Mine just arrived. It is FANTASTIC!! It looks and feels wonderful and plays like a dream. The best low D I’ve played yet. Absolutely perfect! Fortunatly it was well packaged as the box looked like it had been through a Balkan war! 
No Adrian, it was probably through the earthquake! Karen
Maybe! As it happens I was on my bed playing my DASBT when the earthquake struck.
How would you describe the sound. In Mikes website he describes it as more flutelike. Is that about right?
Great!!
I’m getting mi Burkes (a Low D Viper and a High D Brass Session) this Thursday, I just can’t wait!!! 
Just for comparison, what other low D have you played and what differences do you notice? 
It doesn’t sound anything like my silver concert flutes. It has more of a mellow, warm sound that you would expect with the lower alto flute. Beautiful! Highly recomended!
I’m no expert but I have tried many low whistles since buying my first in 1982 from Hobgoblin in the UK. I have only owned a few so the majority that i have played have been in shops - which is perhaps not enough to make a good comparison. The Viper has a wonderful warm, mellow yet clear tone and plays really easily for me. There is nothing i dislike about it.
Love my high Burkes as well.
I have tried a number of low D’s over the years. Some are exceedingly breathy, have little bottom end, have a chancy top end, have very large wind requirements, etc. A few are truly remarkable achievements. The Burke Viper is one of the latter. Mike has worked very hard on this instrument, and his design has been greatly improved over the years, aurally, functionally, and cosmetically. While the Viper can be said to have a flute-like quality, no one would ever mistake it for a flute…Mike has created an instrument that has a rock-solid bottom end, with a warm quality that extends over the full two octaves and beyond. Playing up top is just as pleasing to the player and the listener as playing at the bottom…
I love my Overton low D. It does things no other low D can offer. I have seen comparisons between it and the Viper. I have never joined in those comparisons. I find both instruments to be superb, within their own strengths. I would not wish to be without either…
You have made a good choice in your new Viper. Use it well.
Byll
I will only say that Byll has put it perfectly IMO.
Philo
Anyone know how it compares to say a Copeland Low D? I’m not looking for a “better/worse” comparison, more of a sound comparison.
Adrian and Byll, you both answered several questions for me. Thanks. Karen
I’ve got my Viper and you were right, it’s great! Very easy to play, smooth transition between octaves, sweet pure tone. The lower notes are quite strong, too. Also it has very little backpressure and doesn’t clogs easily.
My whistle teacher as a Chieftain, and as a comparison I’ll say the Chieftain has a richer (i.e. less pure) sound and the second octave sounds more airy. It’s a nice whistle too, only different. I’ll probably get one of these sometime.