A bass A whistle is a genuinely rare thing, and this Shearwater delivers that deep, resonant voice at the cost of real physical commitment. Coming in at nearly thirty-one inches in length, it demands Piper's Grip throughout; anyone already comfortable playing a low D that way will find the hand position familiar, though the overall spread is more substantial. This is not a casual pick-up-and-play instrument, but for players who want to reach that bass A register, very few makers venture this far down the pitch spectrum.
The whistle does require a good bit of air, as you would expect. The second octave needs noticeably more breath pressure support to bring it in tune with the first, so players should be prepared to work for it. The reward is a tone characteristic of Shearwater whistles generally: mellow with a bit of chiff. At bass A, that quality takes on real depth.
The body is alloy tubing with a synthetic mouthpiece block, and the windway is curved to alleviate condensation. Offset finger holes support comfortable fingering.
Condition: Used - Excellent
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