I know, you all get this question all the time. I need a D whistle that’s better than basic, but doesn’t cost a fortune. The Black Knight Merlin looks pretty. The ‘tweaked’ Freeman’s are cheap and intriguing. The Susato’s are reliable, but I don’t want to go through the heartache again. (Long mournful story.)
I half expect my original whistle collection to come back to me one day, but for the meantime I need something to assuage my misery.
Any ideas, lads? (and lassies)
My absolute favorite D whistle is the Every Whistle by Parks Whistles. My second fave is the Clarke original design in D.
the Freeman’s are my fav for $$/quality ratio. the merlin black knights are really interesting, a wide bore, lots of chiff, but extremely hard to get the upper 2nd octave. plus you can get 2 Freeman’s for the price of 1 black knight…
Cool. Thanks guys.
For immediate gratification:
Ó Briain Improved Feadóg
If you can wait for it:
Sindt
My recommendation:
Both
For value for money it’s probably hard to beat the €25 Cillian O Briain improved.
‘Best’ is a bit of a subjective thing though.
My brain hurts too. I don’t like having to wait for immediate gratification.
“Best” is like whisky, I suppose. Above a certain price level it’s only a matter of taste. I’ve been playing a nickel Copeland for years – until it got half-inched. So I’m used to that silvery, pristine sound that’s audible in a session but doesn’t stop dogs in their tracks.
Translation? 
Pinched?
The Impempe high D is pretty good, and under $100, even with shipping added (to the US). I just got one a few weeks ago, and so far I like it a lot. It’s fairly quiet, with a moderate amount of chiff. The bell note, though not especially loud, is not fragile either. The 2nd octave is playable without much difficulty, although high B requires some extra kick, as it often does. The Impempe is an all-metal whistle, beautifully made of rather thick aluminum, or so the web site says. It looks and feels like stainless steel. It’s heavier than I expected an aluminum whistle to be. It’s tunable, as well.
Ubizmo
Pinched, yes. Rhyming slang – or “thieve’s cant” as my cheese and kisses insists on calling it.
Thanks, Ubizmo. I’ll check all these out.
Okay. So now I’m looking at the Excalibur, 7-hole model. Could be a nice change from having to to fudge the low C, blow it high or improvise a ‘harmony.’ Anyone tried it? Would you recommend?
Original wooden fipple Clarke, without a doubt. There are sometimes flawed inexpensive whistles, but the majority are perfectly serviceable. Most of what makes a whistle good is the player, not the whistle. Too many people go chasing perfection by buying whistles, instead of practicing and playing whistles.
You are so right, AlBrown. It’s the singer, not the song. But some whistles DO sound better than others. Every individual instrument, however humble, has its own personality. A good instrument makes a good player.
FWIW, I had a perfectly serviceable bouzouki from Lark in the Morning but it wasn’t until I got a Sobell mandola that my musicality, and enjoyment, improved by leaps and bounds.
Mellow Dog, Impempe and Feadog are all very nice whistles and cost less than $100. Get all three!
I’m a fan of Susatos in some keys but D is not one of them.
Apples and oranges, though. Whistles and whistle quality simply don’t work that way, in a world where the very best players often choose and prefer the $10 instrument. But you probably know that. 
By all means, pick a whistle that pleases you, regardless of price. But “best” will depend on your tastes, and how you intend to play it (better than basic for … what?).
Since it hasn’t been mentioned yet, my default recommendation is often the Dixon Trad D. And I’ve been playing the Freeman Mellow Dog D quite a bit lately.
That’s the problem … so many good whistles under $100, but it is really personal preferences that picks the winner. A great list so far … I’d like to add a Hoover whitetop, or any Mack Hoover whistle, for consideration.
Until my niece lost it, it was my Susato VSB. Now it’s probably my EveryWhistle.
The Dixon
DXTRAD - brass whistle costs about 15 Pounds which is surely under your $100.
I’ve owned one and played it regularly over 3 years now and it provides a great sound for the price.
I also have a Jerry Freeman’s tweaked Blackbird, which I find can squeak a bit on certain notes, although produces a great overall sound
Of all the whistles in my collection under $100, I’d say the Dixon DXTRAD produces the best and most clean / reliable sound, which is even across both octaves. I’ve also seen an improved version of this whistle has recently come out (DX203 - Tuneable Soprano D Whistle) - it is a little more expensive than the original DXTRAD, but may be worth it. (The aluminium version is cheaper than the brass)
Link to the Dixon web-site which shows these whistles http://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/catalogue/dixonshop.html
Videos that might help:
Dixon DXTrad - Brass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6jkji8vfM
Freeman Blackbird http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5KxVVg68CA&feature=related
My advice is to listen to a lot of whistles and find a sound you like, read as much as you can, however I find that there’s no substitute in getting to know a whistle, for playing the whistle regularly over a period of time.
Good luck!
Terrific advice all round, thanks. No doubt I’ll end up with three or four brands, because this is like on-line dating (I imagine). You don’t know for sure until lips meet mouthpiece.