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July 21, 2007

Hai Yu has a new Buddy! Dim Sum arrives and takes over the house.

Hai Yu & Dim Sum webshot

 

We have a new addition to our family. Hai Yu, our all black pug is three and Nadiene thought he could use some dog company to keep him happy. T\he new puppy is a fawn Pug and his name is Dim Sum just like the famous restaurants that serve all the tiny bits of good things to eat. Dim Sum means tiny Morsel in Chinese and he was very small two or three weeks ago. The two dogs are great pals and do everything together. Long afternoon naps and evening walks are a favorite. The wild strawberries are ripe in Maine right now, so a stop to pick and eat a few is necessary if you wish to be a popular dog walker.

Pugs are fun loving, playful dogs and are noted for their personality and disposition. Originally Pugs were the eighty pound mastiffs that guarded the Chinese temples, but were imported into England by the Dutch traders and were bred down in size to about twenty pounds. They are very aware of what is going on and insist on being in the midst of everything.

Posted by The WhistleSmith at 7:36 PM | TrackBack

Comments and Questions from some Wicked Good Web Customers

bear the price web

The following comments are just some of the many made about the WhistleSmith Low D.

I was reluctant to purchase your whistles because they seemed too cheap to be comparable to other whistles on the web. However, I could not find anyone that stated their Low D was suitable or could even be played by someone with small sized hands. As you know, I purchased a Low D in maroon, about a two months ago, and I want you to know that the whistle has worked out wonderfully. I can play this whistle without straining my hands and it is comfortable even after playing it for a long time. My friends have listened to your whistle and have been surprised and complimentary on both the sound and volume that it produces. I am a better and happier player now that I am not left out of playing the low whistle.

Many thanks, Mary C. NY

When you told me that I could get my Low D completely refurbished for $10. and postage, I couldn't believe it! I had this whistle for a couple of years before it was damaged. (Ray laid it on a hot ceramic stovetop by accident) . The whistle you sent me is just a great player and I am really surprised and pleased.

Thanks so MUCH!. Ray T., Fla.

I was very happy with the Low D whistle I purchased from you on ebay about a year ago. When you mentioned on the phone that there was a substantial improvement in volume on the low end and that I could upgrade the whistle for a small fee, ($10. and postage) for a new whistle head, I was impressed. The whistle came back home yesterday looking like brand new and I really am impressed. This whistle is a whole new ball game! Great sound and lots of volume. I liked my original whistle but, this one makes my day! Thanks! Ben Waters, PA

The set of seven whistles came today and the matching color and striping make them look terrific. I have played them all for a brief period and they are more than I expected. The Bb with the wide mouthpiece is exceptional for a smaller bore whistle and has a lot more volume than I had expected. The low F is my unexpected favorite of them all and is very even through two octaves. Will email you an update after I have put them through their paces... All for now, J. Bell

The following comments are just some of the many made about the WhistleSmith Ultra D, C and Bb.

This is a well made and designed whistle. The whistle plays best when I play it aggresively and with assurance. I would say this is a technical whistle in that you have many fractional adjustment available to set the whistle up for the way you play. At first I thought that would be a nuisance, but the setup and adjustment is really simple after I read the instructions. When all else fails, you should read the instructions! Anyway, I am very satisfied with my purchase and will be buying again . J. Willliams, CA.

I bought the Ultra D for my husband and it wasn't what he wanted. However, I really like it and have decided he can buy his own whistle and I will keep this one. The volume is impressive and I love the tone. I think this whistle is perfect for me! Jane B.

I received my Bb whistle I purchased from your website and it arrived in first class condition. Your package and packaging are first class. The whistle plays beautifully and is well tuned. It is an easy play in both octaves and is simple to clean and setup. I recommend that anyone recieving this whistle read the instructions as they are clearly written and make playing very simple. I will be purchasing again, Thank you. May Baily

I was wondering if the increased cost in shipping would be affecting the amount WhistleSmith products cost and if you will be raising prices this fall? I am saving up for a couple of more low whistles and thought I would ask. Please don't think I'm trying to get a scoop, I just need to keep my budget straight. Dave C.

