Vintage sound, modern performance
When I first began playing Irish music, and for years afterward, I struggled to find instruments I truly enjoyed playing as much as my dad’s old Generation. Most 'high end' whistles were deafening at close range and had too much backpressure to comfortably perform the graceful, articulated styles of playing that developed around whistles like that of Generation, Feadóg, and others in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Barter Loch whistles are rich and present in the low octave, sweet and clear in the high octave, and feature exceptionally low backpressure just like their vintage ancestors. They have a crisp attack which favors articulated playing, and do not suffer from the flattened second octave present in so many parallel-bore whistles.
Two o-rings set into the decorative turnings ensure a firm, airtight fit on the tube. This tuning slide will never become stuck or loose, and I have scribed a reference line individually on each whistle where I feel the octaves are best in tune at ~70 degrees F.
For session players, by a session player
As a frequent session player myself, I understand the need for an instrument that performs well in dense, noisy settings without irritating your comrades. Pennywhistles are a tough session instrument because they operate at a fixed air pressure by note; you can't just blow them louder and expect to play in tune. The crisp attack (also known as “chiff) helps them be audible without being overpowering even in fairly large sessions.