Currently on Michael Burke’s web site he mentions a new Professional Model that has an all black tipped mouthpiece. (no metal will go in your mouth) Has anyone gotten one of these. If so how about a picture and/or review? Thanks!
Hey, another San Jose whistler! That makes four of us. As to the Burke model you’re talking about, I don’t know. I sent him an email more than a month ago asking him some questions about his models but still haven’t heard back yet. It must have fallen through the cracks, I guess.
I don’t know whether this is what you are referring to, but on the narrow bore professional models, about 3/8" of the end of the mouthpiece is black delrin. No metal touches your lips unless you like to stick the mouthpiece way into your mouth. The brass narrow bore is incredibly responsive, and the tone is “pure” but mellow. My aluminum narrow bore has a more aggressive tone and requires a bit more air. I could make pictures, but I need to charge the batteries on my digicam. BTW, the inside diameter of the narrow bore Burkes is about the same as that of a Gen or Feadog.
Jonharl: I have read Mike’s message on his site. I think what he is referring to as ‘professional model’ are the Pro models - both Brass Pro and AlPro - that many of us use, all the time. Some of these, such as the narrow-bore D, the G, A, Bb, etc., have a mouth piece that is tipped in Delrin, not metal. The look is classy, but I simply have not been able to tell a playing difference between this newer mouthpiece and the standard one, tipped in metal. Mike has told me he will be shifting over completely to Delrin tips, as time goes on…I truly like my Delrin tipped instruments, but am not about to sell my older D and C versions, in order to ‘upgrade’, in the future…The difference is not appreciable, IMHO…
I think the confusion may come from the fact that Mike has not had the time to update his site, for a long time. In actuality, his ‘new’ Pro models, have been available for quite some time…
Best.
Byll
Thanks for all your responses. Byll, from your explanation it does sound like a synthetic topped whistle, say like a Sindt. Only it plays the same as his other pro whistles that have a delrin fipple with a brass mouthpiece.
Jonharl: The mouthpiece on Mike’s new models is still metal - either aluminum or brass, but the last upper 1/2 inch or so is now replaced by the Delrin. (This, of course, has nothing to do with his composite models…) In both cases, Burke mouthpieces are lined with Delrin. On the newer design, the Delrin curves up, over, and replaces 1/2 inch of the metal end…(I am having a difficult time explaining this, as my instrments are not with me, at the moment.)
I find all of Mike’s metal instruments a joy to play. I trust Mike, and I am sure there is a reason for the change. As a player, for me the two types work equally well…
Best.
Byll
How does the narrow bore Burke compare to the Gen or Feadog in volume?
Mike’s newer pro model whistles do indeed have a slight change in the mouthpiece design… Ridseard described it quite well.
The new modification is a brilliant idea, and should make the many people who dislike having metal in their mouths very happy.
I wish I had the equipment necessary to do the same thing with my own whistle mouthpieces, but my shop is embarrassingly low-tech. 
Mike’s pro models are technological marvels… I’m awed by the degree of absolute genius that went into their design.
I’m very interested in seeing a picture if anybody has one.
About the same volume, but it may give the impression of being a little quieter than the less expensive whistles in the upper part of the 2nd octave because it is not as shrill. (In fact, even 3rd octave D and E are not unpleasant.)
Keeps on improving his whistles.
Let’s see if I have this right, Ridseard: you like Burke’s narrow bore whistles, correct? 
You’ve about got me sold, and I may have to have a serious talk with my financial manager. However, could you address a couple of issues for me? As a long time Gen, Oak and Clarke player who is only now taking a look at higher end instruments (my new Sweetheart professional, which I dearly love), I’m used to very responsive instruments, in terms of shifting quickly and smoothly between octaves. I’ve also pretty much sworn off Generations because of the intonation problem (flat) in the higher range. You seem to say that the Burke brass professional narrow bore is comparably responsive. How about its intonation? Have you tested it against tuners or other instruments? I feel like I got burned on a Dixon recently because of bad intonation (and a shame, because I liked the tone very much), so I don’t want to sell my financial manager on my need for a Burke and then not use it. My promise: no recriminations! I accept that the old maxim de gustibus non est disputandum also applies in the case of whistles.
I have Burke AlPro C and low G. No intonation problems with either. If you’ve been playing cheapies, you simply won’t believe what beautiful instruments Michael Burke makes. You’ll probably wonder why you didn’t go for high-end whistles sooner.
I second Wombat’s assessment wholeheartedly. You will not have intonation problems with any Burke whistle.
Carol
I don’t know how good my tuner is, but after warming up the whistle, the intonation is accurate to within +/- 10 cents over the two octaves. (That’s without consciously controlling the intonation.)
The only whistle I’ve played which is slightly more responsive than the Burke is a brass O’Briain Improved D. Of course, the trade-off is the instability of the O’Briain on the bottom notes. For me, the Burke has the ideal balance between responsiveness and stability.
thanks for the comments. i think i’m gonna try it.
These aren’t good, but they show the configuration of the Delrin tip.
http://pw2.netcom.com/~ridseard/top.jpg
http://pw2.netcom.com/~ridseard/side.jpg
http://pw2.netcom.com/~ridseard/bottom.jpg