Now which one?

talimirr743 · Post by **talimirr743** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:08 pm

I have narrowed it to three. Which ever gets the most votes in one week is the one I will buy. Yeah its strange, but I am having one of the worst times of my life trying to decide since this will be my first and last (for a long while) high-end whistle. I will be happy with whichever one that wins.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:25 pm

I voted for a Burke as that is the only one out of those which I have played a High D I would suggest Brass.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:57 pm

The best of the best would be Overton.

Crevan · Post by **Crevan** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:31 pm

Can't go wrong with any choice out of these three.

PhilO · Post by **PhilO** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:54 pm

I voted Burke - and would specify brass black tip, but I don't get the choices; the Burkes are generally totally different types of whistles from the Chieftain/Overtons. I think most players prefer one or the other type. I've been thinking about this lately. Some play Overton/Chieftain style (wide bore, thick walled aluminum with same material fipple, cylindrical, and lots of back pressure, etc.), and some play Burke and other whistles. I play both the Burke style whistles, which I'd lump as almost everything else in the high end group except Albas. Then there are those that prefer the narrow bore cheapies. I pretty much play everything except Overtons and Chieftains - totally different. That's why that grouping of choices strikes me as strange.

How many of you play regularly Burkes et al (and/or Copelands which are another wonderful animal still) AND Overton/Chieftain style whistles?

Or is it more a matter of key, e.g., Burke, Sindt, Abell, etc. in high keys and Overton/Chieftain low keys?

Inquiring deranged minds want to know...

Philo

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:27 pm

I didn't vote, because it isn't clear what you're looking for.

If you want a pure sound (although some find it uninteresting), I'd go with Burke aluminum narrow bore. I find that I can wring a lot of different sounds out of mine, making it particularly nice for slow airs. I'll admit that if you don't put something extra into your playing, it may sound a bit too pure.

If you want something a bit more complex, I'd say Burke brass wide bore.

I've never played an Overton high D, but if it's anything like the low F, it's probably more complex than either Burke.

I've never played a Chieftain of any kind.

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:07 pm

I have a Burke delrin and a Chieftain aluminum high D and neither is among my favorites. I have never played an Overton, but their reputation seems stronger in low whistles than high Ds.

You still haven't said one word about what kind of sound you prefer, whether you plan on playing in session, solo, in a band. Whether you play indoors, outdoors, on stage, in a pub, in your back alley, in your bedroom. Whether you primarily play Irish Traditional, or have a wider range of interests. If you look hard enough and are patient, you might be able to get all three of them, used for your $200 budget or just a bit over.

For instance if you plan on playing mostly in confined quiet spaces, a Chieftain is the LAST whistle I would suggest. My Chieftain is loud, and sounds shrill in a confined space. On the other hand, a Chieftain is one of the nicest sounding whistles outdoors unamplified.

jkrazy52 · Post by **jkrazy52** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:08 am

I voted for a Burke. I'm not a great player, but have owned all three. The Burke was the sound I preferred of those choices. Your best bet, if at all possible, would be to borrow someone's Burke, Chieftain or Overton to try before buying. Only you can tell what sound you're looking for.

The upside, any of the 3 will be fairly easy to re-sell, if you don't like the one you've bought.

Good luck!

Judy

Byll · Post by **Byll** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:37 am

PhilO: I regularly play Burkes and Overtons with the band. I find the differences in timbre to be really a lot of fun, both for me and for our audiences. However, my Overtons were made by Colin to be the type that do not cause apoplexy to play. While they have significantly more back pressure than my Burkes, they are not the type that Bloomfield would like...I would not want to be without either maker's instruments. These two types of whistles, along with instruments by Mack Hoover and Pat O'Riordan, make things truly interesting for me.

Best to you.
Byll

Whistling Willie · Post by **Whistling Willie** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:40 am

I haven't played a Burke or a Chieftain,but I have an Overton high D,at the start I didn't care much for it but after a while I realised that it was me and not the whistle

It is harder to play than any other whistles I have played,but once you get the hang of it,the sound out of it is amazing.

alespa · Post by **alespa** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:46 pm

For the money, I'd go for a Bleazey.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:14 pm

I would too, last time I talked to Phil he had a Mopane and an Olivewood high D for sale.

talimirr743 · Post by **talimirr743** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:47 pm

Sorry it took so long for me to respond (I had to work overtime at work). I'm wanting a wide bore, something that has a warm sweet tone. I will be playing mostly solo. I go busking sometimes (for a free lunch), and I always take it to any sort of celtic festival, rennaisance fairs, etc. So I am definately going to nedd a durable whistle. I play equally in doors and out, so I'll need something that can be played in and outdoors. I need something somewhat louder than norm. I really appreciate all the suggestions and help

Cheers
Andrew

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:23 am

Not to be subversive or anything, but you could get a Syn aluminum and a Humphrey Stealth both for about the same amount as a single Burke.

The Syn is wide bore, about as sweet as a Burke, and extremely sturdy. ($41.00--or $49.00 for a D/C set--at http://www.gaeliccrossings.com/store/index.php/cat_14)

The Humphrey is quite a different whistle, but still great, so you'd be getting some variety, too. ($95.00 at http://webpages.charter.net/raindog1970/)

Hey, it's just a crazy suggestion. There might be some other interesting combos, but this is the one that came to mind.

MarcusR · Post by **MarcusR** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:54 am

Hi!

You will have a hard time to interpret the poll as you cant tell how many of the contributers who actually played all three options.

Better make the decission based on your own knowledge or instinct.

If you plan to use it at rennaisance fairs you ought to go for a wooden whistle as plastics and alloys were a bit hard to come by back then.

Cheers!

/MarcusR

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