Anyone have any feedback on Burke Low D’s? Ease of play, finger spacing, air requirements, sound, etc?
Thanks.
I have a Burke low D. The air requirements are a bit higher than other low D’s I have and have played (Chieftan, Overton, Cook) and there is very little in the way of back pressure. The body of the whistle is in two pieces, and each rotates for the most comfortable and secure grip and fingering. I no longer allow other people to adjust this when playing my whistle (why do people think they can play with the fittings without asking???). My fingers are short and not very wide, but I have no problem covering the holes using a piping grip.
The sound is even across octaves, and in tune (of course! This is a Burke we’re talking about!) and has a clear, ringing quality that I like very much. But in general it takes more lung that I have if I’m trying to play more than a set.
Hmmm, interesting, Tyg. I find the air requirements lighter on my Burke low D than on other low Ds I’ve tried (Susato, Copeland, Chieftain, Overton). And I guess I’d also describe this whistle as the breathiest of the Burkes I own. It’s certainly the easiest to play. I have the the EZ model (three pieces), and I love it. According to Mike Burke, the finger spacing is somewhat closer on this model and the holes slightly smaller, as I recall. There’s another thread on them somewhere, which you’ll find with the search function. If you’d like a sound clip send me a pm.
Carol
I pretty much agree with Tyghress and Carol – Breath requirements a little lighter than a Copeland, quite a bit greater than an Overton. Doesn’t require much push at all, though. While the sound is breathier than other Burkes, it’s very clear for a low-D. Not as pure as a Susato, but many fewer overtones than a Copeland or Overton.
When I first got a Copeland low-D, I thought I’d never play the Burke again. But the thing is SO easy to play, and it has a big sound. I’m especially impressed by the bottom – I played a Burke low-D side-by-side with a couple of Overtons at SOTS last summer, and it’s got at least as much volume at the bottom of the first as the Overton, and that’s saying quite a bit.
I’ve got an AlPro, and it’s quite comfortable for me with a piper’s grip. The diameter is pretty big, so the holes are, too; I’ve got short but broad fingers. As Tyg pointed out, the joint between the hands eases the grip quite a bit if you do have small hands.
here’s some measurements:burke low D ez/from the top of the top hole,
to the bottom of the 3th:8cm
/from the top of the 4th hole,
to the bottom of the 6th hole:8.1 cm
burke low D pro/from the top of the top hole,
to the bottom of the 3th:8.3 cm
/from the top of the 4th hole
to the bottom of the 6th hole:8.4cm
the ez takes lesser breath and the holes are smaller. i prefer the pro for slower tunes. the kind of aluminium that mike uses is outstanding, no more polishing. mike’ new low D comes with a delrin tipped headpeace, this is the new 3 piece version. there’s 30 days money back guarantee
Thanks to all!.. I was hesitating between an Overton and a Burke, and was leaning toward the Burke bc of availability, but I just lucked out and found a tunable Overton Low D available for immediate delivery… so I snagged that one.
I do appreciate your feedback, though. Thanks again.