The cost of WhistleSmith Wicked Good Whistles will remain the same for the foreseeable future. That means, that all whistles will cost the same $34.95 as they have been for some time now and the Low D will remain at $59.95 (cost was reduced earlier this year). The cost reduction was made possible by making the entire line of whistles modular. That means more uniformity in production with less setups and machining time going to waste when making parts. By getting this part of the production worked out, I can now spend more time tuning and assembling whistles and less time on making a lot of different parts for each style whistle. You get a better whistle for your money and I save a lot of time making the parts.

The cost of shipping single whistles overseas has now gone to $18. per pound. However, the whistle is now insured and can be tracked by number after it leaves customs. Most countries have signed on to the new plan, but not all of them. In the old postal format, we had no way to recover a loss and there were far to many to make it profitable to sell to individuals.

Shipping to Canada is also an $18. charge, but we can ship two whistles via UPS , which gives the package a shipping number and the items are insured..Canadian customers have said that service is very good and no parcels have been lost.

Packages to US customers are being shipped via UPS three day select which gives you shipping with a tracking number and insures the merchandise. Fees for a $34.95. whistle or flute is $9.99 and for a $59.95 item it is $12.95.

Three overseas customers have been upset in the past month that an additional VAT tax was added to their orders without them being aware of the charge in advance. The WhistleSmith information clearly states for customers in other countries to check and see if their country has additional taxes on goods being brought into the country. My wife Nadiene, does all the shipping and additionallly warns customers of hidden country tax and that we are not responsible for those taxes. Every overseas customer is advised to be aware that we do not collect or keep track of these taxes. The WhistleSmith does not calculate or add any tax, except Maine Sales Tax for resident purchases.

 

Posted by The WhistleSmith at 7:08 PM | TrackBack

Self Masking System Makes Airbrushing Wicked Easy!

airbrush

 

 

 

The WhistleSmith shop has been very busy this summer and this newsletter is way overdue. I have been making steady improvements in the shop that directly affect the flow of instruments and the amount of time spent on producing finished parts.

 

A self masking setup to mask whistles and flutes for airbrushing the vinyl color is finally complete. The masking system is a slide on tube masking system that I made from spare parts and cutoffs that would have otherwise gone into the waste bin. No paper or tape is required to mask off the areas that remain uncoated. Instead, the instrument is masked by sliding close fitting tubing pieces over the areas to be covered. Bores on the tone bodies are filled with a special tube of plastic coated sheet material rolled and inserted into the tone body. Air is introduced into the tone body and the material seals off the fingerholes, keeping the bore clean and preventing vinyl overspray from entering; The vinyl over spray in the finger holes is used instead of dying the hole so that reaming and undercutting is easily seen when tuning the instrument. When the finger holes are completely clean, you know that the hole has been reamed satisfactorily and no holes have been missed. It is a simple but extremely fast and sure method to make sure all finger holes have been addressed and none have been missed.

 

The pieces of tubing used in the masking process can be used over and over and still produce sharp, accurate masking lines. By making the masking pieces the precise length needed to do their job, accurate masking is accomplished without having to measure with a rule or pencil mark on the tonebodies.

When the airbrushed parts are dry, the tube masking pieces can be quickly pulled off and placed in a container for future use. The plastic roll masking is easily pushed out of the tonebody with a piece of dowel and can be used again and again. By using this simple masking system, many hours a month can be saved and the finished airbrushing is easier, better in quality and much more cost effective.

I am offering a paint package that can be added for the all white whistles in the line. The paint package will be an option for your whistle and will be offered in our standard colors: jet black, bright red, cornflower blue, deep maroon, dark brown and racing green. Silver striping and a special decals will also be included as part of the package. Cost will be $8. a whistle for the paint package. The Low A, Low G, and Low F are the model whistles that this package will apply to.

Posted by The WhistleSmith at 3:06 PM | TrackBack



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