I’m looking to add a low D whistle to my young collection, and I just want to get some opinionated feedback about brands/makers to try. After reading the low whistle guide, I’ve focused in on Shaw and Burke, but I’m open to suggestions. I’ve also considered Susato. I know it’s really ‘to each his/her own’, but I’m really just looking for opinions on sound character and quality.
Howdy,
I’m a fan of Reyburn low Ds. Do a search for detailed reviews.
Best,
Dave
There are too many different options - best to narrow the field by offering a better definition of your desire than “a Low D.”
How much are you going to spend with shipping?
Do you want an easy player to begin and perhaps buy another after some time?
Do you want one that will be a challenge at first that you can put some diligence in to master it?
Do you know what kind of sound you want?
Since you mentioned the Shaw, do you know what kind of lung capacity you have?
–
You may consider stepping halfway down to a Low G (instead of a Low D) to get a good feel for where you are heading - and to have a different and useful key.
I’m not a fan of Susato’s high whistles, but I actually think their low’s are very nice.
Hi there -
I play a Silkstone Tuneable Alloy Low D, and I am very, very pleased with it. It has a smooth, haunting tone colour, and it is very much on the mark in terms of pitch and response. I bought mine back in 2003 from The Whistle Shop in Chicago, but I do believe they are now going for around $330 (I think…) from the Whistle and Drum shop in Colorado.
Paul has two distrubutors that he now uses - W & D in Colorado, and a shop in the UK as well. Check the Silkstone Whistles website for details and info.
They are a tad pricey, but well worth it IMO. I have had the good fortune to play several “high end” Low D’s the past couple of years, and I have yet to find something in Low D Land that I would give up my Silkstone for.
Low D’s are fantastic, and completely addictive - esp. if you get a good one that you fall in love with.
Good luck!
Low Whistler
I want to keep the price ceiling around $200. Air requirement won’t be a problem, and it does not matter how much of a challenge it provides, as long as it produces good sounds. When I play, it is usually in a pub session, but we do amplify. That being said, I would like to get a high volume from it. As far as how it sounds, I think that I would prefer a low whistle to produce more haunting/mellow sounds.
That would be a Reyburn: http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com
I second (third?) the Reyburn recomendation.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
Just out of curiosity, would someone who owns/has played a Susato low D give an impression of its overall performance?
there’s a whistle shop in Chicago?!? where? that could provide a day of entertainment on break… 
I play a low D whistle made by Ian Lambe. it has a really nice sound but the finger stretch / hole size is a bit of a challenge for someone with hands as small as mine (even using piper’s grip). it also has some clogging issues, but other than that I like it.
an Overton is on my wish list, but that’s not likely to happen for a while considering I just bought a new flute a couple months ago 
cheers,
Sara
Overton’s are awesome. But they’re a bit out of the budget specified, and the voice is not as haunting as a Reyburn.
I’ve played a Susato Low D and I really enjoyed it. The tone is solid, not as loud and abrasive as the higher ones. (personal opinion) I would describe it as having a very warm, round tone to it. The fingering is easy as well.
It’s actually in Bloomington, about 2 hours south of Chicago. Close enough though.
I’m in the market for one myself. I have my price range sitting around $200 as well. I came across the Susato Low D on the Song of the Sea website and they have a sound clip. I don’t have any Susato whistles, but it sounded nice. AND, the price was really nice too-----I think around $70. My only concern is the distance between holes, even with piper’s fingering. I have to use that type of fingering on one of my wood flutes, and it’s still an uncomfortable stretch. Any feedback on this?
I’m very interested in the Burke Low D myself. The sound clip on his website sounded wonderful.
I haven’t played a Susato low D, so I can’t speak for that. I played a couple Burkes over the summer, and they’re really nice whistles. I think the sound would fall under the ‘haunting’ category. it’s not quite as defined (maybe that’s not the right word?) as some others. I don’t remember the finger stretch being easier than on my low whistle, but I certainly don’t think it was any worse.
yup, definitely close enough. I might actually be heading down that way this saturday as I have a friend down there. awesome. I’m so excited!
cheers,
Sara
The Burke is a very nice Low D. Like any Burke I tried, the DLAPV is a solid performer and easy player. To my ear it has a brassy voice (like a horn) instead of a haunting voice. But that’s nothing a mic and a bit of reverb can’t change (as what’s been done on the sound clip on the site).
susato offers a ‘button’ for the kildare low d. it sits on the D whole so you arent killing your hands. it really heps with the stretch to the D and i think you can even get one for G whole, but not sure. im thinking about taking my button off just to get the feel of playing with the piper’s grip.
I enjoy the sound and its fairly easy to play. it requires an average amount of air.
the ivory kildare with the laser etching shipped to me was 125$ from susato.com. probly would have been 70 or 80 $ if i didnt get the ivory with the etching and one ‘button’.
hope that helps
joe.
I’ve heard lots of samples, I’ve played different low whistles at Colin Goldie’s place. I myself have an Overton made by Bernard Overton, a bit improved by Colin Goldie. I haven’t heard low whistles sound more beautiful that the Overton.
after having the whistle for a bit, i have decided that i dont like the button on the D hole, you can not bend up from D to E and it makes a click click click noise every time you take your finger off it (it is springing back off of the note)
FWIW - the whistle does have a really soft warm sound, tho.
My tuppence:
A Susato Kildare was my second low D (after a cheep Indian-made nickle brass model). I found the fat fipple more of a distraction than the finger stretch, so I donated it to a local auction.
I now have two Burkes: a Viper and a composite, both eBay acquisitions. The Viper is my gig and session whistle; nice tone and volume. The composite is a bit quieter, but is now my favorite for practise. Its fipple has a softer edge than the Viper’s, so comfier in the mouth.
I also have a brass Howard; no longer played as I’ve grown fond of the Burkes, though its tone is good. It’s now being offered on the PWA board; interested C&F-ites can bid on it after December 31.