So, Overton and Copeland are totally consistent? That's not what I've heard about Copelands.

Here's a quote from JessieK, who's owned more than a couple of Copelands: "The hand-voiced whistles of high-end makers like Abell and Copeland, for example, are unfortunately not always good."

I'll admit that the only hint of inconsistency in Overtons that I've seen has come from a rather avid Chieftain fan.

And which of those two is the Bleazey design a copy of? Neither the Overton nor the Copeland Web page shows any wooden whistles at all.

I've owned two Copeland low D's..one was considerably less reedy, and easier to blow than the other.

I've owned three Copeland high D's. The two brass behaved very similarly to each other. The nickel is very sweet and easy-blowing in both octaves.

YOU HAVE SOME POINT THERE ? IM SURE THERE IS , MAY BE I SPOKE TO HARSH, THIS WAS MY OPINION ONLY, AND FOR THE RECORD I HAVE HAD TO SEND A OVERTON LOW Bb BACK BEFORE

For the record, and as an owner of ten or so Copelands, they have a bit of a history of inconsistency. The whistles are made from the finest materials and with a great deal of effort and expert craftsmanship. However, over the years, I have experienced a degree of inconsistency. One of my Copelands is the one that goes to the afterlife with me - the sought after soulful and balanced sound much sought after. In the past, I've had two whistles that were absolutely horrible - these were returned and either replaced or retuned by the maker.

It has been said that in an effort to achieve consistency, Michael has in the past couple of years found "formulas" that in effect dumb down the artistic process, thereby providing consistently good but without chance of greatness whistles. I don't know this to be true or otherwise.

Of the eight Copelands I currently own (some older and some more recent), one is irreplaceably unreproduceably fantastic and the remainder range from good to very good.

Copelands take a lot of hits, I believe, because they are relatively expensive and because new makers are making wonderfully consistent, easy to play whistles that are much cheaper yet attractive and well crafted. That said, a Copeland is still a Copeland, though, and instantly recognizable as such.

Bottom line is this is just part of what keeps our whistle world interesting.

Philo

May be.

HANDS DOWN AND HANDS UP THE BEST LOW D CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET IS THE NEW KERRY SONGBIRD LOW D...ESPECIALLY WITH THE MODIFICATION WHICH HAS BEEN DONE TO THE MOUTH PIECE.

JUST MY OPINION........AS ALWAYS

Have you played the Alba Q1? (I mean the one made by Stacey O'Gorman.)

LOL....Bloomy.

I have to agree regarding Copelands. The newest one I own is a Low F and it's probably three years old. Maybe four. (Or five--I have time issues). But paying close attention to what a lot of people have said about Copelands, they've not been consistent in the past.

if you like a nice rich and warm sound, and a wooden whistle, then sweetheart whisle is the best for me, the site is sweetheartflute.com. and for a metal one, the best for me is copeland, at copelandwoodwinds.com

Has anyone here had a chance to compare MK whistles against other high-enders? I'd be very interested to hearing from experienced players how they rate.

So do I. I am seriously considering getting an MK Low D. I already have a Kerry Songbird Low D, which is very nice, but I'd like a tuneable whistle and the MK is a very attractive (look and sound) option. I also consider Sweetheart but it seems impossible to get a sound bite from it from anyone I am considering the Copeland as well. Difficult choice.

Hey Tyg-- you're prejudiced!
But I'm not, and I agree: my Sweetheart Resonance Low D is simply fabulous. It has a clean woody flute- like sound that I love. It is beautifully made and beautiful to look at and is just about the easiest low D I've ever fingered.
Seriously, Tyghress is a good, objective judge of whistles.

Got a sound byte anywhere BrewerPaul?

Copeland or Reyburn narrow bore in my opinion.