The last day to order is March 7th, 2023
The Becker Whistles are made in my shop in Warrensburg, Missouri. Looking for fun flute/type stuff on the web several years ago, I found plans from Dr. Guido Gonzato from Verona, Italy. I adapted his ideas to fit American cpvc and pvc tubing and before I knew it.....I was in the whistle business! Watch the slide show and video below!
My first whistle were functional, but rather crude. After getting some feedback from some whistle gurus, I have dedicated myself not just to make an inexpensive instrument, but one that looks good, feels good and above all sounds good.
Just a tenth of a millimeter in the fipple block makes a huge difference in the sound.....quite an art!
The Becker Whistles are made in my shop in Warrensburg, Missouri. Looking for fun flute/type stuff on the web several years ago, I found plans from Dr. Guido Gonzato from Verona, Italy. I adapted his ideas to fit American cpvc and pvc tubing and before I knew it.....I was in the whistle business! Watch the slide show and video below!
My first whistle were functional, but rather crude. After getting some feedback from some whistle gurus, I have dedicated myself not just to make an inexpensive instrument, but one that looks good, feels good and above all sounds good.
Just a tenth of a millimeter in the fipple block makes a huge difference in the sound.....quite an art!
Whistle making---lots of steps.....
I am using the Airyware tuner app to tune the whistles. A cylindrical whistle will be flat in the higher register. To minimize that,
I tune the lower octave about 10 cents sharp---which makes the higher octave sound just about on pitch. The pitch can
be affected as much as 30 cents by changing the force of your breath....so some human compensation can be done.
1. Mark the length of the whistle
2. Cut the whistle to length
3. Mark and cut out the windway
4. Use xactos and files and sandpaper to refine the windway and the ramp
5. Machine the fipple block of delrin to just slide into the windway
6. Cut the windway cover to length, and cut out section, and sand and pop onto whistle
7. Test sound and adjust position of fipple block and cover--- glue in place
8. Scroll saw the curve of the mouthpiece
9. Mark fingerholes-----drill fingerholes
10. Tune whistle with app and sander---smooth whistle end
11. Xacto and sand mouthpiece--smooth all surfaces
12. Xacto the fingerholes---refine and undercut
13. Medium steel wool removing ink and rough edges
14. Fine steel wool to velvet finish
15. Buff to gloss
16. Apply Becker Whistles sticker
17. Final testing and pack and ship
18. Enjoy a job well done!
This process has been repeated over 3.600 times!
I tune the lower octave about 10 cents sharp---which makes the higher octave sound just about on pitch. The pitch can
be affected as much as 30 cents by changing the force of your breath....so some human compensation can be done.
1. Mark the length of the whistle
2. Cut the whistle to length
3. Mark and cut out the windway
4. Use xactos and files and sandpaper to refine the windway and the ramp
5. Machine the fipple block of delrin to just slide into the windway
6. Cut the windway cover to length, and cut out section, and sand and pop onto whistle
7. Test sound and adjust position of fipple block and cover--- glue in place
8. Scroll saw the curve of the mouthpiece
9. Mark fingerholes-----drill fingerholes
10. Tune whistle with app and sander---smooth whistle end
11. Xacto and sand mouthpiece--smooth all surfaces
12. Xacto the fingerholes---refine and undercut
13. Medium steel wool removing ink and rough edges
14. Fine steel wool to velvet finish
15. Buff to gloss
16. Apply Becker Whistles sticker
17. Final testing and pack and ship
18. Enjoy a job well done!
This process has been repeated over 3.600 times!
Here is the video that has kicked my whistle business into high gear!
Thanks to my daughter for her editing. As of 2023 it has over 95,000 views!
Thanks to my daughter for her editing. As of 2023 it has over 95,000 views!
