Which Overton-style low C whistle is your favorite?
And, why?

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Mk Pro low D | Goldie low D | Chieftain high D & alto A | Burke high {D, E} alto {B, G} | Freeman C | Dixon Pro high D

https://youtu.be/b6fsugicNVE

Of the three, the Overton is most airy sounding and Kerry is next and Mk is most muffled.
Any idea why?
I thought all three are using aluminum alloy?

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Mk Pro low D | Goldie low D | Chieftain high D & alto A | Burke high {D, E} alto {B, G} | Freeman C | Dixon Pro high D

It only shows (once more) that the material is the least important factor for the sound of a wind instrument - fipple/windway design, ratio length-diameter and size and position of the fingerholes have much more influence on the sound of the instrument.

Yes, I agree with you.

The differences in the fipple design is quite interesting ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y5E0R3lEk

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Mk Pro low D | Goldie low D | Chieftain high D & alto A | Burke high {D, E} alto {B, G} | Freeman C | Dixon Pro high D

Goes to show how tone is difficult to put into words.

I'm a Low Whistle person, and at times I've had Low Ds from a half-dozen different makers, including Overton and MK.

I wouldn't describe their tone the way you have.

The various MK Low Ds I've owned have had a unique tone, which I describe as dirty/gravelly and Kaval-like. Certainly not muffled- though dirty the tone has a strong core.

Bernard Overton is credited with inventing the Low Whistle, and the Overton tone is a convenient benchmark to compare other makes of Low Whistles to. It's been described as a Cosmic Drainpipe.

About Low Cs, I had a Susato Low C with an angled neck that was a fantastic player, the nicest-playing Susato I've owned.

Currently I'm playing a Colin Goldie Low C that's superb. The tone is middle of the road, but the playability is great.

I had a great Ronaldo Reyburn Low C, metal body with wood head. Reyburns have a wonderful unique NAF-like sound. (The 2nd octave was a bit stiff for me.)

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Richard Cook
1978 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle

I have played a Chieftain OS low C for ten years, and it sounds great.

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''Whistles of Wood'', cpvc and brass. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69086

Correct. Then comes breath control.

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''Whistles of Wood'', cpvc and brass. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=69086

Yes indeedy.

I've played so many metal Low Whistles with wonderful complex "woody" tone, and so many wood Low Whistles with thin "tinny" tone.

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Richard Cook
1978 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle

Well there's the rub.

There are still plenty of Bernard Overton whistles knocking about. I've owned several over the years.

Then Bernard allowed Colin Goldie and Phil Hardy to make whistles under the "Overton" name.

Since I had played a good number of Overtons (but few Hardys and no Goldies) I mistakenly thought they were all similar instruments.

My eyes were opened when I got a chance to play and own some Goldies.

My take on it is that Goldie made a commitment to refine the Overton design and produce top-notch one-man-workshop bespoke professional instruments. You can order a variety of different voicings (windway heights) that have differing performance characteristics.

Hardy went in the direction of factory production (the use of the word "factory" is his).

Of the three makers, the Goldies I've tried and owned have been superior to Overtons and Hardys.

The caveat being that since Overtons and Hardys (and all whistles) vary, I'm sure there are outstanding Overtons and Hardys out there.

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Richard Cook
1978 Quinn uilleann pipes
1945 Starck Highland pipes
Goldie Low D whistle

Thank you, again, Richard, for the good recommendations and unselfish sharing of your experiences.
They are always a pleasure to read and ponder over.

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Mk Pro low D | Goldie low D | Chieftain high D & alto A | Burke high {D, E} alto {B, G} | Freeman C | Dixon Pro high D