Greetings, folks…
Picking myself up a Low D for Christmas – I mostly do outdoor, unamplified performances, so I’d like something that projects well. I was looking at the Burke Low D Viper (mainly out of brand loyalty – I love his high D’s). However, I’m definitely looking to hear any thoughts on the subject.
I would suggest a Tully Oomph or Session, But seeing how he is taking a two year break, that might not be a good Idea. Sorry, I don’t really have any experience with low D’s, so I can’t really help you out. However I have a friend that has a Burke low D, and he really likes it alot. I’m not sure if its a viper he has though. but for outdoors I would suggest an Alba, because my friend also has an Alba that he uses most outdoors. (I forgot about the Alba in my original post. Thanks for reminding me Avery)
From my experienes it sounds like you need an Overton, Cheiftian, or an Alba all those can project and can withstand wind. I would not suggest a Burke for outdoors.
Happen to know of any sound samples for these? I currently own a Howard and I hate how much air I have to put through it in the upper range – it sounds a bit stressed playing in that register.
I did, however, have the pleasure of playing the Chieftan last week at the Maryland Renaissance Faire and absolutely loved the tone, but also had an issue (albeit much better than the Howard) with the upper register.
I’ve read that the Overtons are better in the upper range than the Chieftan, but I’m still looking at the Burke too because of a solid (though soft) low D.
Thanks for the input folks! Feel free to keep it coming.
I have a Viper and love it; I don’t know how it would perform outdoors. Otherwise - Copeland.
Philo
Wanderer has samples of all of them in his reviews. Kind of nice since it’s the same player in all samples.
Happen to know of any sound samples for these? I currently own a Howard and I hate how much air I have to put through it in the upper range – it sounds a bit stressed playing in that register.
I have both Howard and Overton low d. I bought the Howard first and thought it took a lot of air to play. Then I learned breath control with the Overton. I tried my Howard again and found it very easy to play. It seems to me now with both whistles that after the air is moving I can back off lightly and still maintain good tone with less air. If you want to play the Howard outside try turning the fipple upside down, and depending how much wind there is it might help. I know the strain sound
you are talking about in the Howard and if you can back off after getting it
going some of that will subside. I think the Howard is good for about an octave and a half, and Overton is good for two octaves. I tried Overton Burke and a Copeland at the same time at home. They all sound great.
I told my wife to pick one by the tone and she said Overton. It did take me a little time to get use to the air requierment but now I play at least once a month at our church. I do not use the pa system and it sounds the same in the front or back. I also played Alba, Cheiftain, and some others at Hobgoblin in Red Wing MN. I don’t think anyone makes a bad Low d except the cheap ones from Packistain.
Sounds like you need a lower Back pressure Whsitle which the Cheiftian and Alba both have a lot of. Colin Goldie or Bernard Overton will make a Whsitle to your specifications so it would be best to talk it over with one of them if you want to go down the Overton road. I have heard good things about MK whistles but they are rather expensive, they are supposed to be very loud maybe good for the outdoor situation.