Requested Comparison: Sweetone D vs. Burke Al-Pro D

Whistle
1

Ok, I know this is an odd comparison, but this one is by request, so here ya go:

http://www.flutesite.com/samples/sweettone_burke.mp3

–James

2

Very interesting, as always.

Thanks, James.

Best wishes,
Jerry

3

At the risk of repeating meself: why odd? :smiley:

Was it Sweetone first then Burke?

My point is that they sound about 90% alike, even though the Burke costs about 20 times as much as the Sweetone. It’s that last 10% that hurts! :wink:

The Burke of course has a more solid sound, as expected, since the Sweetone is such a flimsy thing. Especially in the first octave. But the Sweetone’s second octave is so good, it’s hard to tell it from an expensive whistle. Or so i think. :roll:

4

Quote @ glauber

But the Sweetone’s second octave is so good, it’s hard to tell it from an expensive whistle.

I find a lot of second octaves to sound similar, to be honest. But mabey my ears are just not “there” yet.

5

I don’t think “odd” because of the prices of the whistles. I think “odd” in part because you are comparing a conical whistle, which has its own unique sets of tuning compromises built around its bore profile, to a cylindrical, which has another completely different set of tuning compromises which are dictated by its bore.

I’m just the bore who played both. :wink:

I’m sorry I didn’t specify the order of the comparison more clearly: yes, it was Sweetone first, then Burke.

There is a lot of subjective different in these whistles when playing them–the Sweetone takes a lot of control because its pitch is so dependant on breath pressure; you have a lot more leeway on the Burke for more aggressive play. Also the Burke just has the most lovely tone of any whistle I’ve yet played: smooth, creamy, never shrill, but still with some bite, lovely pure ringing tones.

The Sweetone in the comparison is my best as well as my oldest, a “Celtic” whistle with the textured green paint. It’s got a very pure tone for a Clarke and a better second octave than most other Sweetones I’ve played.

I’m glad you enjoyed the comparison. Having been the one who played it, though, I do think there is more than 10% difference in these two whistles. Now rather or not my mic in particular is able to reflect that difference accurately in the recording may be another matter.

–James

6

Very interesting. Just recently, I was playing my old Sweetone, thinking that it really sounded a lot like my Burke Aluminum D Pro. Not as refined, but similar. This recording just confirmed my suspicions.

My Sweetone has an interesting story. My youngest daughter had taken it to her room and bashed the top in a few places near the fipple, and it stopped playing well, so I gave it to her. After some more bashing, it began to really sound good. So I took it back.

Dana

7

Not “bashing,” Dana…tweaking is the word. Yeah, that’s it… :wink:

–James

P.S. Come to think of it, one of my best Gen D’s has a goodly-sized indent in the tube. Maybe you’re on to something here… :sunglasses:

8

James, all ll I know is, that my bashed (tweaked) Sweetone sounds much better than the non-bashed one I’d gotten to replace it.

Dana