Humphrey Whistles review - New vs Old (and unboxing)

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

I just received one of these in the mail. Being in Scandinavia and covid going on it took a fair amount of time to get here, but throughout Gary was super attentive to the progress and just overall a really great and sincere guy about it who clearly takes pride in what he is doing. So - fine service, very reliable and not least a wonderful instrument that I am very happy with. Tone and design-wise very much in the vein my good vintage generation High D whistle, but better made, properly in tune and just overall more smooth and clean to play with no unwanted squeaks and squawks, but with a sustained stable tone and an easily accessible higher register at a well balanced volume. The spacing between the holes is reminiscent of an old generation but somehow more evenly spaced, and ever so slightly smaller - making it effortless to play and very natural to handle. As has been noted it's very light. I strongly recommend it. Last I heard Gary is back to making whistles full time, so the opportunity definitely is there and shipping to Europe is possible. An instrument worth owning and a craftsman worth supporting.

[@whistletutor]

Congratulations on the new whistle - enjoy!

[@BernadineEvers]

Ordered one in November, it’s now March and lm hoping it will be delivered soon. I’m excited to try it!

[@FiddlingwithmyWhistle]

loving the new intro graphices...

[@WMvB]

I have been on a quest for the perfect whistle since I began playing a few years ago. I have been disappointed by a lot of whistles- some considered 'high end' & rather pricey. After seeing your posts, I bought a couple of Gary's aluminum whistles with cautious optimism. I was immediately smitten. The tone is rich & full, just the right balance of 'chiff', intonation is fine. They are also very attractive, incidentally. I got what I consider a whole set- G, A, B. B flat, C, D+. As far as I am concerned, Gary is the only whistlesmith I will ever need. In his correspondence, he is clearly passionate about his work & displays many other fine personal qualities. He is a real gem & I am very grateful for your posts, I would never have found him otherwise. RE your new vs old whistles, I like the new one better- tone seems more full to me.

[@whistletutor]

Glad you're happy with Gary's whistles - he does great work!

[@TerraThink]

They sound pretty good but Humphrey needs a new website baaad. That thing is straight out of the mid-90s. When I googled and ended up there, I wasn't even sure his shop was operational anymore due to that ancient design.

[@whistletutor]

Agreed!

[@massnb]

I just sent in an order for a whistle from him. I'm really excited to play it, even though it's a 3 month waiting list! I was close to buying a Wild when he told me that but I feel like I may just have gotten it in time before he ramps down, and I'm happy he's doing so much business. In April I'll get a very nice surprise. Thanks for all your tutorials and reviews.

[@whistletutor]

It'll be worth the wait - cheers!

[@massnb]

Hi Sean, I've had one of Gary's stealth trad D's for a couple years now and have loved it. As I'm improving I do notice that once I hit the high A (2 fingers), I have to give it a huge boost of air not to break down into the lower octave. Like a much bigger step than the increase in air for the few notes below it in the upper octave, and much more than on any other whistle. I've cleaned the head which didn't affect it. Is this something you noticed, maybe just particular to Humphrey D whistles? Other ideas? I'm getting a Bb from him in October, I really do love the tone and most of the playability, but that one thing has been frustrating. Thanks for all your free instruction!

[@piotrgowacki4226]

Sweet sounding whistles with great intonation and a lovely channel. Thanks!

[@biancanoack7167]

Got the new one for christmas and I love it! Gary has signed it with my initials 😍

[@whistletutor]

Nice, glad you like it!

[@davidmolloy126]

Hiya Sean, Love the comparison and the new one definitely sounded slightly more complex, a bit like a woodwind instrument that's been re-voiced. Maybe whistles become 'tired' with age? I've looked at Gary's website but the problem for me here in England is customs duty on imports. These can be punitive. Thanks again and take care. David 😎

[@boodo168]

Got my trad D whistle today WOW... fun for me ahead. I own a lot of whistles and this one blows them all out of the water. Thanks for helping me figure out how easy it is to contact him. Now I have to order a session whistle befor he retires from the business. He told me they blow paint off the wall .... haha

[@whistletutor]

Congratulations! I'm glad you love it, I've never played a bad Humphrey whistle myself!

[@robertjohnston5011]

They pass the test of being musical in both octaves and maintaining their integrity of tone through both octaves. Very nice! Most whistles either sound like two different instruments going from one octave to the next, where the volume and intonation changes too, or the notes start to fracture and sound windy and scratchy in the top half of the second octave or certainly on any notes in the third octave. I'd say the Humphrey's are top quality, better than intermediate and better than average. For anyone needing to record or play sessions with a small band, you want the whistle to have integrity throughout. On my short list of next to purchase!

