I recently pulled out my year old VSB Susato to use as an expendable rough and tumble travel/car whistle. I am one who actually likes most all Susatos, but the irritating nasal quality of the VSB tone irked me when I first got it and I virtually never played it.
I am not sure whether it is the absence making my heart fonder, whether my playing has improved over the ensuing year, or whether the small bore has an acoustical effect, but , damn, it sounds crisp. Still nasal but crans and rolls are much more staccato and well articulated on the VSB compared immediately with a Burke, a Dixon, and a Clarke. So it must be the small bore.
I just recently got a flat uilleann chanter, and such is the case with a flat set as compared to a concert pitch set: ornamentation is much easier and defined with the smaller tone holes. So is that the case with a small bore whistle? I must say that this Vsb Susato has certainly grown on me with time. RCM
Hi Murph
The reason for the “crispness”, as you put it, is the increased velocity and higher pressure of the aircolumn within a narrow bore instrument. This equates to faster response at all levels. Narrow bores also relieve breath fatigue(unless the voicing window is oversized).
The “nasal” tone you describe is due to the narrow bore favoring low frequency harmonics as opposed to the airey ethereal(hollow) tone of a large bore instrument that favors high frequency harmonic tone color.
Thomas, have I mentioned recently that I’m really really happy your back on C&F???
Dear Thomas: Thanks for the reply. Exactly what I wanted to know. This will save me from searching for some other less-nasal narrow bore whistle. It’s all in what you are searching for as to your sound. At present, I am in a stacatto, tight fingering period in both pipes and whistles. Enough of this ethereal haunting romanticism! At present, I am a hard edged realist. Bring on the low frequency harmonics and high velocity attack! But forgive my nasality. Thanks again. RCM
I’m glad to see Thomas back, too. Not enough to start discussing ceramic flugelhorn-bugles, but certainly glad to discuss ocarinas or argols or even racketts.
And if you want a super-sweet, absolute eye-candy whistle with a small bore, you might look into a Grinter. It’s the most crisp whistle I own.
My Burke Al Pro Narrow Bore is as incisive and crisp as my Susato VSB, but without the nasal quality. Something about the Burke design apparently minimizes the ampliltude of the the odd-numbered harmonic overtones.
Thank you all for your kind words and support. I understand that I am an eclectic idiot-savant when it comes to woodwinds, but it helps with my WADD’s(Whistle-attention-deficite-disorder). I tend to “drift” and I rely on all of you to keep me “grounded”! 
Ridseard: Subtle variations in voicing window dimensions, ramp angle in this case, can minimize the stacatto “string” sound caused by sequential frequency “drop-outs”(nasal/gutteral sound) of every 5th,7th or 11th cycle etc.. Shallow angled labium ramps tend to be unstable and increasing this angle slightly, for instance, could stabilize and smooth out the tone.