Have Burkes changed much over the years?

Whistle
1

I recently got a pre-black tip aluminum session bore in D. It was made in 2001. It has a purer tone, less back-pressure, and is a little easier to play well compared to my brass narrow bore D that was made last year. I’m finding that the older session bore plays closer to how I’ve read the narrow bores to play, and vice versa. I’m doubtful that the difference in material is much of a factor, so I can only think that Michael Burke is making these whistles differently now than a decade ago, or has different tonal goals in mind now. I wish I could do a side-by-side comparison of my 2001 whistle with a recent DASBT.

Has anyone seen much of a change in Burkes over the years?

2

I have wondered the same thing. I have played newer burkes, and they are indeed different than the 2001 alum session d that I have kept of the several I have owned. It could be isolated, but from what I can tell, Burkes are about as consistent as whistles can be.

Reg

3

Yes, I think they have changed some over the years. I’ve owned near four dozen Burkes since 2000. Voicing in 2001 provided an easier top end and the bell notes were a tad weaker and could be blown sharp easier. Still the top end was really nice. Although I have replaced most of my older Burkes with newer models I have held on to two (high and low D Pros) of the 2001 models just to have that sweet upper second octave.

I have said here before that the early Burkes were set up to be what most beginner whistlers wish they could find in a whistle - very even breath curve and a very accessible top of the second octave. But that really doesn’t work for someone that wants to really push a whistle. And I feel that most experienced whistlers will want to put a lot more air into the whistle to keep it going with some pop and snap. I think the current Burke set up does that better. The low end is very solid and the top end takes a little push (but far less than a lot of other whistles). So I prefer the newer ones overall. YMMV.

I personally don’t find that the timbre has changed terribly much over time. I also don’t see a noticeable difference in air usage or pressure either, except at the high end. The middle range on the 2001 aluminum Pro high D sounds very much like the 2007 aluminum Session whistle. Windways, voicing window, the diameters of the bodies and tone holes have similar dimensions. But that’s just my take. I can see if you are comparing an older Pro to a newer narrow bore that things would seem quite a bit different.

Feadoggie