and 'flutey',though fairly quiet. I imagine that the 'A' MAY share these characteristics,which should make it a good whistle if you don't take part in noisy sessions. hope this helps.

the_instrument_player · Wed Jul 10, 2002 1:35 pm

I love my Dixon! It is a high D, though so it may be quite a bit different than the A you are looking for. I love mine because of the sweet, clear upper octave.... the upper octave plays very easily. House of Musical Traditions carries Dixons I think... try http://www.hmtrad.com

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 1:48 pm

Personally, I would buy them straight from either The Whistle Shop or Tony Dixon himself. http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/

I've got two Dixon high D's and a Dixon A (which is packing for its trip to California!

) I like them but have been playing my metal ones more lately - hoover, laughing, meg. Mostly because I find I like the metal sound better, but also to spare my neighbors the volume.

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 2:39 pm

I have a Dixon F. The bell tone is VERY quiet and takes some real getting used to but the tone is buttery and rich. With regret, it is phenomenally off key.

My hands are small, I have no problem with the reach, but then I have no problem with a low D reach either, as I use a piper grip on nearly all my whistles.

Kar · Post by **Kar** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 4:15 pm

Buttery and rich tone? I like the sound of that. Thanks for all the feedback. A Boise whistler has generously offered to let me test-drive her Dixon A, and I'll see how it goes. It's all the fulfillment of WHOA and none of the risk!

bassnwhistle · Post by **bassnwhistle** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:36 pm

I have Dixon non-tunable high and low D's, tunable soprano D(brass), C, Bb and G. In my humble opinion the Bb is the best of the bunch in terms of tone. It has a warm, resonant, wooden flute-like quality which I realy love, and which suits much of the music I play that is written in the keys of Bb and Eb. If you're looking for warmth, this is the whistle. If you are looking for a brighter, thinner, tinnier sound you won't like it.
Ian

torben · Post by **torben** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 4:47 am

The reason why I do not love Dixon whistles is that every whistle I have tried was way out of tune. I have tried to return a whistle just to receive one that was far more out of tune. So I got back to my Susatos.

DaveG · Post by **DaveG** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 5:13 am

I have 2 Dixon sop. D and have problems with their being just a wee bit out of tune with themselves in the upper octave. The first was replaced by Tony(thanx),the replacement is better but still a bit off. On the other hand,I have a Dixon low G..sweet,almost woody tone. Spot on tune. Low wind requirement and a reasonable finger reach. It's one of my favorites.

Martin Milner · Post by **Martin Milner** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 10:03 am

I bought a Dixon A through Shanna Quay last week, and I'm very happy with it. If there's any out of tuneness, my ears can't detect it, or maybe I'm able to adjust my breath to get it in tune enough for my hearing.

I play using normal grip, but when I go down to an F whistle I have to use piper's. This whistle also fits in my rucksack without poking out the top - so a good travel whistle for me!

I like the breathiness & lower tones, I expect to play this a lot on my travels with a whistle.

Now to find a double bass which folds smaller.

Tyghress · Post by **Tyghress** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 6:10 pm

Martin, I haven't heard any problem with my F Dixon being out of tune with itself, but I was pretty much halfway between an F and F# when I was doing the volume experiment. It was so off that I would have believed the problem was with my tuner, except that every other whistle played true.

Though I'm disappointed in that, it wouldn't stop me from considering another Dixon. I love the sound, it is pleasant to play, and for all I know its a fluke, or something about the key.