Generation Tin Whistles -- Tweak Them!
by Howard Fosdick © FolkFluteWorld.com
Thinking of buying a Generation brand tin whistle? Or, perhaps you already have one and want to know more about it, or are wondering if you can improve it.
Actually, you probably can enhance its sound, and even make it tunable.
This article tells you what you need to know.
The Good News
Generation brand tin whistles are among the most popular in the world. And, the least expensive.
Generation Music set up shop back in 1966 in the small town of Oswestry, right near the English - Welsh border. They introduced their most popular instrument, the Original Generation Flageolet, in 1968. Today they've branched out into related products as well.
Generation whistles have earned their popularity for several reasons:
1. Ubiquitous -- You can get them anywhere. For example, all sizes are available online at shops like Amazon.
2. Inexpensive -- You won't pay less for any other decent whistle!
3. Standardized -- You know what you're getting with this popular and proven product.
4. Simple -- The Generation design is simple and foolproof. It's just a non-tapered metal tube with a few holes in it and plastic fipple attached. That makes it easy to alter, if you have a mind to.
5. Most Keys -- You can get Generation whistles in any common key, from the high G on down. (They don't make low whistles, though, like the low D.)
Truly Paradise?
You might notice, though, if you look at all the reviews of Generation whistles at Amazon, that there are definitely some low ratings mixed in among the rave reviews.
What's that about, anyway?
First off, with any item that is mass-produced very inexpensively, you're bound to find a few sub-standard items that slip past quality control. When you pay less than $15 for a whistle, you can't expect it to be individually tested before it ships!
Secondly, the plastic molding process whistle-makers use produces a very good -- but not optimal -- fipple design.
The good news is that you can modify or tweak your Generation to make it better.
Tweaking isn't difficult, and it's fun. Plus, you'll feel like you've personalized your whistle.
When you're done, you may not only have a better-sounding whistle, but you can also leave the mouthpiece such that you can move it in or out. So you'll have made your whistle tunable as well.
Tweaking
You can tweak your Generation yourself, or pay a small fee to have someone else do it professionally.
The acknowledged guru of tweaking is a fellow named Jerry Freeman. He's so popular you can buy his tweaked whistles from several sources including Big Whistle, The Irish Flute Store, and even Amazon.
Should you wish to do your own tweaking, the process isn't difficult. It consists of two steps.
First, you'll need to remove the glued-on plastic fipple. You do this by soaking the fipple end of the whistle in hot water. There is a small risk here -- you need to water hot enough to loosen the glue, but not so hot that it distorts or melts the plastic!
Then, you'll take a putty of some sort -- Bostik Blu Tack is popular -- and apply it to two locations in the fipple. You use this to better shape the fipple head. And you may wish to make other minor improvements.
How to Tweak
The best way to learn tweaking is to watch how the experts do it.
Click on the videos to see how Jerry Freeman tweaks Generations, and for a hands-on, step by step explanation by CutiePie:
Here's Jerry Freeman's written description of how he tweaks Generation whistles.
Conclusion
Generation Music produces excellent tin whistles. They're inexpensive, ubiquitous, and a great value for the money.
Oftentimes you can improve them by a few simple tweaks. Why not save money and get a better whistle into the bargain? Tweak a Generation and you'll have a whistle that performs better than most at minimal cost.