I was delighted when my mom-in-law offered to fund the purchase of a Burke penny whistle as a Christmas gift (my whistle teacher has advised that I get a Burke) so I am going to get one of these D whistles:
http://www.burkewhistles.com/index2.htm
They are all the same price. I have no idea how to pick. Any advice appreciated!
Thanks,
Debbie
My personal favorite and every day player is the Burke wide bore brass black tip model. The aluminum is also fine, but the brass is a bit darker in tone and I prefer that. Enjoy.
Philo
ACK!!! He’s stopped offering the old-style wide-bore brass again! I have two non-wood, non-Weasel whistles that I’ll take to the grave: The Burke WBB and the Harper C. I’ve owned a few other Burke D whistles, and none of them compare to the WBB. The difference between the old-style and the new ones is that the old one had some brass in the windway, and obviously a different windway shape – less taper and a couple of sharp points where the Delrin met the brass. It added a ton of character to the sound.
That said, I’d recommend the Brass Session. I found that the Al session was a little tinny and pure for my taste. I had a brass narrow-bore, and its sound is very sweet, plus I never found a cross-fingering for the Cnat that was to my taste. The brass session has more warmth than the aluminum and not as sweet a sound as the NBB. There may be some actual volume difference between the session and NB, but I never heard any apparent difference due to the more penetrating nature of the NB sound.
I have the DBSBT and like it very much.
I don’t think you’d do wrong by any of them. I have a DAN that is among my favorite whistles.
I’d also recommend the Cn hole, if you have that opportunity. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, and it’s VERY convenient. You can tape it over if you don’t like it.
Hi Debbie,
I just ordered a DAN from Mike (in the mail). Here are two websites that have info/opinion about his whistles.
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/highend/burke/burke.htm
and on this page you can check out a sound sample of each-
http://www.songsea.com/tinwhist.htm
Good luck!
-W
Wow, thanks SO much for the great advice; it’s much appreciated.
Debbie
A newbie question: What’s the sound difference between a narrow bore and wide bore?
This changes maker to maker, type to type, and whistle to whistle, but I think the general perception or tendency is that wide bore may be a bit louder and have more fullness while narrow may be more responsive.
Philo
Hi Chas
Just to let you know that I still have about 20 or so of the D-WBB in stock, but I have taken them out of the catalog because they confuse so many new buyers and I think that they have a more limited audience of customers if that is the right word.
20 whistles is not enough to bother with compared to my other models, but I keep them around for replacements and the occasional person that remembers them and wants that exact model.
I know what you mean about the sound. I was repairing one recently and the airy sound is not at all like the new purer sounding ones. I personally like the new ones better as do most of my customers, but they do have a quality that is appealing and I enjoying playing one now and then. The thing is that I had a lot of complaints from people that said it clogged on them, something that the new ones hardly ever do. If I could figure out how to get one that sounded like that and also did not clog, I might make some more and offer them in the catalog.
Never fear, I will always keep parts for the DWBB for those that love them
and for those who might lose one, I can get you one in short order.
Happy New Year!
Mike
I don’t paln on losing mine, but I am breathing a sigh of relief.
Thanks for chiming in, Mike, it’s always great to hear from you!
My son and daughters play Burke whistles. They have between them recent High D Session whistles in both Brass and Aluminum. They are different and both great whistles. I like the brass but it may be my daughters playing that make me prefer it. She also plays a low G composite which is GREAT!!! Magical~~~And my son plays the new lowD Aluminum which is great also. We are VERY happy customers.
My Burkes DASBT and Ca are without doubt my favorite whistles
I love my DASBT. 
ive got a burke dasbt for sale if anyones intrested 100$ only a few months old and in perfect condition .bag included
Ditto PhilO.
Thanks so SO much for all your help, everyone. I think I’m going to order the Burke wide bore brass black tip model. It does sound, though, as if any Burke would be great.
Thanks again!
Debbie
ps Those who haven’t seen my session cartoon might want to check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/5457576/in/set-12626/
This thread has definitely given me inspiration to do another…I had no idea how complicated it was to choose a whistle.
It sounds gorgeous. Here’s a picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debbieohi/87380443/
Now I just have to improve my skills so I can justify having such a fine whistle!
Thanks again for your help, everyone.
Looks just like mine… and it’s by far my favorite. I can sure relate to that cartoon as well… now, try getting two different people to agree as to the chord progression and then try getting them to play it the same way next time. 
Tried my new Burke whistle at a session last night for the first time! I posted about it at:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/blatherings/archives/003625.html
(it’s been just over a year since I started attending Irish music sessions)
Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement (not just about the whistle, either), everyone!
Debbie