A strong session whistle with good volume and a well-balanced feel across both registers. The bottom D is hard and full with strong projection, while the upper register notes, including the high A and B, remain easy to reach and balanced in volume rather than shrill. The scalloped finger holes give the instrument a comfortable, natural feel under the fingers, particularly welcoming for flute players accustomed to a larger bore.
The African Blackwood body is paired with a Delrin fipple and windway head joint. Tommy Martin introduced this combination of a wooden body with a Delrin mouthpiece in 2017. The Delrin head gives the whistle a slightly breathier quality than the brass head variant, allowing the character of the wood body to come through in the tone. This particular Delrin-head configuration is no longer produced regularly, making it a less commonly encountered variant of the Thornton line.
About the Maker
Tommy Martin has been playing the tin whistle for over 40 years and has been making instruments since 2005. A professional musician and instrument maker, he has performed with productions including Riverdance, Celtic Woman, and An Irish Christmas In America, as well as the traditional group Teada. He takes his brand name from Thorntown, a small townland in North County Dublin where he is from, locally pronounced "Thornton." He works primarily in African Blackwood, with occasional use of Boxwood and Cocobolo. His wooden whistles feature a tapered bore, in the tradition of Clarke-style cylindrical and Victorian flageolet designs. The internal taper improves the volume balance between the two octaves, so the upper register does not become piercing and the second octave does not demand a disproportionate increase in air pressure.
Condition: Used - Excellent
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