Ok, I just got done reading a bunch of past threads related to this, but I have to ask it again before I order:
I’m between a Sindt and a Burke. I’m looking for a whistle that’s got a clean round tone (not too much chiff) and has minimal easy air requirements.
Which model of Burke gets the roundest, cleanest tone?
The key I’m looking at is somewhere between B, Bb, or A.
Opinions?
Thanks,
Joey
edit: I wanna add that I’m also looking for something LOUD
hmmm…Bb is between A and B…any more betweens and you’re looking at an alien scale!
(sorry Joey…I’m being a schnook…I can only speak for the Burke composite, and will leave more useful replies to those with broader knowledge bases.)
Can you just up and order a Sindt? I thought that was one of those hard-to-get whistles.
THAT’S WHY I’M ASKING!!!
Anyone know of a good whistle in the key between B and Bb? You wouldn’t guess, but’s it’s really hard to find. The maker who starts offering one is sitting on a GOLD MINE.
the Bb(1/2#)
the B1.5b
the B(>)b
OK, but seriosly, I wanna expand this to include a low G, as well. I forgot I play with a hammered dulcimer guy sometimes…
It seems like there was someone making retrofit heads that supposidly sounded like sindt. You might do a search for “sindt” and “retrofit” and see what you find.
The Sindt is the better whistle. You are looking at an 8 months wait. Get on the waiting list now, if you don’t like it you can sell it without a loss. John Sindt’s lowest whistle is an A.
I have a Burke brass pro session B that is an absolute gem. Highly recommended!
His nick is raindog1970, Gary Humphrey
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=18520
I haven’t played one of those, so I can’t comment.
My Burke AlPro Bb is a treasure. It is the only Bb I use, regularly. I have only played a Sindt, one time. It was a fine instrument. The lack of cross-fingering capability in the D model kept me from considering it. I have no idea whether the Bb model has the same challenge…
When all is said and done, I am a card-carrying, rubber-stamped afficianado of Mike Burke’s instruments. Considering your professed needs, you cannot go wrong with his Bb…
Best.
Byll
As I’ve posted before, in my opinion the Burke Composite’s are outstanding. If you can’t see spending the money for an expensive wooden whistle (I haven’t played a Copeland A or G but want to) then the Burke Composite comes as close as you’ll get. Obviously this is just my opinion but I currently own Bflat and A Abells, G O’Riodan, G Composite Burke, and F Composite Burke. I’ve also owned Bflat and A Sindts and an A Composite Burke and a G Al Pro. I like the Burkes over the Sindts but that has nothing to do with the quality of the whistle. I like a different sound but that’s such a personal issue that it’s hard to tell which you might like better. Both makers are outstanding to work with and make whistles of exceptional quality. You can’t sit on a Burke Composite though. 
If you have a chance try both, it would might help you decide. I’ve got my Burke Composite G lent out right now or I’d send it to you to try. I suspect that the brass Burkes would also be something I would like. I found the Al Pro Burke models more pure than I like but again that gets back to what you want. I went through a period when the “more pure the better.” I find the composite more complex and more interesting. Hopefully the variety of opinions you get here will put the Sindt and the Burkes in perspective…or just confuse you. 
take care
jim d
Hey, if you’re looking for something LOUD, the Burke will be louder than the Sindt, any model, I’m pretty sure about it. I got a narrow bore alluminium which is still much louder than the Sindt.
The Sindt is the better whistle when you need a relatively quiet whistle, but I love my Burke narrow bore a lot for louder sessions.
Wow, Bloomie, isn’t that a bit out of character for you? “This brand whistle is better than that one” with no qualifications, no reference to keys, purposes or preferences of the buyer?
For my money, both the Sindt and Burke black tip soprano D and C whistles are among the best out there (although the Sindt D is too thin for my physical comfort whilst playing), but the Sindt bflat and A did not impress me at all. I was equally unimpressed with a Burke Al-pro low G; the latter three were just, well, boring. Haven’t tried the Burke Bflat or A.
