Review - Reyburn Low-D Standard Bore

Whistle
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Material: Eastern Rock Maple Fipple Head and Brass Body
Bore: Standard
Key: Low D
Case: PVC Hard Shell Case (US$25.00 and worth it)
Price: US$200.00 (plus US$10.00 shipping in the U.S.)
URL: http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/

I ordered a Soprano D/C set from Ronaldo Reyburn and have been completely satisfied with it. http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=377111

Now the Sop-D’s I play about 70% of the time are the Reyburn and an African Blackwood Thin Weasel.

So I felt I should order the Reyburn Low D. I asked Ronaldo to offset the bottom hole a bit because I have smallish hands. With this adjustment I can handle a piper’s grip on the Low D’s.

Rather than one of my typical verbose reviews, I will pass on the gist of the comments I sent to Ronaldo after I received the whistle. I used my Burke Low D Pro Viper as the benchmark because it is a very satisfying whistle, and many people are familiar with it.

So you get comments, photos, and links to sound clips. Good enough.

The Reyburn Low D compared to the Burke Low D (LDPV) - the Burke has pure tone and is very easy playing - but it is not as warm and rich, or strong in the bell note as the Reyburn.

The Burke plays (fingers) easier for sure - but it’s a little thin at the bell note and is a bit like a loud goose honk at the top of the second octave. The Burke is much louder in the high octave, has more wind noise, and takes much more breath up in the second octave.

The Reyburn is more even in volume and breath requirement through both octaves, has a full and rich bell note, and the top end is still resonant and warm.

The Burke Low D is a keeper because it’s easy playing and has great character. The Reyburn Low D is a keeper because it’s a downright beautiful and well made whistle, with a luxurious voice to match.

Here’s a summary difference; the Burke Low D is brassy like a Trombone, and the Reyburn Low D is rich and warm like an Oboe.

Sound Clips:
http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/music/front-ed.mp3
http://www.reyburnlowwhistles.com/sound.html

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Great review, Daniel.

Fantastic pictures and the music clip is lovely. Now I have to seriously think about adding a Reyburn to my want list. :slight_smile:

Thanks!

Judy

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That’s a fine-looking whistle. Fine-sounding too.

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Real good write up and excellent pictures. They would look great enlarged and framed. I love that sound clip he has and would like to have the notations for it.

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My personal favorite and exclusively played Low-D is a Reyburn.
I just can’t say enough good things about it.

Truly a fantastic instrument. I use it in performances all the time. Ronaldo is a great guy as well. :slight_smile:

Doc

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I was lucky enough to get a used Reyburn LowD last month. I still
haven’t had the time to get good at the finger placement, but the
sounds I got out of it were lovely. And I love the warm Maple color
of the whistle head; it fits with the brass so nicely.

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Very nice review!

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[quote=“jkrazy52”]Great review, Daniel.
Fantastic pictures and the music clip is lovely. Now I have to seriously think about adding a Reyburn to my want list. :slight_smile:
Thanks!
Judy[/quote

Well Daniel, what kind of camera did you take the fantastic pictures with?
Now I want another whistle and a camera. :slight_smile:

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Thanks for the kind words. I’m yet a better photographer than whistler. So the sound clips are not me playing, but come from the Reyburn website.

My want list now includes an Abell, a Copeland, and a couple Bodhran (Bodhri, Bodhrans, what’s the plural form?). :smiley:

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Good question … bodhrainnan? I never got the hang of Gaelic plurals.
So irregular.

In trying to find out, though, I noticed that “bodhar” is the Gaelic word
for “deaf”. Apropos.

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Sorry Tommy, I forgot to answer your question.

The camera is a remarkably versatile Fujifilm Finepix A330. I used to make a little money as a photographer years ago, but got away from all the fancy equipment. This camera has enough flexibility and quality to take some nice pics when you get the lighting and composition right.

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Daniel, you hit it right on the head when you said that you gotta get the composition and lighting right, which you do so well! The camera isn’t gonna do that for you and your photos show your talent and expertise extremely well.

Thanks
Ronaldo

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Daniel,

Thanks for the review and pics. What a beautiful whistle! (Sigh … someday)