Tony Dixon Music is a small, family-run business based in the UK. Founded back in 1997, they’ve become known over the years for offering a nice range of affordable and well-made traditional wind instruments. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the so-called Dixon Trad “Nickel” model in the key of D, a whistle that stands out with a few interesting design choices worth exploring.
Design & build
| Model: | Dixon Trad |
|---|---|
| Key: | D (high/soprano) |
| Material: | Cupro (copper/nickel alloy) |
| Mouthpiece: | ABS plastic |
| Windway type: | Curved-flat |
| Length: | 293mm (11.53″) |
| Weight: | 32g (1.13oz) |
| Bore diameter: | 12.5mm (~ 0.49″ or 31/64″) |
| Tuneable: | Yes |
The Dixon Trad features a traditional, straightforward design, but with a few interesting twists. The body is made from cupro, a copper-nickel alloy that combines the acoustic qualities of brass, but with a silvery metallic look. Unlike nickel-plated whistles, it isn’t overly slippery, and it also resists tarnishing better than pure brass.
The black plastic mouthpiece forms a joint with the body and isn’t glued in place, so the whistle is tuneable right out of the box. On top of that, one unique detail is the semi-curved windway design — one side is slightly rounded while the other remains flat, as shown in the image.
The bore diameter is also worth noting. It’s a little wider than what you’d find on most standard narrow-bore high D whistles, yet still narrower than wide-bore models like the Waltons Mellow or the Goldie. This puts it somewhere in between, striking a balance between the two.
And finally, even though the Dixon Trad is mass-produced and budget-friendly, each whistle is hand-finished and tested before leaving the workshop. That extra step helps ensure you get a whistle that’s ready to play without any unexpected flaws.
Dixon Trad – Sound samples and demonstration
The video below features samples from both octaves, starting with slower melodic phrases and then moving into faster tunes to show how the Dixon Trad D responds in different playing contexts.
One of the first things you’ll notice is that the Dixon Trad still has that traditional chiff sound, but not as much as most other entry-level whistles. The sound is cleaner, with a sweet and ringing tone, and ornamentation comes through crisply in both octaves.
The tone stays fairly even and balanced, both in slower melodies and faster tunes. It’s not overly harsh in the upper octave, which is a nice touch.
Tuning is generally good, though the standard “OXX OOO” fingering for C natural tends to be a bit sharp. You can either ease off the breath or use the alternative “OXX XOX” fingering for a better result.
How it handles from a player’s perspective
To put it simply, this whistle is an excellent pick for anyone who enjoys a cleaner, direct, sweeter tone with responsive, crisp ornamentation — without breaking the bank.
It’s also an easy blower thanks to its larger opening windway. However, the trade-off might be very low backpressure, so it’ll consume your air a bit faster than expected, and you might need to breathe more often compared to “average” whistles in this range. Not a huge deal, just some players might find it a bit harder to control.
Compared to the all-plastic Dixon DX005, this model has a slightly wider bore and can handle stronger breath pressure. Blow gently and you’ll get a clean tone, push a bit harder and you’ll hear more air in the sound, but without breaking or squeaking. Something beginners will definitely appreciate.
Your thoughts?
Have any questions or impressions about the Dixon Trad? Feel free to drop a comment under the video on YouTube. We check in regularly and are always happy to chat, answer questions, or hear your experience with the whistle!
Dixon Trad whistle comparisons
Below are a few quick sound comparisons between the Dixon Trad and other tin whistles. Each clip is recorded using the same microphone and settings to give a fair impression of tone and character, with raw, unprocessed sound.
More comparisons coming soon…
Please note: due to YouTube’s automatic audio normalization, real volume differences between whistles are effectively removed. That’s actually helpful in this case — since louder sounds are often perceived as better to the human ear on a subconscious level, this allows you to focus more objectively on tone, texture, and response.
Where to buy this whistle
If you’re interested in picking up this whistle, here are a few trusted places where you can find it. Prices typically range around $30-$50, depending on the shop and region. At the time of writing, the Dixon Trad whistle is only available in the key of D.
- Amazon
- BigWhistle (UK, ships worldwide)
- Tony Dixon Music (UK, ships worldwide)
- Hobgoblin (UK, ships worldwide)
- McNeela Music (Ireland, ships worldwide)
