I would like to know the hole size on the big hole Overton Low D.
Also I would like to know the distance between the 5th and 6th holes (E & F#).
I play a Copeland Low D now and have no problem with spacing or hole size.
Best..
/Peter
You should ask Colin this question directly.
I can tell you this though: It’s a tougher stretch, and a number of the holes are quite a bit larger than those on the Copeland.
Loren
Thanks Loren!
Hmm… I have good reach (play guitar and have relatively big hands) but relatively thin fingers, maybe I could run into “sealingproblem”.
I guess I better ask Collin directly, and maybe it´s possible to order a whistle with “custom-sized” holes so the end result fits my hand and preferences as good as possible.
/Peter
Peter, If you have thin fingers I wouldn’t recommend the Big Hole Overton, the standard would be a better choice.
Loren
You’re in luck!
I just so happen to have saved the measurements for future reference after a friend asked me when I first got my big hole model.
From the bottom up:
87mm - 10.5mm
135mm - 12mm
163mm - 10.5mm
212mm - 10.5mm
244mm - 12mm
286mm - 10.5mm
P.S. There really are just two different hole sizes, 10.5mm and 12mm.
Thanks Loren,
actually they are not THAT thin, I was just uncertain if it would “work”.
Raindog THANKS!
This hole-size will not create any problem for me, not much difference from the Copeland. I think the 5th hole (F#) is 11mm and that´s no problem. I checked the stretch between the 5th and 6th holes, and that shouldn´t be any problem either.
I have made my own Low D and I have 50mm between 5th and 6th on that one, that´s longer than on the Overton you have numbers on!
/Peter
he he, I checked my homemade Low D and all my holespacings are wider than what you mention on the Overton.
The holes (4,5,6th) are about 10mm.
And THAT one was the one I “learned” to play on, had only been playing high D and C before that. A tough start for sure but I guess no Low D will ever cause me trouble after that one 
/Peter
there goes what little hope there is for me on my plans for an overton (long way to go)… doesn’t it get any smaller?
Hej Pan - hold fire there matey…Bernard Overton now makes an upgraded low D with a closer-in and smaller 6th hole, and it sounds even better! Loren has the older style (which I think is the design still used by Colin Goldie).
I am tall and slim with long thin fingers, and I have no sealing problem (but i did with the earlier design - BO changed it for me free of charge. Lovely bloke). If you can wait a day, I’ll measure up tonight when I get home and send the stats tomorrow (or mail me direct at nickturner@hotmail.com)
Nick
Caoimhin and Nick - this thread is about the big hole model Overton low D, not the newer revisions.
The big hole models are now only available on special request from Colin because the holes are so big and the spacing is so far apart.
The big hole model is a reproduction of Bernard’s original design… there have been at least two revisions since then that made the holes smaller and closer together.
Don’t let my measurements discourage you from getting an Overton low D… the current standard models from both Bernard and Colin are considerably easier to manage.
Raindog - thanks for that, I didn’t know. It’s 18 months since I picked up the new Overton from BO.
On 2002-09-03 10:04, nickt wrote:
Raindog - thanks for that, I didn’t know. It’s 18 months since I picked up the new Overton from BO.
I hope you’re still going to post the measurements of yours… it would be nice to see the difference between the two in the same thread.
That would be very handy for future reference.
Gary,
I would like to thank you for your input and also for being a great inspiration to me.
I wasn´t sure if you was “Gary” or not but I thought I remembered seeing “raindog” after your name on some of the clips on Mick´s site (and others?). Your and Mick´s playing together with Lothloriens recordings is what made me start playing the whistle back in the spring this year, maybe riverdance had something to do with it as well
Hector the hero is the most beatiful whistle song I have heard, and of course I must have a Big hole Overton and a Rose D after that. Both are on order
/Peter
On 2002-09-03 19:34, Pan wrote:
Gary,I would like to thank you for your input and also for being a great inspiration to me.
Thank you very much for your compliments Peter… I’m flattered that anyone would consider me an inspiration.
It was indeed me who played the big hole Overton low D with Mick in Hector the Hero.
I did a remix of it back in early July which is on my Acid Planet page if you’d like to hear it… Mick still hasn’t updated his website with the new version.
I still don’t have any wooden whistles because I’m too lazy to do the necessary upkeep they require, but listening to Mick makes me want to order a blackwood Rose too. 
Pan/Peter
You will LOVE the Rose - still my all time favourite whistle.
The measurements for the new Overton low D, going from end of the whistle up to hole 6, size of hole 6, gap to hole 5, size of hole 5, etc:
91mm
8mm (hole 6)
32mm
11mm (hole 5)
20mm
7.5mm (hole 4)
32mm
And just for comparison, the same measurements for the Grinter hardwood low D:
86mm
9mm (hole 6)
33mm
11mm (hole 5)
19mm
7mm (hole 4)
40mm
Hope that helps!