Though Burke is my first choice thus far in my search, I was wondering what else there is.
I looked at the High End guide on the C&F’s main page, and I was wondering what is your favorite high end D whistle.
I’m really hoping I can get one for around 100 dollars, but I dont see too many of those out there.
If you can afford it, get the Burke. It’s the only high D you’ll ever need. It’s a fantastic sound and I feel it’s extremely easy and comfortable to play. You’ll really enjoy it.
Okay that being the case, aluminum or brass?
I honestly dont know what difference it makes in the sound.
PS: I meant to ask that the first time 
The Burke is excellent as is a Sindt. If you’re looking for something under $100, you might also want to consider Erle Bartlet’s Black Diamond.
As to brass or aluminum Burke, the brass feels a bit more substantial (heavier) in the hand and may be a bit darker or warmer in tone (whatever that means). My preference is the brass.
Enjoy.
Philo
If you want a sweet sounding, but not incredibly loud Burke, I suggest the composite narrow bore high D. For sessions and recordings I like the Burke Session Pro brass high D.
Having owned and played both for several years, I prefer the Sindt over the Burke myself. A little more on the traditional side tone-wise, whereas the Burke was almost too pure in tone. YMMV however.
I think that Burke is definitely fine whistle. To my taste, it´s too…common sounding. It sounds good, but I think that Overtons and Reyburns are much more interesting (and, at least for me, Overtons are much more pleasant to play actually).
Right, Overtons may be out of your budget, but as far as I know, Reyburns are cheaper. On the other hand - if you buy a Burke, you´ll hardly regret it, it´s a good whistle!
Can’t you get a Humphrey for under $100? I’ve never played one but people say they like them.
I was looking at Humphrey’s website. That might be a better option due to his lower prices.
But I cant find a review of his whistles anywhere, not that I’m doubting him, I just to see what the more experienced players think.
On the Burkes, what is the difference between his narrow bore and session whistes. I understand that the narrow bore has less back pressure and is quieter, but what about the session?
Leachim-To my knowledge, I’ve only heard good things about Reyburns and Sindts. I haven’t played either. I’ve played the following high Ds: Chieftain, Burke Aluminum Session Bore w/Black tip (DASBT), Feadog Pro, Generation, tweaked Generation, Waltons Little Black, and Susato. They’re all good players in their own right-after all, it’s the player, not the instrument right?
I have the aluminum Burke and love it. It does have a pure sound, which I like. I find it easy to play and can’t see myself getting another hi D. Why bother when this one sounds so great 
To answer your original question: The session bore is louder than the narrow bore. I guess which one you get depends upon how you’re going to use it. If you’re strictly playing at home, then your significant other may appreciate the narrow bore. I use mine for sessions and playing at home, and the session bore has worked great in both places. Even the session bore is quieter than the Chieftain Mezzo D I had-now that is one LOUD whistle!
~Sean
I have both a session bore brass and narrow bore composite, the tone is distinctly different. The narrow bore is one of the sweetest sounding little whistles I’ve ever played, but it won’t be heard very well in a session.
As several contributors have already suggested, the Burke high Ds are very nice whistles and the Burke Narrow Bore was my favourite whistle until I acquired a Reyburn Narrow Bore; I now rarely play anything else.
Both whistles cost $170, however, which is a little above your initial suggestion of $100.
In the final analysis selecting one’s ideal whistle is highly subjective and personal.
Yours thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated. There are so many whistles out there its hard to narrow it down to the one you want.
I prefer the softer quieter whistles, so I think I’ll wait till I build up my whistle budget cache and get the burke narrow bore.
Is the Burke louder than the Sindt?
(Of course there are several burkes)
Also are you Sindt players finding the sindt
loud enough for sessions?
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=53405&highlight=humphrey
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=53070&highlight=humphrey
I find the sindt was always loud enough for my playing at my pub, though I use other things now as I got the fever and bought “Higher end” High end whistles. Aka decided to start spending alot…
But for the original poster go check out
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/
Look into your options and pricing and listen to what your options are then really find something that plays to your ears… whistles are so diverse as are players it is hard to tell a person what to get… to me a whistle might sound like nothing special to the next it may be a pot of gold.
I like the Burke and will probably buy one later this year. I have a Humphreys which is great and an Alba Q1 that is also great. The Q1 is quieter but a nice whistle to play. I taught my grandson, 15, to play last summer. At Christmas he played quite a few of my whistles but his favorite is the Q1. He says that it is easier to play than the Sweetone I gave him last summer. He also has a Clare and a Waltons C that I gave him for Christmas.
Ron
I have a silver Sindt D with a delrin head.
It’s lovely and I think it costs 120.
But it’s marginally loud enough–though
I play in circumstances where a good
deal of volume is needed.
It seems a wee bit louder than the
brass Sindt.
Is the Sindt D louder than the burke narrow
bore aluminum whistle?
I own and play both a Sindt brass D and Burke narrow bore whistles in alu, brass and composite. I don’t find the Sindt to be as loud as the Burkes but it isn’t a huge difference. They all sound good, the Sindt has the more traditional tone. They are all loud enough for sessions though YMMV depending on free reeds and such at your session.
Feadoggie
My top three are Reyburn, Overton, and Copeland. I find I reach for the Reyburn the most. Cyril