I bought my first low whistle many years ago at a gift shop in Duluth Minnesota. It was one of many in a barrel that I must have tried fifteen of them to make my selection. About 18’’ long wood tube,oriental markings, with six holes and sounded good to me. I might make a lamp of it now.
I made my second low d of pvc pipe in a few hours (?) each day for a few days. I think now I would tell anyone starting low d whistle to just buy one from jubilee music www.tinwhistles.us and start playing right away.
I had fun making mine but if you just want to play Dans price for a pvc whistle is great and pvc is a tough whistle.
Howard,Burke,Overton,Copeland low ds are all fine whistles each with a differant tone. If I were to start again and hear each one not knowing the price, name or reputation I do not know the one I would prefer. They all play at what I consider as a music instrument. For me the hole spacing is not an issue as I am able to use the pipers grip on each. The howard has the most back pressure that I like and with dupnol and turning the head over the clogging just drips on me or the floor and does not hinder playing. I tried to clog the other three but could not.
I had the Copeland two weeks ago for a few days and had to send it back after UPS bent it. It still played with a great tone but for me it took a volume of air with not much back pressure. I have Burke and Overton now and the tune I test them all with is Rosin Dubh. I can play the most meassures without a breath with the Howard but the others also sound so good. This is giving me a new understanding of WHOA.