MK Kelpie Low D Whistle – Non-Tunable Aluminum Musical Low Whistle for beginners, intermediate, and Professional players/musicians (Anodized Black)

Having enjoyed playing woodwinds since my youth, whistles have been a simple joy to me. Amongst a collection of Celtic flutes and various woodwinds, a few whistles in various keys have always been a constant go to for portable entertainment. Having been somewhat partial to my old high D whistle, I desired to be able to enjoy this same feel and style of play, but with the deep richness of my low D Celtic flute. I received my MK Selkie in low D recently after a bit of research. It did not disappoint. The finish was nice. It was tuned spot on. The mouthpiece is comfortable and hasn’t clogged. It has a good deal of back pressure, which is great as a larger volume of air is required for larger woodwinds. I have large hands, so the holes, though a further stretch, can be accessed by me with or without a piper’s grip with my lower hand. Once.warmed up, the resonance of this whistle has a deep, far away sound, yet not too airy. It is a heavier and well made whistle. It’s great for trad play and anything that sounds good with a deep low sound. I regret not buying it sooner. I highly recommend it for those who play alone. The tunable model might be preferable for group sessions, though, as an option.

This whistle has a really nice sound to it, my music vocabulary isn't the most impressive yet, but it has a haunting, breathy sound to it.The upper register is really responsive too, you do have to put some strong pressure in to hit that high B and A, but it sounds nice in both octaves.I've seen people play it with the first pads of their fingers, maybe with some stretching I could get there, but I find a pipers grip on F, E, and D to be more comfortable.It's a very nice looking whistle. One solid black piece, a nice finish, with a little brightly polished ring on the inside which you can see through the top whistle/hole bit. I imagine this thing will outlast me barring some sort of catastrophic event, or someone purposefully destroying it.

I bought this whistle soon after learning the high whistle. Because of some mailing issues, I ended up with a Howard Whistle at the same time. The Kelpie has a breathier, haunting sound, while the Howard has a clearer, more flute-like sound. The Kelpie is heavier and all metal, so it may be safer on a camping trip. I think it's a tad easier to play because the holes are slightly smaller and easier to cover, especially since I'm using a piper's grip on the far end (D, E, and F). I can reach the holes with my finger tips, but it's harder to land quickly. The wool pouch is very nice and will likely outlast the plastic sleeve the Howard is packed in. Now there's nothing wrong with a Howard Whistle. Both of these are fine instruments. It's a matter of taste and overall preference. I'd suggest finding some video demonstrations, such as the Cutie Pie videos.

This is my first professional level whistle. It was packed really well and came without a scratch. It is heavy and well made. The sound is beautiful. I checked the notes and they were spot on. Yes it is well worth the money.That said, please note the size of the instrument. If you have small to medium hands you will likely struggle to play it. Also if you are a beginner you may find that it has a learning curve.

I couldn’t be happier! 😊You will never find a Better made Irish low D whistle for this price. The precision craftsmanship and sleek design produces a beautiful mellow tone. Previous to this purchase I bought a plastic low D from a well known maker to see if I would like the instrument, then weeks later I graduated to the MK Kelpie. I’m glad I did!!!

You won’t regret it.

I purchased this whistle as an upgrade from the beginner plastic tapered end Whistle I have been using over the past several years. It was a bigger upgrade than I anticipated. This MK whistle sounds amazing and is easier to control the Breath than what I was using. I am very happy with the purchase.

This really is a high quality whistle and has a nice mellow flute-like sound. However, after owning it for a few months now, I still don't know what to think of it. Perhaps this is a mistake on my part. I bought this whistle and an Irish flute (my first) at the same time. At first I gravitated to the whistle and it sounded absolutely beautiful, but since I have gotten better at the flute it now just sounds like a fake flute to me. It is such a nice whistle, that I want to like it, but now my ears hear dull flute playing. So, if you want Irish/Celtic flute like sounds out of the box and don't want to spend hours upon hours learning to play a real flute, just get this and be happy. If you plan to play a real Irish flute, you may grow to dislike its flute-like sound.