Thank you Bloomfield and LeeMarsh for your thoughtful answers. They really are appreciated.
I was lucky enough to get to go to a Flook concert a few weeks ago. That was actually the first time I had ever seen someone play the whistle. Iām one who normally likes very traditional music (of any culture), but I knew what to expect, and I must say I was just mesmerized by his playing. They were very nice people too. Iām sure playing in Cedar Rapids on a Tuesday night to an audience of about 100 people doesnāt seem like the big time, but they sure made it seem like it was.
Hi, Cynth; I saw them here in Asheville recently. Wonderful concert; mesmerizing is right. ā¦Hehe, loved the tune intro about Finnegan outside the hotel in Taos at night, naked, with nothing but his pennywhistle in his hand.
RamblDoc I have no problem with a metal mouthpiece. I have 2 low Albas which have a metal and delrin mouthpiece. They are just fine. Having said that I wonder if you know that putting copper or brass in your mouth is a no-no. Over time they can poison you but Iāll bet it would take a long long time to even make you sick. Who knows? Anyway, the Burkes have the delrin on the mouthpiece now.
I donāt have a Chieftan or Overton, so I canāt answer your question directly.
But I will say this - my third whistle was a Burke DAN. Later I bought a DCS (composite). Bloomie is right about the voices of Burkes, they are not high on character. On the flip-side, they are easy to play well - āwellā being relative to your skill - they are forgiving. I like the Burke DAN to learn tunes with because Iām usually not worried about expression or character until I get the tune right. The DCS has more character, a warmer tone, and a bit more expression.
Another thought, assuming you have a decent practice whistle. What about 2 mid-range models with different character? Like a Water Weasel and an OāBrien for example. A few more bucks for two very decent, very playable whistles each with a distinct voice. Get more opinions than just mine if you go this way though.
In summary re: Burkes, as I have two of them. You canāt go wrong with a Burke (especially as an amateur), but youāll want something āPhatā to play at times. Before I got a couple other pricey whistles I would drop the Burke and pick up my Freeman tweaked Shaw when I wanted character. For only about $40 - as rough as it is compared to the Burke - you can sure squeeze some Juice out of the Shaw (breath deep baby!).
We occasionally get the copper and aluminum poisoning bugaboo around here. I used to have this long post Iād made that had explanations (itās aluminum salts that really hurt ya, for instance) and amounts (how many grams of your aluminum whistle youād have to eat)..
But really, it all boils down to: Youāre bound to get far less copper or aluminum in your system from whistles than from cookware. And if it was that poisonous, why would they make cookware out of it?
I have never played any of these whistles but from what I have read they are all excelent whistles just differant. I once asked an auto mechanic friend of mine what automobile was the best so I could choose a new one.
He told me they are all good if you take care of them. Whistles and autos are two differant things but I think when choosing between good brands it comes to personal preference. If things go as planed this weekend I will have the opportunity to play a Burke and an Overton low D. Hopefuly UPS will not bend them like they did the Copeland.
And if it came to the apple and orange question I would want both. But if I could only have one it would be the apple. This will never come to be so it only makes for trivial, verbose, meaningless conversation.
Iām one who normally likes very traditional music (of any culture), but I knew what to expect, and I must say I was just mesmerized by his playing. They were very nice people too. Iām sure playing in Cedar Rapids on a Tuesday night to an audience of about 100 people doesnāt seem like the big time, but they sure made it seem like it was.
