I’ve spent many hours reading, searching and exploring this forum. When I first got interested in the Tin Whistle I immediately was drawn to the wooden variety. Exploring the wooden options, I found the David O’Brien Rover Whistles to be very interesting. I travel a lot and I am always drawn to anything that has a ‘take down’ option, or can be made ‘pocket-able’. This pursuit is what lead me to artistians like Mack Hoover and David O’Brien.
To be perfectly transparent, I like stuff that is handmade by an artisan I can respect, appreciate, and admire. I also like to support the guys that are trying to make the best product they can with the skills they have. That’s the way I’m wired, right or wrong. I’ve just learned to deal with it. Yes, it’s more expensive, and yes I could probably get an inexpensive whistle that sounds just as good. But, for me, having a guy make a whistle by hand at my request is something very special, and at these prices it’s worth it to me.
So, let me share the Rover from my perspective. This whistle is cool, it sounds awesome, and it’s easy to play.
The whistle breaks apart into 3 separate pieces that fit together with microscopic precision. The quality of the instrument is very nice. The metal sections are all made of brass, and mine as taken on a nice patina.
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PLAYABILITY-[/u] I’ll admit right now that I am a novice, and I am improving everyday. That said, this whistle improved my playing immediately. They say that it is a poor craftsman that blames his tools, but when it comes to musical instruments, I believe that a really well made instrument CAN improve your playing. At least that’s my experience. I’m guessing that it’s a combination of the design of the mouthpiece combined with the amount of air required to get the proper intonation. This mouthpiece is very comfortable and very responsive. The second octave is easy to play, and sounds great up and down the scale.
It has decent volume; easily a good session whistle. I also have a Chris Abell whistle in D that it compares very nicely to. I would say that the Abell’s sound is more “pure”, and this whistle has a bit more chiff to it. The tone is slightly different than the Abell, but not in a bad way…just different. My wife actually prefers the sound from the O’Brien. Personally, I like ALL the different sounds I get out of my whistles. I can do things on the Hoovers I can’t seem to get on the wooden whistles, and vice versa.
I toggle between this whistle and my Hoovers. The Hoovers require VERY little breath to play and are very quiet. This whistle requires a little more breath, but I wouldn’t say that much more. It’s really an easy whistle to play and it sounds awesome.
I don’t really have an issue with this whistle clogging. It has clogged on me, but no more than any other whistle, and it clears quickly.
FINISHING DETAILS- David does a very nice job with the finishing touches like the brass ring at the end of the whistle, as well as the joints between the sections.
All pieces fit together with very impressive tolerances. Nothing is loose, nor is it too tight. I asked about if lubrication is ever needed for the sections, and David said that it was not necessary.
CARE and MAINTENANCE- I use Almond Oil that I purchased at GNC to treat the wood (inside and out) about once a month. A good applicator is a .45 cal bore cleaning kit!
For those interested in a great travel wooden whistle, this is one to check out. I love playing it, and it’s easy to slip into the pocket.
I hope you enjoy the photos and review (of sorts). I’m enjoying the people on this forum, and contributing what little I can to the message board.
Let me know how I could have made the review any better. Other than sound bites…not really willing to do that just yet. Perhaps down the road a bit, but for now I’ll send photos. 
Steve