[@whistletutor]

Well said - they're definitely reliable throughout, that's for sure!

[@leem1914]

New to your channel. Emerging from pandemic and back to the whistles. Your videos got me wanting a Humphrey. Which Humphrey do you have ? There are a lot of choices. Thank you. Ps. Just read previous comment - seems like a Trad Whistle. Will order one

[@whistletutor]

Yep he's changed his naming conventions over the years but I think what I've got is the trad/stealth variety

[@leem1914]

@@whistletutor yes. Just wrote. Him will order a D in October

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

I was fortunate to recently find an old brass generation probably from some time in the 70s that I really like. A/B-ing it with the video the tone (from my laptop speakers mind you) is VERY similar. However the Humphrey just seems a smoother, cleaner and better in tune especially in the upper register, where the generation can get ever so slightly schreechy, especially when not warmed up. Like the Humphrey is Rolls Royce version of the same thing. Note: I own a couple of modern generations as well, but to they sound significantly different from these. Louder but NOT better). As for the video the old one sounds slightly warmer to me, so maybe I'd prefer that personally - but I'd love to get my hands on a Humphrey either way ...

[@whistletutor]

Some of those old Generations are amazing. You can still find a good new one from time to time but the days of trying out 10-20 of them to find that diamond in the rough are gone, unfortunately. And to your point, that's exactly why I love Humphrey's whistles so much - they sound like a great, in tune Generation of old.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@whistletutor It's a great relief in a way finding that out, because I was growing paranoid about breaking the one whistle I really like now, it was pretty dinged up as it were. I should probably start saving up right away ... =.O

[@whistletutor]

@@whynottalklikeapirat You won't regret it if you do!

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@whistletutor Thanks man

[@manubishe]

Whoa, the prices are quite high, But given the option of tube-only purchase - seems very economic for those who like the specifics of his whistles.

[@shaunlaverty3752]

Hi Sean, greetings from Donegal! new subscriber here in Ireland. Love your videos. I am a player returning to the instrument after many years of not playing and I was just wondering if you could tell me what tuning app you use. I have one but don't think its a good one. Also maybe a wee video on tuneable whistles and how to actually tune them (maybe you have already done this - I havent gotten through all vids yet!). I have a Dixon DX0004 tuneable polymer soprano D.

[@whistletutor]

Great questions - for a tuning app I use one called Tuner Lite for iPhone. Seems like it works pretty well, though more often than not I end up tuning once things get going and warmed up as everyone's tuning fluctuates as the night goes on and sometimes it's better to tune to someone else rather than a tuner. I did do a video on beginner whistles and the need to break the glue that typically holds the mouthpiece to the body in order to make them tunable - but getting into the details might be in order in a later video. Cheers!

[@shaunlaverty3752]

@@whistletutor Hey thanks a million for your response. I'll give your recommendation a try. keep up the brilliant videos. I really enjoy them. regards, Shaun

[@jimmymary5526]

Hello and thanks for your vidéos! Do you think if i buy a silver whistle from Humphrey, is a good purchase for playing in sessions and, solo? I Want a really good whistle and as i ear from u they sound good and trad... So, i have an other question about the plastic head. Is it solid? Thanks a lot. Jim

[@fatherbeocca8517]

Which D whistle should I get for my first? Trad High D (Narrow Bore), Session High D, Wide Bore High D, High D+ (7-Hole D With Bottom C) These are the options on Gary Humphrey's site.

[@whistletutor]

I haven't been able to hear much of a difference in the trad/sessions, don't think I've played a wide bore, and I definitely skip the 7-hole version haha - I have played (and own) several of the aluminum whistles. Really, they're all great!

[@RicaedT]

How do I get one to Canada? How misg do they cost?

[@HerkeyeFilm]

Can you give us insight into the tone, playability, consistent volume, etc. of Gary Humphries' different High D's? 1) Brass vs. Aluminum and 2) Trad vs. Session vs. Wide Bore?

[@whistletutor]

I've played both brass and aluminum and they're both lovely - I don't have a session or wide bore whistle as all of my brass whistles are of the trad variety. As I understand it, the other styles are a bit louder but that never really concerned me as I don't usually play whistle at sessions (playing flute instead.) When I'm playing whistle it's either practicing at home, at a gig, or at a recording session - in the latter two cases the volume is up to the engineer/FOH :)

[@lisaflute185]

Good video thank you ! I think the new one sounds a little more chirpy which I love! But both are Beautiful .

