Hi y’all!
How does the big hole Overton low d sound different than the regular? Is it harder to play?
Thanks!
Here’s a quote from the Colin Goldie’s website:
Since July 1998 I re-designed the low Ds with finger spacing, that is closer together. I made it so that a normal or even quite small handed person is able to handle this. Mainly the bottom three holes are closer together now so that the stretch of the second hand is not that big anymore. I still make on request the old bigger stretch fingering as well as the big holed version like the low Ds Bernard Overton made over 20 years ago.
The big hole Overtons have larger holes and a longer finger stretch than current standard models.
The second octave is significantly easier to reach on a big hole model, and the larger holes allow for greater control over half-holing and note bending.
As for sound differences, I personally think that big hole models sound better… but that’s probably just because of their increased expressiveness capabilities.
I mostly agree with Gary:
The Big Hole Low D requires less effort to hit the high notes in the second octave.
The Big Hole Low D is better for half-holing and sounds more expressive in some ways.
I’d also add the following though:
The Smaller holed version is easier to play fast tunes on, and ornaments have more “Pop”, or definition, on the smaller holed Low D.
So I’d say the Big Hole Low D is the Ultimate Slow Air Whistle, while the smaller holed whistle is a great “Speed Demon” for the dance tunes.
In the end it’s Horses for Courses, as ususal. One really needs them both 
Loren
I’ve only had my small hole Overton for a few months, and find it very easy to play and I just LOVE it. Maybe I will start saving for a big hole Overton. As we always say, “You can never have too many Overtons!”