Burkes: What do you think?

PhilO · Post by **PhilO** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:05 pm

My everyday workhorse is the Burke brass blacktip - I like it better than any of his other whistles I've tried, and those were good. The black tip brass C is also excellent, and I'm still getting acquainted with a new black tip brass E.

Philo

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:27 pm

I got a Burke DABST several months ago and play it every day. It's very bright, pure and easy to play. It's my first high-end whistle and at this point I can't see getting another expensive high D (although I'm always open to bargins, antiques and maybe trying some of those "tweaked" whistles). I've ordered a Bflat brass from Micheal for variety and to get a sense of how brass gives a "warm" sound. You can't miss with his whistles.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:49 pm

I've never played a Burke that wasn't adequate and two of the three I currently own (C and low G, the other is a high D) are excellent whistles. I only play AlPros but would like to try a composite low whistle: Eb or E probably. I'd confidently buy a Burke in any key, safe in the knowledge that I'd be getting, at the very least, a good whistle.

My current favourite workhorse high D is my Sindt, but my Burke high D can step into that role any time I want it to. Since I own nearly 20 high Ds, most of them high-end, that gives you an idea of how I rank Burkes.

waitingame · Post by **waitingame** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:16 am

I have a silver Copeland, a delrin Abell, a Thin Weasel, a Harper, an Alba Q1 and an Alba SE. All in high D. But the one that gets played most is a Burke brass black tip wide bore.

david-z · Post by **david-z** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:22 am

I just got a brass narrow bore D and a Bb and if his aluminum whistle is anything like these You will be happy. Beautiful craftmanship and they sing like angels when my fingers get out of the way.
Winters coming on, I need to gather up some of his composite's.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:03 am

I have a Burke Brass wide bore. It's my favorite whistle for overall general whistle playing. It is somewhat quite so if there's lots of other noise I'll use my Copeland. I haven't played a whistle in about a month though. Shame shame shame. Been doing more flute and piccolo stuff.

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:22 am

Just to provide a tiny bit of perspective here: I don't like Burke whistles. I can't claim to have tried every model, or anything like that, but I've tried a decent number over the years. They simply are not my style of whistle, and while I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them, I have no interest in playing one.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:11 am

I love my Burke. It's a brass.

The whistle player for the Kells (Brian McCoy?), who I met at the Dublin festival, plays Burkes. He plays the aluminum session model, and he swears by it. He says it's in tune and it is fast and responsive and sounds great.

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:36 pm

A couple of years ago I bought a Burke Brass Pro Sessions. It is my absolute favorite whistle. So much so that I have been able to resist buying another so far-one day at a time, you know.....

And, my last name really is Dickenson and I WANT MORE COWBELL!!!

Absolutely love that avatar!

(that's one of my favortie SNL skits and I happened to see it again just the other day

)

Eric N · Post by **Eric N** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 7:29 am

cowtime wrote:And, my last name really is Dickenson and I WANT MORE COWBELL!!!

I have to say it is also one of my favorite SNL skits

.

I recently saw on a "Best Of" Will Farrell on SNL.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:21 am

I don't like the Burkes. There is nothing wrong with them, I guess, no glaring flaw. But I find them uninteresting and bland. I don't think they are easier to play than others and I also don't think that they are that great for bringing out subtle things. The wide-bore brass I have I pick up every month or so to see if I am still missing why everybody likes them so much, and then I put it down again.

I have tried one of new delrin-tipped ones for only a few minutes, couldn't make up my mind about it. But a whistle player I respect as a whistle player (I respect you all as wonderful people

) said he liked the new model better than the previous ones. I'll see if one comes my way that I can try for a night, but I am not ordering one at this point.

Oh, and I think they're overpriced, but that's just me, of course.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:34 am

Bloomfield wrote: Oh, and I think they're overpriced, but that's just me, of course.

Oh no it's not.

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:40 am

Peter Laban wrote:
Bloomfield wrote: Oh, and I think they're overpriced, but that's just me, of course.
Oh no it's not.

But aren't them all?

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:33 am

Those who think that Burkes are overpriced, feel free to offer me your Burkes for what you think they are really worth.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:01 pm

Well I suppose I never saw the point in getting one, they are OK most of the time but Bloomfield pretty much had it down, they just don't have the added value to justify their price and I know that's not just me thinking that. Sorry so, i have nothing to send you Wombat.