For my 65th birthday, I treated myself to something I’ve eyed for a while - the 3-piece O’Brien Rover (soprano D). After back and forth with David, I decided on the African blackwood. This was a departure in that I generally prefer metal or delrin. While being cosmetically beautiful and impeccably crafted with fine materials, it’s also easily travelled when broken down into 3 pieces into its little classy black leather bag (wow, that’s really sounding metrosexual of me, eh). The fipple is delrin and the ferrules and tuning slide and shaft into the lower piece are brass. As stated in another thread by Paul Busman, there is a hole drilled through that bottom shaft that perfectly matches the tone hole. This engineering allows for really perfect fit and tolerances so that there is no movement among the parts when playing - solid lockup yet no struggling to put together or take apart. Also, I’ve never had a problem with blackwood not holding up even (admittedly) while sometimes ignoring suggested maintenance.
What’s interesting about this whistle is that it’s both a finely crafted exquisite looking whistle that is also a traveler. it is not cheap, especially in blackwood.
I’m not crazy about trying to give long-winded playing reviews, but it is a lovely player that is fun and easy for me to play. To try to be sensible and objective, I recorded myself on the Rover as well as on my Sindt and on my Parks Walkabout, which also breaks down into 3 pieces for travel. Thus, I compared it to my definitive every day forever favorite whistle (Sindt) and another really great travel whistle (Parks). I played each one after the other - Calliope House (jig), South Wind and Foggy Dew (airs), and the Ashplant (reel). And, as I’ve always thought, when playing any decent whistles, they tend to sound pretty much the same due to the same player. I quickly recorded one time through on my Edirol R-1, and maybe some of our more accomplished players could discern meaningful differences. The only thing I noted in particular was that the Parks was a bit louder and had a bit more air in the tone than the other two. So I guess that’s a good thing - I couldn’t tell much difference in playability or tonal quality between my favorite Sindt and the new Rover - a pretty darn good endorsement.
The Rover is a pleasure for airs with a nice full round tone; it’s also responsive when playing jigs, reels, flings. Nicely balanced between the upper and lower ends and can be played softly and really leaned into. Doesn’t take a lot of air, notes easily sustained, octave changes effortless. Hasn’t clogged yet during extended play. Ok, I really love this whistle and will continue to reach for it as with the Sindt.
In sum, if you’re looking for a really fine whistle that travels easily, and is terrific value, the Parks is great. It is polymer , comes in a little nylon bag with a belt loop, and costs about a third of the O’Brien. OTOH, if you’re looking for an exquisitely crafted wonderful player that ALSO travels well in a leather cinch bag that fits in a pocket, the Rover is spot on. 
I believe I successfully posted a pic in the whistle collection pic thread.
mine only came in a cloth bag.
