Hi everyone. I’m now to this board, and I’ve been playing the whistle for about a month now. I am looking to get a low d now and was looking for suggestions. I am looking for something that has a sweet and pure tone that isnt very breathy, more focused. I’m looking for a good beginner instrument, but something that is under $150. Thanks for your help.
I’ve been happy with my Dixon Low D. It is not very expensive, fairly easy to play and has good tone. It seems a good first Low D IMHO.
The new Kerry Easyblow Low D is pretty spiffy.
What kind of sound do those give?
i’d go with with the dixon lowD too, was my first, still one of my favs.
Low.
glauber, messed up your responce, didn’t I?
I have a Dixon tunable low D and i agree it’s a good whistle for the price. Not very loud, but pretty sounding and in tune. If you’re in the US, www.thewhistleshop.com has them.
The other lows i’ve known:
Howard: loud and aggressive. This is the other low D i have.
Burke: like a precision machine. Absolutely in tune and the easiest to play. Pure sound.
Alba: very preetty sound, maybe the nicest sounding; sexy. It was a hard one for me to play because of finger spread (and take your mind out of the gutter, Amar!). 
Syn (i tried a low D prototype): great whistle, maybe the best balance overall, depending on how much they end up costing.
Copeland Sterling Silver: wow! but entirely out of my reach, financially. Good option if you have a kidney you can sell.
Howard and Syn have very large finger holes, not a problem for me, but watch out if you have skinny fingers.
g
Dixon Low D, in my opinion. Or better yet, get a flute (not a Dixon).
I don’t find the Burke Low D to be at all pure. I think it has a metallic hiss like all the other aluminum Low Ds.
I do like Mike Burke’s high whistles, though. And his F composite is one of my favorites.
I think I’ll toot my own horn 
Are ya looking for something like this: http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Audio/6-04/CaptainPicardsAirJustinP.mp3 
I know the playin’ is crapy, but what about the whistle???
I’ve been playing a Dixon tunable low D for about a month now and really enjoying it. It’s my first so I have nothing to compare it to … yet. When I am relaxed and playing well the tone is quite pleasant, other times it’s … well, different, but that’s me not the instrument. I’m learning about the amazing subtleties of breath control. I checked the tuning with a chromatic tuner and it is quite accurate. I like it.
I own a Dixon low D and think it’s one of the easiest low D whistles to finger and play (it does need careful breath control).
Though I had to adjust my fingering a bit, I find Overton and Chieftain low D whistles aren’t too hard to cope with - after a few minutes time, I seem to adjust OK to the one’s I’ve tried. They do nead a bit more air, but I like the extra backpressure.
The travelling Weston low D I had (just passed it on to blackhawk last night) has easy breath control, but the fingering requires a bit of a stretch, even with piper’s grip. Assuming you can find the holes, they’re easy to seal.
I borrowed blackhawk’s Howard low D to give it a thorough tryout. And so far, the biggest problem I have is that though the finger holes are easy to find, they’re hard to seal. Needs good breath support, but that was an easier adjustment. Still not sure if I like the Howard or not - we’ll have to see if I can adapt my fingers to it - but I like the tone (and it has a lot more volume). Not what I’d recommend for a beginner.
FWIW, I’ve found the good-quality flutes I’ve tried - MurphyStout’s (Hamilton?), a couple of others (don’t know the makers), and two Casey Burns Folk Flutes - were all easier to finger and seal (and easier to play simple tunes on from the first) than any low D except maybe the Dixon.
This may be something peculiar to me - I have boney fingers - but although I have no trouble with anything down to a Low F, I have to really work to seal most low Ds. But flutes are easier for me (???).
DCrom, i think most low D whistles have fingerholes that are wider than those used in flutes, and that’s why they’re harder to seal. I agree that the Dixon requires careful breath control too (the lowest notes need very low air velocity, and they’re hard to play loud until you get it just right – it’s not a loud instrument anyway).
Glauber, I have no doubt you’re right, but since I didn’t have a good flute to compare to I couldn’t do a side-by-side.
But aren’t Hammys a Pratten-type, with fairly large fingerholes? I’ve been trying to decide between a Seery (Pratten), M & E (R & R model) or Casey Burns Folk Flute (his standard ergonomic design) for my first serious flute, and I was a bit leary of the Seery since I haven’t had a chance to try one out & was worried about the finger hole size.
Of course, once I have more time with the Howard this may become a non-issue - when I do seal the holes properly it booms compared to the Dixon.
Yes, but the fingerholes on the Howard and also on the Syn i tried seem to be large enough to put your whole hand through!
The only Low D whistles I’ve played are a Dixon tunable and a Chieftain non-tunable. I found the Chieftain to be much easier to play. The problem I had with the Dixon was that the lower notes, especially the bell note, were “fragile” and weak. I also like the tone of the Chieftain better.
I’ve owned or played at length:
Dixon Tunable low-d.
Susato Low-d.
Burke EZ Low-d (composite)
Overton Low-d.
The easiest has been the Overton. It take less wind but more pressure to play and lets me lean into the notes more. Mine has a very solid bell note. I also like the mix of overtones that are distinctive and make it different from the sounds of a flute. I picked mine up used for under $125.
The Susato was my first and worst ever attempted. Its design left my wrists and hand cramped after 15 minutes.
The Burke and I just didn’t get along. It was much better than the Susato, but not near as easy to play as the Overton. I got to play a Burke 3 AlPro that was much nicer, but I still prefer the Overton sound.
I just won a Dixon tunable low-d and have had fun with it. It nice but does have a sensitive, soft bell note. One of my sons is starting to play whistle (he’s a star sax player). He’ll probably get this next.
I’ve also played Chieftains, Shaws, and howards. None of which were better than my Overton for ease of play or tone. One of the Howards that I played for 10 minutes had good tone, easy to play, and might be a good first low whistle. The Shaw took hurcane level windage and left me dizzy after half a tune.
My recommendation is to listen to an Overton, if you like the sound and tone, look for one to try, or buy used. If not, a Dixon or Howard would be my second choices in your price range. Again Coplands, Burkes and others are out there but they generally are running over $200.
If at all possible, try to arrange a play/try before you buy. If you live anywhere near Washington, DC. The House of Musical traditions carry a number of low whistles that you can try in their store.
What ever you start with, I hope it lets you further …
Thanks everyone for youe help. I went with the Dixon low d. Ill tell ou how it goes when it comes in and i cna try it out.