I know there’s a myriad opinions on the subject but I am in the throes of trying to figure out what to do about a new whistle.
I am now in the market for a higher end whistle but I’m not sure which one to go for.
I don’t like a lot of chiff. I never play my Clark original or Shaw because of the windiness. I like the sound of the Susato D for that very reason but the upper register is a pain and kills my ears.
As I see it here are my choices:
Overton. I played one of these once and really liked the sound.
Personal suggestion…Burke. It was my first high end, and is still one of my absolute fave’s. Very little chiff, but nice overtones, easy to play, not a terrible amount of backpressure. I have no preference for brass or aluminum: brass either tarnishes or needs to be polished. Absolute most bang for the buck, but not as loud as the Copeland or Overton.
I find the Copeland needs more attention on the high end. To me its a more flutey and less whistley sound, but really lush and nice. The Overton takes fortitude. There is a lot of backpressure.
Of those you mention, the Burke is the only one that fits your description of what you like. Overton is as chiffy as they get, Copeland pretty chiffy/breathy, Chieftain somewhere between. The Burke is, to me anyway, the easiest to play of them, too.
Elfsong. Little chiff, no windiness, sweet second octave, rich timbre, low breath requirements. Oh yes…and visually stunning.
Only potential downside: It’s not loud, so if you’re looking for a session whistle, Elfsong isn’t what you’re after. If you’re looking for a soloist’s instrument, however…
If you’re interested in learning more about Elfsongs, there are several reviews and general impressions on the board…using the “search” feature with the key word “Elfsong” or “Elf Song” should net you a lot of information (in fact, one was just posted yesterday, and is probably still on the front page here).
I don’t like a lot of chiff. I never play my Clark original or Shaw because of the windiness. I like the sound of the Susato D for that very reason but the upper register is a pain and kills my ears.
Susato VSB - breathiness/chiff virtually non-existent, and not too loud in the upper register.
Burke Brass Pro Session - beautiful, rich but chiffless tone, not too loud, comfortable breath requirements, good responsiveness.
Burke Brass Pro Narrow Bore - Similar to the Session but with a slightly purer tone and lower breath requirements.
As you’ve probably figured out by now, we all have our favorites…and it can get a bit confusing! Now that you’ve got some feedback, here’s what I would suggest to narrow your search:
Use the “search” feature here to find discussion about the whistles that particularly interest you…both those you were initially drawn to and those you may be interested in as a result of this thread.
Read extensively about each whistle you’re interested in. Understanding that preferences are often highly subjective, look especially for consistency in description…for example, if a lot of people describe a whistle as having high breath requirements, that’s more useful to you than if only one person describes it as such. Also look for distinctions that may help you choose one over the other…for example, do you prefer a whistle that’s heavier or lighter in weight? Is there a particular material or color you’re drawn to? Factors such as these can help you decide between one “pure toned” whistle and another.
Read the reviews on the C&F homepage as well.
There’s no substitute for listening (unless it’s actually playing the whistles you’re interested in, but that can be logistically difficult). Visit the “Tin Whistle Tunes” page and see if you can find clips played on the whistles you’re interested in. Bear in mind that sound quality can vary quite a bit, depending on recording equipment, enhancements, the individual player’s ability, etc., and try to listen to as many clips of each whistle as you can.
This is how I go about deciding on a new whistle, and so far it’s stood me in really good stead.
I have a Burke Brass Pro and I like it very much. It’s sound is clean and pure. It does take a bit of wind because I detect no back pressure and the top three notes are on the shrill side. IMO
The really nice thing about getting the Burke was that there was no waiting list.