Someone else is paying for this, so I can go up to about $200. I know I read some time ago that there is a low D that has easy fingering. In fact it might be called the EZ. Anyway, the finger spacing is important, but so is the sound. Unlike regular whistles, I think most of us are on the same page when it comes to what sounds good in a low whistle.
I believe it’s the Burke EZ, and it’s exactly $200.
Not sure about your last sentence. Back-pressure, breath requirements, breathiness/pureness, seem to be even more of contradictory issues to agree on the “perfect” low whiste… And thanks God! 
Fingering for the right hand may be quite a problem at first. Even with a bit of habit, some low D’s challenge me, if the stretch is too wide between R2 & R3 fingerholes. Total stretch (R1–R3) seems less important, eventhough it’s the most often quoted.
The only thing I believe for sure is that offsetting the R3 (bottom hole) to the right helps a great deal. It’s standard for tenor re…ers but somehow poo-poed by whistle makers. Exceptions I know are a Breton whistlemaker (but quite a biot over your price limit) and Reyburn whistles
–see http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/ –
I’ve heard only good comments about these, and the price seems smack in the right ballpark at… $200 even. I understood you can always get in touch with the maker, and he’ll adapt his production. This being only hearsay, again…
I recently received a Low D from Mack Hoover and the finger stretch is excellent. I can play it without using piper’s grip and I don’t have large hands. I wear size medium-large men’s gloves. I’m very pleased with it. In fact, my wife says it is her new favorite whistle!
I wear size medium-large men’s gloves.
I’ve seen the ability to play low D measured in fingerspan, arm length, ring size, and now glove size. Does anybody know if one is more accurate than the others?
I have smaller hands and no probems with my Overton. Not sure it fits in your range, though, since Brigitte lists prices in Euros and I’m too lazy to look up he exchange rate.
I don’t play a low D (yet), but when I asked this question, Loren recommended a Dixon. You might do a Search through the old messages – he’s tried a ton of different whistles, so would have a valuable pov on this!
Hope that helps,
Tery
Thanks everyone. That Hoover sounds interesting. Here’s a website that has some nice tunes, plus tablature for whistle, guitar, harmonica. I think it’s unique.
(edited to add the URL!!)
I think it may be more important to know the size of the fingerholes in addition to distance between them. For example, the O’Riordan 3-piece Traveler has a longer reach than some, but is easy for me to play due to relatively small fingerholes. I find hole coverage to be more of an issue than “reach” on low Ds. Howard holes are too big for me to cover comfortably. I have small to medium hands and never had a problem with Copeland or Overton. I’ve never played the EZ. In your price range, Overton might be a good bet. IMHO, Copeland is in a league of its own at Low D and Overton is also terrific if you’re looking for that haunting overtone-laden sound.
Regards,
Philo