I’ve been playing the whistle for just over half a year now, lurking here for most of that time absorbing all I can. It’s finally time for my first post…
The consumption season is just around the corner and sometime soon my folks will inevitably come asking me if there’s something sensible they could get me for Christmas. This time I might just have an idea…
I have a bunch of cheapies, of course, including a Sweetone, Meg, Feadog, a Gen in D and Bb. The only D I really play, however, is the Dixon trad, which to me is head and shoulders above the rest (possibly not counting the Gen Bb).
I’ve been considering getting a Burke narrow bore, but there is no way for me to get to try one. If anyone has any experiences comparing the Burke to the Dixon trad, I’d be most happy to hear them. What would be the most noticable differences and how noticeable exactly would they be?
To me, the biggest shortcomings of the Dixon are the rather weak bottom end notes, as well as the somewhat shrill high end on the second octave. I find the high B a bit of a push.
I think Burkes are very fine whistles. In my opinion, if you take the difference between Sweetone (or Generation) and Dixon Trad, and double it - you´ll get Burke.
My advice would be to have Overton made by Colin Goldie - I think that when you have money for Burke, Overton is not that much more expensive, and it´s definitely more colourful, and with backpressure (for me, definitely plus, although some people hate it).
FinWhistler, I think you’re making a good decision–I was whistling for about six months when I ordered my first custom whistle. In my opinion, there’s nothing that can make up for the individual attention given to a good custom whistle.
A Burke bass D was my first custom whistle, and its great. It is good for relative beginners because it plays easy and are forgiving of small errors in breath, etc. It has a slightly complex sound, and a lot of chirp. And if you’re careful on the high B, you don’t have to blow your ears out.
I agree on the Overton. It’s a fantastic whistle. Another great whistle is the Reyburn Session High D. It costs about $170 USD and is worth more: tp://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/ . Good luck, Cyril.
I have another question about this, though. How loud is the Burke session model compared to the narrow bore model? Also, how would each compare to the cheapies, especially the Dixon, in volume and bore size?
A bit out of topic:
I´m so near to You, just one n is between us;-) I live in Helsinki. Minulla on Dixonin hD=OK:-) + some more cheepies. Nice to contact a member of the finnish w-stuff.
listen to clips and snips. Look at the websites of makers. Also call the whistlemakers, they are happy to play for you through the phone. Know that with neither Burke nor Overton you will ever regret.
I’ve stated before, and I’ll state again. By the time you can do justice to a high end whistle and justify owning it by your playing, you can make an off the shelf Gen whistle sound just as good.
Try a tweaked cheapie, or the Dixon Trad. I’ve been slowly ridding myself of most of my high end whistles honestly, as I simply don’t notice all that much difference anymore. Of all my High D whistles, the Dixon Trad and the Sindt are the only ones I’m keeping in the end.
Of course, I do own a good number of Low whistles, but you can’t get those for 7 bucks.
Scheky: Sorry, but the fact, you don´t see much difference between high-end and low-end whistles, doesn´t mean, other´s don´t see it.
When I compare playing on my Overton and anything else, I could tell the difference even blindfolded (and deafened).
By the way, FinWhistler, arnie had a good advice - I´d suggest calling the makers instead of listening to clips though. Most recordings use slight echo/reverb - I can make my Generation sound almost better than the Overton with that effects. But makers will play on whistles with no effects, which is good.
I agree. It’s still difficult to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear. There is a tremendous difference between say a Copeland, Reyburn or Overton compared to a Generation, Feadog or Walton. A whistle follows the same rules as any instrument; and as many of my teachers have always stated; buy the best instrument you can afford. Cheers, Cyril.