Comparisons? I’ve heard the two are very similar. Any comments welcomed - air requirements, loudness, etc. Thanks!
-Eric
I owned both for couple of months. They are quite similar. In my two, I found the Overton needed a bit more air, was somewhat louder, and a touch more resonant.
The biggest difference is the hole spacing on the bottom hand. I was used to the Chieftain first, and it took an adjustment to get accustomed to the Overton.
Best, John
Chieftain is less well finished, cheaper, and Iliked the
sound better–but that is just me.
I’ve only ever played a low Overton for a few minutes once. In that brief span (and I didn’t have my chieftain on me back to back to compare them), it seemed very similar to my Chieftain. I hope to get around to reviewing a low Overton in the future so that I can document all of the differences.
Overtons are high-quality, hand-made instruments made by some of the most respected makers there are: Bernard Overton and Colin Goldie. Chieftains are mass produced and machine-made.
This is true.
To be honest, that distinction is really only a matter of degrees. “Hand crafted” instruments have some kind of “machine” work done, unless Bernard and Colin really hand-smelt the aluminum, and hand rolled it into a tube, and still bang out the square mouthpiece with a mallet like the first one. 
However, if the end result is to your liking, I don’t put as much stock in hand-crafted versus machine-made. My clothes are all machine-made for instance. I think some of the best inexpensive recorders you can get are yamaha machine-made plastic. Generations, which many people say are the best whistle anyone ever needs, are most definitely machine made.
I do realize that hand-made versus machine-made does make a difference to some people. For me, it’s much ado about nothing.
I guess Bloomie must be on the payroll.Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Chieftains are machined by a very skilled engineer to a VERY high spec and HANDFINISHED by me…each and every one…voiced …tickelled…played and polished…packed and waved goodbye with a tear in the eye…AND sometimes I even get to see them again…and guess what ?
Phil.
So how much time would you say you personally spend on each instrument Phil?
Loren
I and here I thought you’d appreciate that I didn’t actually share my opinion about Chieftains. Such things are soooo subjective.
And forget quality for a moment: given the different processes, I think either Chieftains are seriously overpriced or Overtons are an incredible steal.
Oh Loren …Time what is time?
Some artists can paint a masterpiece in minuites,as far as Chieftain whistles are concerned,just enough,no more ,no less than is needed to make an instument that I can’t seem to produce enough of.
And Bloomie,if could give a (bleep) about what you thought of our instruments,I’d be a sorry (bleep)
Good try baby.
Phil.
You wound me.
The overton low D sound has been compared to
‘a cosmic drainpipe,’ by Dale, I think, who meant
it as a compliment, certainly. And these are
very good whistles, no question.
But I don’t like the cosmic drainpipe sound so well,
and I repeat emphatically, that’s just me.
I like the Chieftain sound better.
I’ve played neither, and can comment without bias (or expertise). 
While I appreciate the concept of hand-crafting, my overriding concern is the end-product. If a mass-produced factory product can be guaranteed to measure up from a quality standpoint, then I don’t care too much about lineage or pedigree.
Many of us think twice about spending money on factory Gens, Clarkes or Feadogs, which can be inconsistent, but feel pretty safe paying a few dollars more for something that’s been hand-tested or tweaked. Phil’s response tells me that he’s adding that value to his products, as opposed to rolling them directly from the factory to the mailroom.