John Skelton playing a Jerry Freeman tweaked Bb Generation penny whistle

http://www.freemanwhistles.com

John Skelton performs on a Jerry Freeman tweaked Bb Generation penny whistle at the 2010 Pipers' Gathering in Killington, Vermont. The tunes are "Billy Ballantine's Hornpipe" and "Polly Put the Kettle on."

Jerry Freeman is the world's only full time, professional penny whistle tweaker.

"Tweaking" a penny whistle is much like setting up a guitar or fiddle; it is the process of making fine adjustments and modifications to get the best possible performance from the instrument.

Jerry takes mass produced whistles and adjusts the soundblade position, windway exit geometry, voicing chamber and tonebody to create affordable instruments that many consider not simply outstanding whistles for the modest cost, but outstanding whistles at any cost.

Jerry offers tweaked Generations, tweaked Feadogs, tweaked Sweetones, and his own creations, the widely acclaimed Blackbirds and Mellow Dogs.

Mellow Dogs are wide body whistles available in D and as a D/C set (one whistlehead with two tubes). Blackbirds are standard body whistles available in Eb, D and C.

Both are noted for their pure drop authentic traditional voicings that favor a birdlike, sweet timbre in a very responsive, clean playing instrument.