Doc Jones doing a Overton / Burke comparison on Youtube

Whistle
1

Was looking for Uilleann vids as usual and found this :smiley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM_jVDIVDqc

Hope this doesn’t count as Doc’s CP for the month :laughing: :laughing:

David

2

Note how beautifully he plays.

3

Doc is a YouTube star!

4

We will say we knew him long ago, before
fame swept him beyond our reach…

5

Nice playing!

6

:laughing: Must give my apologies both to the instrument makers and the writers of the tunes. :laughing:

Doc

7

I hope you do more of these videos, great comparison
of instruments ( confess I preferred the Overton),
and the playing is very enjoyable. Just more music
would be great, too.

8

Doc:

Why’d you remove the video? I was going to watch it later and didn’t get the chance!

Pat

9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oZmpU4ZkbQ


David

10

Hi Doc,

GREAT video, thank you!

I also hope you can do more of these (for example you could try with a Burke composite/Burke aluminum comparison :slight_smile: ).

11

Yeah…me too… :imp:

Ah, nice, thanks for the new link!

12

Here’s anudder:

http://www.youtube.com/user/IrishFluteStore

Doc

13

WONDERFUL comparison!

I think this is the kind of things that makes a whistle lover happy.

Thanks a lot for sharing.

14

I’m the proud owner of that Overton and it’s an exceptional whistle. Couldn’t be happier with my decision. My thanks to Doc again for the video comparison. This sure is a great way to see and hear instruments for sale, especially if you’re on the fence between two or three.

BTW, one comment on the video page said the Overton had a “buzzier” edge (which it did in the video), but in person and in the studio, there’s no “buzziness” at all unless it’s overblown on the lower notes. Once familiar with the air requirements, it’s strong and pure into the third octave. Great sounding whistle. Made in 2003.

DC

15

The Burke sounds wonderful (nice playing Doc!!).

16

This is true but I think most Overton buyers/players are inclined to push them pretty hard and they seem to respond well that approach. They like to buzz. :slight_smile:

Doc

17

What you will find with Overtons as well as other whistles is that if you hold the whistle very tight between the lips or even bite the whistle then you will automatically have a harsher/harder, raspier tone than when you have it nice and relaxed between the lips. It is an easy thing to check out for yourself… try the extremes holding it really hard between the lips and then nice and relaxed. All Overtons should be capable of a relatively smooth tone and a lot is up to the player and the kind of tone that they prefer or are used to.

Brigitte wrote to a thread concerning this a little while ago which maybe worth reading, the link is

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=788369&highlight=#788369

Hope this helps
Colin

18

Thanks Colin. Incidentally, when I say “buzz” in reference to an Overton it’s a good thing. I’m referring to the rich harmonics Overtons are famous for not the annoying “buzz” some cheap whistles have. :slight_smile:

Someone once said: “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture”.

Doc

19

I thought I add something after watching again the video and also the comparison of the brass, composite and aluminium Burke whistles you did… I am very much sure that if you play the three Burke whistles in your video comparison again and this time hold them all loose between your lips (like kissing lips not bend in lips like you seem to be used to) you will find the instruments will have a different sound, it should be smoother and the underlying buzziness which I can hear especially when it comes to the higher notes will be gone. :smiley:

I do not think the buzziness is a “cheapie” thing, the ones we have here when Colin plays them do not sound buzzy, they may be shrill or screechy in sound or thin but the buzz only comes when applying pressure to the mouthpiece.

Greetings
Brigitte
:slight_smile:

20

Hmmm, I don’t notice much difference with the Burkes or Overtons I have here using different degrees of looseness or tightness. There are, of course, differences with different amounts of air pressure and I do notice I’m more inclined to blow harder when gripping tighter.

It may also be you’re hearing/describing something that is an effect of the recording…hard to say. We may not even be talking about the same thing. :slight_smile:

Take home messages:

  • Overtons are lovely tooters.
    Burkes are lovely tooters.
    Different people playing the same tooter may sound different
    The same person playing the same tooter with different breath pressure or embouchure tightness may sound different.
    Tooters being recorded may sound different than live tooters

Cheers,

Doc