Jessie! Michael! Mike.R! No offense meant to anyone. Mike, I know about the private message thingie, but they're sometimes overlooked - by me, too, or I'd have sent you one!
Anyhow, I was just wanting to explain why I posted the answer to the thread. Nothing personal - I know that a lot of people don't have their email addy exposed, and hey, it's a matter of choice that I respect!
Jessie, remember that what you got to play with was an early (_very_ early) prototype, not a prime-time production item. Your notes regarding finish are well done, and I have improved on the prod finish even more as a result of those notes. That said, my main thrust in such an early release, was mostly to get the perceptions of aspects of play, from good players, which I am not, and to make improvements to playability based on those perceptions. Both you and Tyghress, as I have noted before, mentioned the amount of air taken to play, and that has been dramatically reduced. The over-all design was an issue, too. I was concerned about the placement of things to make playing easy, and again, you both came through and told me things I needed to know. That said, when and if you decide you'd like a production whistle, I do believe that you will find no flaws in the finish, short of using a healthy magnifier!
The colours are an optional part of the artwork, nothing more. They are not standard on the whistles, and of course, they have nothing to do with playability. They are decoration, only, and have only that as their sole purpose. If a customer doesn't specifically order the enamel, the whistle will not have it. In that sense, the whistle becomes a bit of jewelry, too. I can't find a reason to fault anyone for buying something just because it's pretty. If that were de rigeur, clothing designers and jewellers would rapidly find themselves out of business!
Much of the new whistles' manufacture has been improved upon by machinery, to the extent that I now have much more time to devote to finish, and also to new ideas. Mixed metals are most likely the next embellishment to try, and I'm excited about it! Probably some copper and/or stainless applique', maybe even some sterling. Maybe even some set stones.
However much I may admire and emulate small aspects of their work, I'm not Michael Copeland, Sandy Jasper, Paul Busman, nor do I aspire to be. My whistles will stand or fall on their own merits; not how much like, or unlike, someone else's whistles they are.
And although the comparisons will inevitably be there, I think that if mine are well-executed, pretty, and play well, people will like 'em and buy them based on one or more of those merits. It's all I can ask.
Cheers,
Bill Whedon
