Reedy whistles?

[Rhadge]

I gave up the flute for the accordion, but sometimes I feel the need for some "reedyness".

Any whistles (low or high) with reedy sound that you could recommend? Naturally it doesn't have to be as reedy as a flute can possibly be.

I can foresee that pun hinting at the reeds in an accordion.

[Makar]

The Syn low D is reedy indeedy. If my interpretation of reedy is the same as yours...

[Rhadge]

Nice suggestion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii8G8J-gVic

Judging from that video, I think we have about the same opinion of what is reedy.
Evidently, I'm not looking for a whistle that can substitute a reedy flute tone, but something that is reedy from a whistle-perspective.

[DrPhill]

I am not entirely sure what you mean by reedy - but certain characteristics of that video clip reminded me of the tone of my Bleazey. Might be worth listening to my version of Niel Gows lamment below.

[Ballyshannon]

My Abell high D is slightly reedy.

[PhilO]

Copeland low G and D

Philo

[Adrian]

Overtons have a complex reedy tone IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiEWZEbvQik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMKNkW_- ... re=related

[MTGuru]

I also like the term "reedy", though it's hard to pin down exactly what it means. To me, I think it's a kind of complexity where some upper partials seem particularly prominent compared to the fundamental. Plus some breathiness.

The whistle of mine I've always described as reedy is my SZBE (high) D.

[Adrian]

... I think it's a kind of complexity where some upper partials seem particularly prominent compared to the fundamental. Plus some breathiness.

That is the tone I regard as reedy, but I couldn't have described it as well. Πολύ καλά!

[MTGuru]

Ευχαριστώ, Αντριαν, γειά σου!

[Rhadge]

Thanks. This thread has been helpful to me.

[swizzlestick]

Here we go again. Using a term that no one can really describe, but everyone seems to have an idea about what it should mean.

Well, I am very guilty of it too. I was thinking about this the other day and decided that a good way for a group like ours to compare a specific whistle characteristic might be to use a spectrum diagram like the one below. (The posting software is very unkind to ASCII art, but you get the idea.)


----Susato---Burke----------------Reyburn---SZBE
|------|-------|---------------------|---------|----------|
low________________"reediness"_____________________high

The advantage is that even if I don't know what a "reedy" whistle is, I may be able to figure it out (more or less) by comparing the sounds of whistles I know and their relative position on the diagram. And I have some idea where the whistles I don't know fit in. People can (and will) quibble about the exact location, but most people will agree on the extremes. So if I think a Susato is a "reedy" whistle, yet see most are ranking it on the low end of the scale, I know I should reconsider my terminology.

I bet someone has suggested this before, but I don't remember the discussion or the outcome.

[DrPhill]

I for one would find such a scale immensely useful if it included more whistles of which I have experience. (Overton, Bleazey, Dixon). Also some good representative clips (or YouTube examples) at different parts of the scale.

Likewise scales for such hard-to-communicate-verbally-to-me qualities such as 'chiff'.

Not that I need to buy another whistle........

[walrii]

1. Buy them all.
2. Play them all.
3. "I like this one."

[A-Musing]

Yep. These "sound-qualities" chats are always interesting. And stimulate the brain!

For me, "reedy" means less like an accordion or organ...and more toward the sound of primitive "reed" instruments. Whistles and flutes with a breathy, gentle, complex sound.

With this noted, among my little herd, the most "reedy" players would be the Carbony Low D, and Carbony Low F.

They're made of very modern materials and techniques, yet sound "ancient" to my ear.

Good luck in your quest for a "reedy" whistle!