I'm selling my Reyburn Low D whistle. This was formerly owned by Barry (greenspiderweb) and we traded in the spring, but I don't have the time to devote to low whistle right now, so it really doesn't make much sense for me to keep it. It's a classic Reyburn, brass tube with an adjustable maple head and beautiful tone, and it's in great condition. It's the wide bore model with offset holes for the bottom finger of each hand. I have relatively small hands and didn't have trouble with the stretch or hole size (I have had more problems with other low whistles I've played).
I also have sound clips of myself playing it that I could email anyone interested. The Reyburn website wasn't working for me when I tried, but more info and sound clips also available from the Irish flute store: http://www.irishflutestore.com/Reyburn2.html. These whistles currently sell for $240 new, and this is in like-new condition, so I'm asking $200 (including insured shipping to anywhere in the continental US, additional cost to ship elsewhere).
Too bad you don't have the time for the low whistle-you play it well! This is a very nice Low D, which I really wasn't looking to trade permanently, but it just worked out that way, since I wanted to spend more time with hers.
I also found I didn't need the offset finger holes, but anyone who has smaller hands will appreciate this.
Great whistle, and a beautiful, rich tone-but it does require good breath control. If you're willing to put in the time, it's well worth getting to know one of these. I have a feeling I will have one again sometime soon too!
Here's a sound sample of the whistle I did a few years ago. It's a wide bore low d in 'just' tuning. That should'nt make any difference in evaluating the tone. It's a great whistle for slow airs. Difficult to play fast on. Takes some dedication to get control of the sound. Very big, rich sound that's not really captured on recording. http://tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Au ... DTonyH.mp3
http://tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/newspage.htm Officially, the government uses the term “flap,” describing it as “a condition, a situation or a state of being, of a group of persons, characterized by an advanced degree of confusion that has not quite reached panic proportions.”
I just received a Reyburn Low D (just intonation, wide bore, offset fingerholes) from Doc's Irish Flute Store as part of a very agreeable trade, and I'd like to second the praise for these fine whistles. What I'm most impressed with is the variety of tone, from a flute-like clarity to the kind of liquid, flowing quality I'd expect in a good high whistle. It's not a whistle that runs on autopilot; you can do a lot to adjust your sound. I have a large finger spread, and the offset holes make it possible for me to use a position that's not far off what I use on flute. Quite comfortable, more so than other low D whistles I've tried, and more agile on quicker tempos as well.
I had fun doing A/B comparisons with my flute to investigate the "do you need a low whistle if you have a flute" topic that comes up off & on here at C&F. I'd say if you like the possibilities of sound that do make the low D its own beast (and to my ear, it extends what the player can do in the same range as the flute), this is one to consider.
I already own a Reyburn D/C set, and it was my satisfaction with the tone and playability of these that made me want to try his lower whistles (the trade with Doc included a low G as well, but I've been too infatuated with the D to give it a real try yet; seems delightful on brief acquaintance). Ronaldo's high D works so well for me that I haven't given serous thought to acquiring another whistle in that key.
So, an unqualified rave.
"Furthermore he gave up coffee, and naturally his brain stopped working." -- Orhan Pamuk
JS wrote:What I'm most impressed with is the variety of tone, from a flute-like clarity to the kind of liquid, flowing quality I'd expect in a good high whistle. It's not a whistle that runs on autopilot; you can do a lot to adjust your sound.
Well put and too true.
There is nothing like a Reyburn for expressiveness.
With so many Low-ds you blow and they toot. With the Reyburn wide bore I really find the ability to express what I'm after musically...just lovely critters.
It's hard to believe that your Reyburn is still available, Sara! I guess the right person just hasn't come along yet that wants to save a quick $50! I would, if I needed the offset holes! Actually, I didn't find it all that hard to play with my longer fingers. Hmmm...
You would still need to use piper's grip, unless you have really large hands. But if you have smaller hands, you can use your little finger on the bottom hole to make it easier to play.
I used piper's grip, and it still worked well for my medium-large hands. I just prefer inline holes myself.
If this had in-line holes, it'd probably have sold right away. Those offset holes are hard to adjust to if you've already put the time in to learn the normal way of playing.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which is least known--Montaigne
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light
--Plato
flutey1 wrote:I didn't find it hard to adjust to the offset holes and the low whistle I had before this has much larger, inline holes.
Ditto-I didn't have any trouble adjusting to the offset holes either, with my larger hands. But for my larger hands, inline just seems to work better for me.
The offset fingering is supposed to be for people with smaller hands so they can use their little finger to cover the bottom holes on each hand, to help with the long stretch on Low D whistles that many find hard to manage.
Just a quick note of agreement. I have large hands, and the offset holes on the Reyburn make for easy fingering with the conventional (no little finger) method. For me, fingertips on the left hand, pipers grip on the right.
"Furthermore he gave up coffee, and naturally his brain stopped working." -- Orhan Pamuk
