I’m looking to purchase a low D whistle, but I live in Australia, and I don’t have access to any whistles to try them first. They all sound good on You Tube, however it’s not the same as hearing/playing them in person.
Any feedback from those of you who have Low D’s about which brands are worth looking at would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve been whistling on my standard D and B flat whistles for 3 years, hand size not a problem, and have a budget of around €250 (Flexible of course)
My current pick from what I’ve seen on-line is a Chieftain V3 Low D Tuneable.
Definitely looking forward to hearing what the low D whistlers have to say.
I’m not someone who ever cared much for low whistles. I owned one, which I didn’t like, and tried a few, which never really won me over.
For me, the new MK low D whistle was a game-changer. I bought one on a whim, (before the price increase ), and have been hooked ever since. It’s a great instrument. See related threads for more raves.
Caveat: I haven’t played the Burke Viper or Overton, both of which get high marks. As always, individual tastes will vary.
I’ve been scouring the forum for the last 2 hours reading posts about low whistles.
It seems that the MK Low D’s have a cult following and I believe many owners sleep with their MK Low D under their pillow. I find this level of appreciation intriguing and was moved to have a good look at the MK web-site.
I’ve also seen some lovin coming in for the Goldie and checked out their site too.
Just caught a you-tube clip by a forum member (pancelticpiper) which compared the MK, Burke, Susato, and Reviol Low D’s.
My favourite sound out of the 4 whistles, surprisingly was the Burke. I thought it had a lively and colourful tone which I find attractive in the low D’s.
I have O’Riordan, Copeland, Burke Viper - all terrific; O’Riordan not available and Copeland twice as costly.
However, I did play an MK low D in Ireland (in Custy’s in Ennis) and it was well, perfect. Added to what I read on this Board, probably worth a look and supposedly he may have some in stock per a recent thread.
Also, you may want to check for leads, etc. with two local guys who are terrific in Australia - Erle Bartlett and Mitch from Oz.
They haven’t had much mention here recently that I’ve seen, but I recommend Guido Gonzato’s low whistles - they’re way cheaper than the various ones that have been mentioned in this thread so far and, for my money and tastes, make a better sound/play better (though admittedly I haven’t tried all of the above) - certainly better than Overtons or Chieftains etc. They also have the big advantage IMO of not being aluminium - I don’t like all-metal whistles or the metal beaks in my mouth.
I play a Low D as my primary instrument. It’s the only thing I take to sessions.
The best-playing Low Ds overall, for my tastes, have been the MK, the Burke, and some recently made Overtons.
I wouldn’t dismiss the Susato Low D however. It plays better than most and it’s priced very reasonably. It has the most even volume, comparing the low E and bottom D to the high A and high B. Many Low Ds are poor in this respect, having feeble low Es and harsh loud high Bs for example.
Check out my thread a while back where I give a fairly in-depth review of all the important performance characteristics of four Low D’s: Susato, Reviol, Burke, and MK.
I ended up sticking with the MK. All Low Ds are a collection of compromises, and the MK manages them all better than any other in my opinion.
About the tone Burke vs MK, one day I took both to a session and for some reason the MK’s tone blended in with the other instruments better. It wasn’t a tuning thing, because both were right in tune. It was something about the timbre itself. The Burke’s tone is a bit more like that got by most Irish fluteplayers, while the MK has a bit more of a Native American/Kaval thing going on, a more complex or dirtier tone if you will.
Since you’re in Oz, you’d have to try Michael Grinter. If he’s still making low whistles, that is. I’ve had one since 2001. It’s brilliant, but it’s made of really thin wood and quite fragile. Sounds amazing. Give him a shout.
m.d.
Thanks everyone for your great feedback about low Whistles. It is a little hard to choose an instrument like these without being able to blow into a range of them first, but with all of the great posts on low D’s on whistle forums, it certainly gives you a head start.
In the end, I’ve decided to go for a Goldie low D. The quality and sound of the Goldies seems right up there with the best and is as good a place as any to start the low whistle adventure. Music is definitely a journey and I’m sure this won’t be the last low whistle I buy. (I’m a little nervous about growing overly attached to the low whistles, given I have a tendency to collect instruments)
I am late to to this discussion and certainly don’t want to try to change your mind.
