I’m curious for those of you who’ve played both the new black delrin tipped wide bore Burkes in aluminum and brass. I know the tone is a little different, but I’m wondering if anyone can shed light on the differences in the upper/third register. Since the aluminum is more pure, smooth does that mean it will be a little more “piercing” on the high notes?
I have been listening to soundclips and can’t really tell. Also, the Burke web site mentions the newly designed tuning slide with greater tuning range, but this isn’t mentioned on the “new” brass version. Was this just left out?
Yes! Me to! Would be very nice to have some thougts regarding the different Burkes. I need a high C, and I guess Burke is one of the better options, but it´s hard to decide. Narrow or wide, brass alu or composite…?
I have a new Burke wide bore brass black tip in both D and C, as well as an older Al-pro aluminum D with black delrin fipple. These are all terrific. I like the new Burkes because they have more character in the tone - a nice full round tone with strong bottom end and easy not shrill upper - great balance and tone. I like brass because of the heft and the way it looks. I’m not sure that the materials have as much to do with tonal differences as other elements of whistle design and proportion. That said, it seems as though brass generally conveys a somewhat “warmer” sound, which I like.
Another extraordinary and totally different C, IMHO, is the Sindt (also brass and delrin). See, same materials, totally different sound. There’s something a little more cutting or edgy about it and it’s tremendous fun to play - super responsive and also well balanced.
The sheer number of offerings from Mike Burke - and the acronyms used to describe them - can be looked at as either a cornucopia of blessings or a melange of confusion…At times, I have experienced each reality…
However…
The two materials in question - brass and aluminum - sound different. It is really that simple. They have different tone colors…The Brass Pros sound more complex. They are rich in harmonics. The Alpros are amazingly pure. None of Mike’s current offerings can be called airy or chiffy. Their measured differences in volume are insignificant. Subjectively, the AlPros will cut through a bit more… But they are never ‘piercing.’
None of Mike’s current offerings have any harsh edges to upper notes. I regularly play both AlPros and Brass Pros - standard and narrow bores - into the 3rd octave, in concert. Playing characteristic differences for me are non-existent. They are marvelous, forgiving instruments to play…
It comes down to one question: Do you want a REALLY pure sound, or simply a pure sound? Ya pays your money, ya takes your choice. Buy one of both.
Qould you also say something (in general) about the differense in warming up whistles in the to materials?
I often play just one verse as solo in the middle of a song I´m singing, so whistles that warm up slowly, get cold quickly or play very badly when they are cold is a challenge.
I have the impression that alloy is “worst” regarding this. But then again, maybe the fipple is the most important, and with that beeing delrin they might come out equal.
(My water weasels are great regarding this, but not quite my ideal when it comes to sound. But by all means, very good for a lot of stuff)
Albanian: I need to be able to quickly pick up an instrument and play, with very little warm-up time. Burke whistles are very forgiving, concerning this issue. I have never found a difference in warm-up time, between Brass Pros and Alpros. I simply blow some air through them for an instant, and then play. The Delrin-lined head-piece simply negates the problem of clogging, for me.