[@whistletutor]

Thanks a bunch, they're very similar as far as I can tell - I'm looking forward to playing the new one more though!

[@lisaflute185]

Yes I think you should play the new one for sure ! It sounded a little More Irish ☘️ chirpy and chiffy and beautiful to me ! Have a good day :-) thank you for all the great videos keep up the good work ! 😊

[@orionhitzig2285]

I’m in the process of ordering a Humphrey whistle after misplacing my wild, have a Killarney on the way to tide me over. I am curious which style I should get, narrow bore, session, or even the copycat, I’m an amateur whistle player at best, but need the quality.

[@whistletutor]

I've never played the copycat as I never saw the point but I believe I've got versions of the narrow bore and the session in various keys. To be honest he's changed his naming convention a bit since I got my first whistle from him and I'm not 100% sure I'd be able to tell the difference between the two types. I think either way you're going to enjoy it!

[@Ignacio.e]

I'm thinking about buying a flute but there are many options and the prices vary a lot from one flute maker to another. Could you recommend some flute makers?

[@whistletutor]

Hi Ignacio - sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I play flutes made by Terry McGee and Windward and they're both lovely though there are lots of great flute makers these days. If you're looking for a quality instrument that will last you a while you're probably looking around $1,000 for a keyless and $3,000 for a fully-keyed flute.

[@sunithafrancis7091]

What is the exact whistle that your playing, in garrys website there are 4 in D category( trad, session, bore, highs+)?

[@whistletutor]

I believe it's a "trad" whistle, though he's changed his naming conventions a few times over the years. I've got a few whistles both in brass and aluminum and they're lovely!

[@sspiegler]

Can you send me contact information for Gary Humphrey whistles? I enjoyed your review.

[@whistletutor]

I'll do you one better - it's in the description for all the world to jump into the wonderful universe of Humphrey whistles :)

[@thisone9]

It doesn't look like Humphrey makes a brass whistle on their site. Do you use a Stealth or Journeyman? Session, narrow or wide?

[@whistletutor]

I believe it's a stealth, session - but I'm not positive and I've played a few and can't really tell a difference. They're all great!

[@galwaytribesman9289]

Whats the tune called that you played?

[@piotrgowacki4226]

Are these session bore ones or narrow?

[@glenleonard7610]

what model of Gary Humphrey whistle are you testing?

[@whistletutor]

I believe that's the Trad High D Stealth

[@boodo168]

I went to Gary Humphrey's whistle sight and got mixed up answering the questions to make an account so I could buy a whistle;. I'm 81 but play whistle in a Celtic band. I'm using a copper whistle from Dixon but would love to contact Gary and try his D whistle.. normal bore. Is there a way I can contact Gary with just a regular email? All the passwords we need these days are a bit confusing at my age...

[@garyhumphrey791]

There's no account setup on my website, so you must have gotten misdirected somehow. Could be malware on your computer, but I'm really not sure what went wrong there. My website is just a simple one-page listing of what's available, along with some photos and my contact information. Please beware of any site asking you for personal information, and try visiting my website again using the following link - web.blomand.net/~ghumphrey/

[@whistletutor]

Oh yeah, there's no need to create an account on his site - just jump down to the bottom of the page, you'll find his email and he'll set you up.

[@boodo168]

@@whistletutor Thank you, I will order a new whistle.

[@dannybailey666]

Does Gary humphrey sell on ebay?

[@whistletutor]

Not to my knowledge, but it's possible!

[@danieldunlop1409]

Sean are both whistles the same diameter?

[@whistletutor]

I believe so - the new one is the version that he calls "trad d" which as I understand it is the same bore as the old ones that he used to make.

[@daledunlop8660]

@@whistletutor Was curious because I have one of his wider bore session D's that is a little less bright than my narrower bore whistles.

[@johnmc9073]

What does being warmed up mean?

[@whistletutor]

The whistle needs some heat/moisture through it in order to play properly in tune.

[@christopherschissler1675]

The new whistle sounds a little brighter, probably because it hasn't developed a Guiness patina on the bore yet. LOL

[@whistletutor]

Yep all in due time hahaha

[@AndieArbeit]

when you started playing the new one i thought you were going to play "Heathery cruach reel" 😅😅😅

[@whistletutor]

Good tune!