I like Clarkes because they’re kind of nice and airy sounding, which is good for slower tunes and great on sad ones, but I’d like a brighter, rounder sounding whistle for faster things. Preferably not too expensive and not squeaky. Not plastic would be good but might be too much to ask since I don’t want an expensive one either.
OAK!
If it is squeeky…it’s the player’s fault…for not tweeking it, and for not ordering about 5, so you can get a good one.
JP
I’ve got a Clare in Brass and it’s all good. I hear Nickel ones are better for faster tunes, though, never tried it myself.
For a pure and bright sound, my recommendation is Sweetone or Jerrytone. Or Water Weasel if $70 is within your price range. Mack Hoover’s whistles also come to mind, but my experience so far is with his quiet whistles only; i’m sure the louder ones are very good too.
One more… just thought of it. “O’Brian Improved”. He takes a Feadog and reworks the voicing. About $35 at The Whistle And Drum. Exceptionally fast and great sounding whistle, with the kind of chiff that i like.
The problem these days is not finding a good whistle, it’s getting one of the so many options and sticking with it long enough so you learn how to play it.
The Weasel and probably the Hoover are going to be louder than the cheaper alternatives, but in terms of sound, any one of these should keep you happy.
However a Hoover CPVC? Not too expensive.
I think Oaks are a good bet, or a Generation or Feadog.
The Elfsong is still my top pick, but they’re like 75 bucks. I think they’re worth it, I haven’t had the desire to buy another whistle since getting one last summer. 
A good Generation would fit the bill but be prepared to buy several and be prepared to tweak.
If you are going to pay more I’d recommend a Syn. If you are going to pay even more, I’d recommend a Sindt which is the cheapest outstanding high-end whistle. It’s in a different league from other whistles in its price range, as is the Burke if you want to spend a bit more again. My Syn is a very early prototype which I haven’t yet sent back to Erle for upgrading, but I’m confident that it beats anything in its price range hands down too.
Susato. Too bad it’s plastic.
… and sounds like a recorder! 
Oak.
(I recently bought a really nice one. I tried every one in the store first. Nice clerk! There’s a little tab in the lid of the plastic box that fits into the mouthpiece and keeps the whistle facing forward in the box. Don’t forget to put them back in place).
I have two favorites for cheapie whistles. Clarke classic and Dixon non-tuneable. When I want to just have fun, I reach for the Clarke. If I want to play a little faster, or to sound out a little more, I go for the Dixon.
I would characterize the sound as round, pleasant, full, and carrying. Susato (I do like mine, by the way) is more penetrating and cleaner in tone. I regard Dixon as being a fine choice for what you are wanting. Take my advice with a grain of salt, though. I have never played Oak, I don’t tweak my whistles, and the only Sindt I have played was a Bb.
Oh, you will want to know that the Dixon is plastic. But it doesn’t sound plasticky. Actually had a real flautist surprised to learn it was plastic, once. She assumed from the sound that it was wood. But it doesn’t sound like my actual wood whistles. Huh. Go figure.
-Patrick
I go along with the Syn. Best whistle for the money bar none. You might also like a Jerry tweeked Shaw. One of my favorites. Since I got into the flute thing I have gotten rid of most of my “high end” whistles. The only one I have left is my Parkhurst combo D/Eb. Best Eb whistle I have ever played. A Syn combo D/Eb which is exalent and my set of Gens. I still have my Oak which I bought 25 years ago and have been fidling with it for almost a year now and am still not happy with it. They are all great whistles once you get to know them. I do miss my Hoover cpvc. That was an exilent whistle also just what your looking for sound wise. Anyway buying whistles is great fun and you can`t go wrong with any of the whistles mentioned so far. In my humble opinion that is.
Tom
The first whistles that come to mind keeping in mind your parameters (full bright sound and responsive) are those in the mid-range pricewise - Burke, Elfsong, and Sindt. All three are great whistles, and I think the Elfsong and Sindt are about $75 and the Burke about $120. (I say mid-range because of the really highend Copeland, Abell, and Schultz for example).
I’m sort of in the minority on the Board when it comes to the cheapies - I do not like Sweetone, Oak, Syn or Shaw and am not that crazy about the improved Feadog. I actually like the Clarke original, gens, and Walton.
Have fun!
Regards,
PhilO
I started with a Clarke Classic C. A Walton makes a nice complimentary whistle. I describe the Walton as brighter, and louder, and that is before reading your post. According to the tuner program’, my Walton came out of the box a bit too high in frequency. Loosening the fipple and sliding it back 3mm, made it closer to true. My Clarke is almost dead on as far as being in tune.
The WhistleShop pairs a Clarke Sweetone with a Clare in a starter kit because the two whistles are different. Clares do not get much mention, but the folks at the Whistleshop could have choosen any starter whistles for the kit.
’ free tuner program (for PC with microphone)
http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~tuner/tuner_e.html
I’ll go along with the recommendations for the Improved Feadog, Sweetone/Jerrytone, and Susatos (I like the VSB better in key of D).
save.
Resins, tins is futile, your sweet will be laminated. 
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/whistles.html
As good as they are, I don’t recommend Improved Feadogs any more. There is another member of this board who doesn’t play hers because she claims that it is ‘squeaky.’ Unless she got a bad one, it’s likely that she’s just blowing too hard. It is almost the opposite of a Clarke as regards breath control.
I don’t think the Jerry/Sweetone has a ‘round’ tone, but that’s a matter of opinion. It is a good whistle, especially the Jerry version.
The VSB is one of the best-playing whistles there is, IMO, but the tone is not exactly what I would call ‘round.’ It is kind of reedy and thin sounding but not at all unpleasant. In fact, I like the tone better than that of the Sweetone.
The SB Susato has a rounder, fuller tone, but it’s harder to play. However, the SB might be just the ticket for someone who is used to blowing a Clarke.
I’m inclined to agree with Ridseard that my tweaked Sweetones aren’t quite what you’re looking for. I think one of my tweaked Shaws might fill the bill, though. I’m sitting here tweaking a batch as we speak (so to speak).
Best wishes,
Jerry
Ridseard wrote:
[/quote]As good as they are, I don’t recommend Improved Feadogs any more. There is another member of this board who doesn’t play hers because she claims that it is ‘squeaky.’ Unless she got a bad one, it’s likely that she’s just blowing too hard. It is almost the opposite of a Clarke as regards breath control.
I don’t think the Jerry/Sweetone has a ‘round’ tone, but that’s a matter of opinion. It is a good whistle, especially the Jerry version.
The VSB is one of the best-playing whistles there is, IMO, but the tone is not exactly what I would call ‘round.’ It is kind of reedy and thin sounding but not at all unpleasant. In fact, I like the tone better than that of the Sweetone.
The SB Susato has a rounder, fuller tone, but it’s harder to play. However, the SB might be just the ticket for someone who is used to blowing a Clarke.
[quote]
I guess I’m not sure what a round tone is exactly. I kinda thought the Susatos and Sweetones were bright though. However, my opinion is of course subjective and may not agree with anyone else’s.
This can only mean one thing: you’ll just have to try them all! 
(I’m pretty good at rationalizing buying more whistles).