ClarkePennywhistle, C

A pretty instrument with a soft, fairytale tone--and yes, you'll need some serious breath control to play it. Slow airs DO sound particularly lovely on it. (I'm having a little trouble getting the rolls in reels to "pop" where I cut, but imagine I'll adjust.) Having played wooden recorders, I understand the problem with the wooden fipple; on the other hand, maybe the wood's ability to absorb moisture will mean that I won't be shaking (or sucking) condensation out of the whistle after half a tune. My only real problem with the Clarke is the seam down the back, just where I put my thumb--very annoying.I bought this because I needed a C whistle (I already have three Ds and an Eb) and thought I'd try something different. One of my D whistles and the Eb are Generations; the other two are Oaks, which I don't think are even made any more. One of those Oaks is now 30-odd years old and is still the best-sounding whistle of all I've owned. I gave away a Generation Bb because my hands are too small for it; I gave a Generation Eb to a little boy because his hands were too small for the D; and I gave away a Feadoga Stain D at my first opportunity. Now I kinda wish I'd bought a metal C, but didn't like what Amazon had in stock when I ordered, and I wasn't going elsewhere--I'm addicted to Prime! I'll probably buy a metal C in a few months if I can't get the rolls into the reel I'm working on, but I'm still happy to have this as an alternative.I also have advice for parents: whistles are notoriously shrill in less adept hands. If you're buying a whistle as a toy for a child, you may have to weigh your child's lack of expertise against your sanity; if that's the case, get the kid a Clarke wooden-fipple so you can hear yourself think. If your child is already playing in sessions with other musicians, he or she probably knows what he or she needs--and if your child is that good, do everybody a favor and give your budding busker what he or she wants, even if it costs more.

This whistle is made from a piece of rolled steel, not a pipe or tube. It is very light. It looks good (not great) and sounds nice. It has a block of wood in the fipple, so I am a little concerned about "moisture." The wood is not finished with anything and your lower lip is against the end grain. My greatest concern is the seam on the opposite side of the holes. If you play for any length of time, your thumbs can become uncomfortable holding the whistle. But for an inexpensive whistle, in a Key used once in a while, a decent product. If you play a lot in C, step up to a different make. If you are like me and wanted something for the occasional tune in C, it gets you one note lower than your high D inexpensively.

I bought the Clarke D liked it so much I had to have the C. I have other whistles but the taper bore has the sound I like. My 10 year old nephew likes the C better than any we have. The way it is made if you blow a little to hard it still sounds good. But we like the airy sound.

Switching octaves is hard on it, but that may just speak to my inexperience! Other than that it sounds nice (though I'd just go for a recorder instead)

It requires twice the air of my Dixon tunable whistle but I like the sound, specially when you play slow music, I must say that it has an airy, sweet and almost melancholic sound.

I bought this for my sister and she liked it. It comes with a little guide for newbies to get started. One thing you will need is more music to play.

The rolled tin construction of this whistle makes it very "breathy.". I don't like the sound very much, except as a harmony accompaniment for other whistle players.

I can't afford the over $100 pennywhistles, I don't play them enough to warrant that kind of spending, but this one has a great sound for the cost and it feels profesional enough to play in public!