Regards,
Philo
What key does the dulcimer player play in when he’s not hammered?
Unlike Philo’s my Burke Alpro low G is a nice whistle.
Just to throw more fuel in the fire, the Generation Bb is considered one of the best Generations. I have one, even untweaked, that’s really a nice whistle.
Burke x Sindt is a little bit like Presbyterians x Lutherans. They’re both good whistles but have different sounds. Some prefer the purer sound of the Burke, some prefer the rougher sound of the Sindt. Also, Lutherans are happier and generally have more fun.
To complicate, there are several models of Burkes (alpro, brass sessionpro, narrow bore, composite…) but just one Sindt.
The best for you would be to try both whistles and decide, but if this isn’t possible i’m sure either one would make you happy at least until the next attack of WhOa.
g
I like both Burke Al Pros and Sindts. The keys in which I have both are D and C. The Sindt clearly has the edge in D whistles, but my Burke is older than my Burkes in other keys and I think Michael has improved the design. My Burke C is probably my favourite C whistle, and I have Overton, Abell and Sindt each of which I like very much. My preference here is probably for the individual whistle and can’t be taken as a reliable prediction about what you will get; even with high-enders there is individual variation between whistles and you can get a dud although it’s very likely that John or Mike would work on any problem you have if you tell them. All of the whistles I have mentioned are very playable and will do the job.
Sindts are a bit more like Generations than Burkes which have a pure round tone. They can both be sweet but it’s a different kind of sweetness. When you get down to B and below, a Sindt can have a kind of cloudiness, as can a Generation. At first, I found this a very unpleasant and disappointing sound—like an Overton without presence. Then I got used to my A/Bb combo and the whistles became brighter and the cloudiness was just a hint of ‘character’ in the sound. I now love those whistles.
Me too FWIW
waitingame
I’ve sampled a few Bb whistles, from the Generations to Sindt, via Abell and some more. However, I regret I never had a mezzo or alto Copeland.
Asking for a round tone with less chiff, go Burke, not Sindt. This, eventhough the Sindt is the one with least air requirement.
Now, I have an old, used, Burke Bb “composite” and it’s the best I ever had. Its only flaw to me is it weighs too little, but I manage.
You’re looking for a clear, round tone. Which whistle fits you better may depend on whether you prefer clear or round. In the range you’re looking, my experience is that the Sindt has a clearer tone. The Sindt A is the purest sounding whistle I’ve played this side of a Rose. The Burke has a fuller, rounder tone, though, while still quite clear. The Sindt really didn’t do much for me, although there are quite a few out there who swear by Jon’s A and Bflat whistles. The Burke B (mine is composite) is a fantastic whistle with an incredibly full, warm tone. The A AlPros I’ve played are also very full and pure with just a touch of sweetness. They can also be pushed harder toward the bottom of the lower octave than the Sindts I’ve owned.
Hehehe. I was waiting for someone to call me on it. You’re right, of course, but I wasn’t in a reasonable mood. 
And anyway, people always look at me like I’m some sort of skin disease for saying that I find the Burkes unexciting and boring (no, I haven’t tried all of them). Also, someone recently mentioned to me that no on the chiffboard seems to take issue with Mike Burke’s pricing. We know the Burkes are mashined in a shop, not hand made, yet they are more expensive than Sindts (which are hand made by John Sindt), and not really much cheaper than Overtons (but for the exchange rate at the moment), which are also entirely hand made. I kinda agree. So, part of me feels that Burke can charge whatever he can get away with, and part of won’t buy one because they’re overpriced (and a bit boring).
I wouldn’t consider Sindts to be any more or less ‘hand made’ than Burkes.
Both makers machine the parts and then assemble them by hand… Burkes are just a more complicated in design, and thus require more machining than Sindts.