Considering the Burke Viper, but memories of my old brass Pro Session haunt me. I found that whistle to be extremely shrill on the top end and clogged easily.
Any Viper owners care to address my concerns with regard to the Viper and please feel free to add any other comments.
Thanks,
Mike
My Viper has an incredibly solid low end. I have never played a low whistle on which control of the bottom octave is easier…The Viper is relatively even in tone and volume over its 2+ octave range. It sounds like ‘one instrument’, instead of 2 separate instruments with different ranges…Playing in the second octave is not a chore and the sound is very musical… The whistle is responsive and quick. Jigs and reels that I perform on high D translate very well to the low D. While the volume of air needed is not outlandish, the Viper requires full breaths between phrases. Without full breaths, you will run out of air…The tone is what one would expect from a Burke Alpro: Relatively clean and pure…The Viper does not clog.
Hope this helps a bit.
Best.
Byll
Thanks Byll, that really helps. I’m not sure I can handle the breath requirements then. I run out of air on my high D sometimes.
Would you know how the Viper and the Overton compare?
Mike
I’ve played a couple of Burke low Ds, but I don’t know if they were vipers or whatever. How do they compare to the Overton? Well, they are both in the same key and have six holes each. But that’s about where the similarity ends. 
I expect that Bloom is spot-on, as usual. I own and play low D’s by Burke and Pat O’Riordan. They are very different. I like and use them both in concert, for completely different types of music…
I had not told Bloom this yet, but…
I swore I would never pay the $ for an Overton. The exchange rate is VERY unkind to the US dollar at the moment. Coupled with that is the fact I was never fond of the Overton high D I owned for awhile.
But…
After speaking with Brigitte and Colin at length, I did order a low D built to my specifications, awhile ago.
It should arrive in the next 2 weeks…
After playing it for a bit, I will better be able to compare my Burke Viper with the Overton.
Best to 'ye.
Byll
Good on you, Byll!
And how does the Viper compare to the other Serpents?
(ducks and runs away)
Mike: The breath requirements of the Viper are not great at all. I find that it is always a good habit to take a solid breath between phrases, when playing any whistle. A solid breath ensures the Viper has enough air. There is nothing out of line, here.
Timing is everything. My Overton arrived at my home, today. I have only played it for a few hours. Colin built it perfectly for my playing style. I have not played it enough for the comparison with the Burke that you wish. For the moment, suffice it to say that Bloom is correct when he says they play very differently. They feel different, and they sound different. Nothing sounds like an Overton. And yet, both instruments have a glorious solid bottom end and are fully usable over 2+ octaves. As with all quality instruments, there are no surprises. With the current exchange rate, the Burke is about 2/3 the price of the shipped, anodized Overton.
If you have any direct questions concerning comparisons, I will attempt to answer them over the next few days, as I become more conversant with my Overton.
Best to you.
Byll
I was wonderin’ that myownself.
Hey Byll, I had a few for you if you don’t mind.
Of the two, which has the most even tone between upper and lower octaves? Which requires less volume change between the mid and high D? Finally, what did you ask for in term of customization or tweaking on the Overton (how is it different from a stock whistle)?
thanks,
Joe
Joe: Nothing sounds like an Overton. The ‘cosmic drain pipe’ sound is amazing and very addictive. One should note however, that there is no ‘off-button’ to that sound. It is always there…That is why having more than one low D is desirable for me.
I do not prefer any of the three low D’s I own over the others. They are so different as to make a value jugement suspect.
To answer your questions: The most even 2-octave sameness of tone I have ever heard from a low D is from my Burke Viper. The upper octave is truly an analog of the lower octave… The upper and lower octave volume differences between the Overton and Burke are both acceptable and are very much the same, with a nod to the Burke for being less of a subjective change. However, the highest notes on the Burke are as pure as the lower. The Overton is NOT difficult to play in its upper register, but the highest notes are even more ‘cosmic’ than the low notes. At this point, I am not able to play the 3rd octave e on the Overton, unless I play the high d, just before it…It feels like an impedance thing…I use this note a lot on my high D whistles. I cannot see me needing it on a low D, so this is not an issue.
I simply asked Colin for a whistle that did not cause apoplexy in the upper range, caused by a need to blow HARD. I asked for a whistle that sounded like ONE complete instrument, instead of two, when played in either octave. I asked for no anomalies or ‘surprises’ on any note of the whistle’s range.
Colin and Brigitte delivered. What an incredible couple. My contact with them was a positive, all through the process…
Hope this helps a bit.
Best.
Byll
More than a bit, I’ve really got a grasp of what the two whistles offer. As a bass guitarist I earn most of my money with an instrument that does everything well and sounds great in most genres. However, when I play acoustic oriented music (primarily jazz), I reach for a different bass that has the “sound”.
I will be getting a premium low whistle, even though I’ll have to save my pennies for a while. Your explanation has gone a long way towards helping me decide which one.
thanks again,
Joe
Same here Byll. I found your comparisons very helpful.
Thanks,
Mike
Thank you, gentlemen…Please realize that my opinions are truly that - just opinions. Good luck in your choices. I will be curious just what they will be…
Be well.
Byll