What is the difference? The Overtons seem vastly superior from the Chieftans purporting to be the same - from what I have seen.
Bloomfield,
You want to take this one?
::scurries off to find that “handbag” picture":: 
Heck, I’ve owned both, so I’ll take a stab at it before Bloomie’s dissertation comes along. 
An Overton (Made by the man himself or more likely Mr. Goldie) is a handmade whistle. Unless you are buying it used, you will likely get it a bit tweaked during the manufacture to be just how you want it (voicing, back-pressure…heck, they might even adjust intonation but don’t quote me on it). In the end, you end up with a whistle made exactly to your specifications. Not many makers do this anymore.
This is also why people will tell you that the quality varies with the Overtons. It’s not that they release anything less than great, it’s just that one person may have wanted something specific, and when that hits the used market, it’s not necessarily going to play like the one you borrowed to try at a session.
Now, Phil learned to make whistles from Overton, but decided to automate the process of making them (rather than hand-making). If you read his site, he explains that it’s because he’s not in favor of waiting lists. Yes, it’s a valid argument (as is the argument that some things are good enough to wait for). The quality of Chieftains is definately below that of an Overton, but they are all pretty much the same within a version. You know what you are getting, which is a good quality whistle, and it’s going to be cheaper and faster to get into your paws.
It’s really all in what you want from a whistle and what you are willing to pay. I’d like to put paid to the argument that having a whistle manufactured automatically makes it a lesser whistle though. Mr Burke has proven that argument bunk (you may not agree with all his design considerations, but that has nothing to do with the creation process).
I’d buy a new or used Chieftain over a used Overton (unless I got to play it first), but a new Overton over either. Of course, if I got to play that used Overton, that would be a different ballgame.
Not quite sure what you mean but I would disagree at face value, based on the three Chieftains and two Overtons I have/had. I like both for different reasons.
I mean exactly what I say. An Overton that’s suited specifically for you needs in backpressure and voicing is superior, well unless your specific needs happen to be the same as Phil determined when he made the model for his Chieftain (once again, depending on the model). It doesn’t mean in any way that the Chieftain is a bad whistle or not worth the price.
I don’t think the Chieftains are worth the price. Good whistle? Sure; not my cup of tea but I wouldn’t say anything bad about them. I think the price is a bit much to ask for a manufactured whistle though. Perhaps it has something to do with the horrible currency exchange rates?
That said, Phils success shows that many do think it’s worth the price so what’s my opinion worth? 
Chieftains are nice but Overtons are supercalifriagilisticexpialidocious! I’d prefer one Overton to ten Chieftains any day.
And the urban legends continue … Isn’t it just great how the parrots come up with the same chorus: “Overtons are all custom made; so therefore you might not know what you are getting”. That is to say that you can’t simply ASK the seller what a particular Overton is like?
Overtons can be custom made to a customer’s spec or made to Overton’s specs.
What is accurate to say in either case is Overtons are HAND MADE! Chieftains are not hand made. Do the math.
For me it’s the craftmanship that appeals to me. I’ve seen Colin Goldie working in his little shed and telling endlessly fascinating stories about whistles and whistlemaking. It’s an art. Furthermore, the sound of Overton is so very characteristic, I can’t get enough of listening eg. to Flook, where Brian Finnigan gets all out of an Overton there is. I have a low D of Bernard’s and I haven’t heard anything like it before. It’s FANTASTIC, it plays beautifully, it haunts, it’s loud, it’s responsive and perfectly looking.
Once I’m gonna reward myself with a high D of Colin’s as well (when I find myself good enough).
They are both good but different. I think it comes down to your ability to master the whistle. In the hands of an expert player, neither is lacking.
Personally I don’t much like either, though I’ve had better success trying (brief tests) to play Chieftains than Overtons, either original Bernard or Colin’s. I fully recognise the great sound some of the top players get out of Overtons, but they’re not for me. Are they worth the money? In terms of craftsmanship etc, sure, but if they don’t “fit” for you as a player, no, you’d be wasting it. On that basis, I don’t ever expect to own either. I held off from acquiring a low whistle when Overtons were all that was available precisely because I didn’t like them.
Whoa there cowboy. How do you describe how a whistle is voiced without playing it? How do you really capture the amount of chiff? How I describe it isn’t exactly how you would. What about backpressure? I once bought a used overton with almost no backpressure and a very chiffy sound that was actually too weak for my taste. To me, that’s an inferior whistle to what Phil pumps out of his manufacturing process. I’ve played Overtons that are a delight with just the right backpressure and a wonderfully bright tone with just a hint of chiff. To me, that’s a superior whistle.
To make a blanket statement that one thing is simply superior to another is SUBJECTIVE. Do you know that you are not stating fact, but opinion, and frankly doing everybody a disservice by clouding it as fact. Heck, to be honest, I think Burkes are better than both (in my own opinion) and I think Sindt makes the perfect whistle (for me). I do not, however, have the arrogance to come stomping into any thread which discusses whistles and stomp all over other’s opinions and experience in the matter.
Don’t you go knocking cowboys! Don’t you know THAT IS SUBJECTIVE! Are you stating that all cowboys are SUBJECTIVE?
This subject has been beaten to death and you do all of us a dis-service bringing it up at all. It is a fact that Overtons are handmade and many would agree that anything handmade by a reputable maker is superior to anything mass produced.
Somehow, I think the sun will continue to rise if the “Overton question” is not resolved in this thread. Can we still be friends; even if I am a cowboy? I really was a cowboy when I was young. I have my PRCA belt buckle to prove it.
BTW, I prefer MKs.
a whistle is only superior if it meets your needs.
Overtons are hand-made. That has a value for some people, in and of itself. Other people couldn’t care less.
Overtons aren’t all made to exacting specifications. When they’re made for a shop, Colin told me (back when I reviewed the high D) that he makes two basic ‘shop’ models: easy blowing and harder blowing.
Overtons and Chieftains produce similar, but different sounds. Which one you will prefer is subjective.
The only reason overtons can be considered “superior” over Chieftains is if one of the qualities above tips the scales for you. Both are quality instruments, which will stand up to the rigors of playing and even some level of abuse.
I personally prefer Cheiftain NR low d’s over Overtons, so naturally, and to me, hand-made takes second fiddle to playing characteristics, so naturally I don’t think that Overtons are superior.
I’ve not played a NR high whistle, but I really hated the Chieftain old-style high whistle I had back in the 90’s. I definitely would prefer the Overton high D.
Overtons have a bit of hero-worship around them. Though they are good whistles, I don’t understand the awe. I reserve that level of feeling for Copeland low D’s, personally.
Mmm, Overton…
Bass Bb missing from picture.
That said: Mmmmmmmmmmm, Olive wood Bleazey’s
Oh, yeah, Chieftain Eb, the blackwood Rose and the O’Riordan are no longer owned by me.