But I would suggest that you try a Syn low D if you get a chance. The Syn design is unique among the low whistles I have tried. It needs very little air for the size and has a very fat, complex sound. Might may a nice second for your collection.
Thanks for the tip Swizzlestick - I hope to get the opportunity to play a few different whistles over the next few years and the Syn will definitely be one I’ll be trying to get a play of.
The Syn sounds interesting: air-efficient and fat sound. One usually pays for volume with quantity of air in Low Ds. But we all know that instruments vary greatly in that magic ratio of how much you put into it and how much comes out, and the best instruments are efficient.
I don’t want to leave the impression that a Syn is loud for a low D – it’s probably about average. My experience with low whistles is somewhat limited, but I can say that a Burke Viper has a bit more volume.
What does surprise you is the amount of sound you get for the air you put in. It has good back pressure compared to the Burke, so you can also lean into it more. The head is a solid chunk of Delrin and brass, so you have to take special care to warm it up and keep it warm. I think some of the less than positive reviews are because it is easy to underestimate how important this is.
I was recommending that Troy sample a Syn since there are probably more around in local Australia and because I am pleased with the one I play. And no, my Burke is not for sale.
Just like you, Pancelticpiper, I find all the low D whistles I’ve sampled to be compromises between contradictory design requirements. I look forward to trying an MK since you indicate that those whistles strike a particularly good balance.
That’s a pretty accurate quote from Swizzlestick on what I regard as the strengths and weaknesses of the Syn Low D’s. If you have one, and clogging is a problem, may I suggest a link to Courtly Music Unlimited where you can buy a small bottle of DUPONOL at a very reasonable price. I have only in the last month managed to get hold of some of that product and am amazed at the difference it makes on these low D’s. I can walk across to my workshop with frost on the ground, pick a whistle off the bench and play it ‘cold’ without condensation problems at all. In future, I’ll be supplying a small bottle of Duponol with these whistles when I sell them, it’s a bit hard to back-supply but as I said, try the Courtly crowd. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
Erle, please let me extend my thanks again for producing such a great whistle. I like my Syn just as much as my Burke Viper - just for different reasons. Great design and an especially good value!
While we’re on the subject I would like to say thank you for my favourite high d Black Diamond Erle. I haven’t forgotten that I spoke to you last year about buying one of your Low D’s. I think that is on the cards for the middle of this year, not far away at all. Would you mind PM-ing me your contact number again? Last time I got it off the 'net, but that took some searching and a little luck.
Thanks mate,
Ahhh yes .. so fondly I remember my original SYN!! Low D.
Low is not the word I used at the time tho ..
I’ve known a few Low D’s
Lemme see ..
Plastic .. no shame from where you came ..
Dixon .. Easy Peazey
Susato .. good enough . andwith a bottom key - conveninent ooh yes
Guido’s numbers .. hmm - depends who made it I s’pose ..
Metal and such ..
SYN .. velvet on fire
Howard .. Straight-lace .. (I Lerve lace
Overton .. Class-ic
Chieftain .. ready to GO
MK .. Smoo-oothe!
Reviol .. wild at heart
Burke .. Pressssice and clear
Wood .. well I’m wood - it’s in teh family so to parlais .. forgive moi despo-tism An’ lemme tell ya - Wood don’t grow on trees!! .. well it does .. but trees are a little less common than we once were .. and we don’t come cheap!!
(Back to teh plot)
Sweetheart .. sweee-eet .. ah .. soft and deep
Grinter .. mmm rare rare rare
Ben Stewart .. lineage .. elegance .. balance
Swayne .. ah .. what a whistle!
Well .. yes, there are a lot more .. but they haven’t met me yet
My agent sez he is not in the low-biz .. he’ll give it a try when he gets to piperz-grip with them. Who knows? He’s spending altogether too much time with mandolins these days . plunky little ups-tarts.
Whistler from Oz