This seems to be an overshadowed key in the variety of whistles offered by Burke. I cant seem to find a single thread on it either. Even on his website, there is no commentary or description as with his other whistles. Is this an uncommon choice in Burke’s line of products? I would especially appreciate anyone who owns a Burke Bb in aluminum or brass to perhaps give a short review of this instrument if time permits. thank you.
would you say that your song tunes are greatly limited when you go outside the key of D?
I have one in brass, the whistle is great. It has a very warm, full sound with a very slight hint of an edge to the tone making it sound very similar to Bb Pipes as it as a kind of dry sound. The response is great and it is very comfortable to play in terms of weight and wind requirments. I tend to lean into it when I play and I have never had trouble doing that with this whistle the low D (Bb really) is great you can really lean into it without it jumping octaves. As with all Burkes the normal OXX OOO fingering is not perfectly in tune, but I find that on this whistle it is closer than on the Low F I have and the D I used to have.
All in all I would highly recommend a Burke Bb, why they are not more popular is a mystery but for me out of all the Burkes I have played my Bb is would be my favorite.
I have one too. I’d add the finger stretch is very comfortable.
I own and play both aluminum and brass Burkes in Bb. They are both fine whistles. There is a little difference in timbre between them as a player. The aluminum is crisp. The brass rings a bit and sounds a little warmer. From ten feet away though, they sound similar. Both have the same excellent playing characteristics, like all Burkes. They are well designed, well made and well tuned.
If you are just getting started though, I would suggest you get a Gen Bb (and a D as well). They are a reasonable place to start. Concentrate on the music and playing first. The Burke will still be there when you need it.
Hope that helps.
Feadoggie
Ditto as to the brass. Mystery solved.
Philo
As to whether Bb will limit you: the normal way to approach whistles is to play/finger them as if they were a D whistle. (That’s why Unseen122 called the bottom note D, even though it’s a Bb whistle.)
So you can play any tune on any key whistle. The only issue is if you’re playing with others: if it’s a normal session, Bb won’t be useful, whereas D will.
I have a Burke Bb aluminum, unfortunately the older type with a large air channel which is easy to overblow (until you get used to it). It sounds terrific, all the notes are strong and in tune, a very pure sound. Unfortunately, it has been eclipsed by the Burke A aluminum I got last Christmas, the newer model with a smaller air channel that is harder to overblow, sounds a bit more husky (I love it) and has some backpressure in the upper second octave. If you get a new Bb, that would probably be the personality, and it’s great.
This has all been very helpful. I really appreciate all of your comments.