I’m just not particularly interested in high-end plastic whistles. (Or wood either, for that matter.)
Ocean,
I have a Water Weasel, Silkstone PVC and an Alba (not in your list). Unfortunately, I haven’t added a Burke to the list … yet. 
For my preferences I would rank them: 1. Alba 2. Water Weasel 3. Silkstone PVC
I like a pure (to me) tone without a lot of raspiness (chiff?). I actually like my Dixons better than the Water Weasel or the Silkstone; but I wouldn’t describe their sound as haunting. I think one problem you may be having here is everyone has different definitions of the qualities you want. I put the Alba & Water Weasel above the Silkstone - my niece prefers the Silkstone to the Alba, with the Water Weasel in 1st place. Some think wooden whistles are the only answer, others aluminum, brass, copper, plastic, etc. Opinions around here are as varied as snowflakes. 
As for “physical” quality - if I understand what you want here - Water Weasel and Silkstone are both very well made. I ranked them due to my preferences in tone.
You might want to check out Elfsong Whistles too. Another choice in metal is a silver Tully Whistle. The sound clips (Tully) are beautiful, IMO - but a 2 year wait, I think. Sorry I’m not really helping much, am I? 
Happy hunting!
~Judy
PS This link leads to several interesting sites, if you’re not already familiar with it. http://www.cbel.com/tin_whistle_instruments/
Of course you’re correct. However, as I get opinions from various people, certain similarities and common points of opinion pop up - which are helpful to me. For example, no one who has played or heard a Water Weasel has said that they hated it, or was even indifferent to it. It seems that everyone who has actually heard one in person or who has played it has only good things to say about it. There’s not much difference of opinion there.
In addition, as people explain their opinions, it helps me understand their own particular point of view on them. So, if someone tells me that they only like instruments that have the volume to stand out in a loud session - I can understand why they might rate a Susato above a Burke, and I can put their opinion in context.
As such, the opinions and recommendations of everyone is still very important, and still very useful. Which is exactly as it should be. After all, if that wasn’t the case - why would anyone actually bother to respond to any posts on this board? One could justify staying silent by claiming that it won’t matter anyway - as there will always be differing opinions.
You are most definitely helping, as is everyone else who has been kind enough to chime in on this thread! At this point, I think I will purchase either (or both) a Burke Aluminum Narrow Bore and/or a Water Weasel. Unfortunately, Glenn’s domain (thinweasel.com) expired on 11/7/2004 - and it doesn’t look like he’s gotten that taken care of yet.
I’m familiar with some of the sites on that link, but not with the link itself - which contains sites I haven’t seen yet. Thanks for the info!
And again, thanks for all of your help!
Glenn’s old page, http://www.thinweasel.nu, is still up there. I’m not sure if any of the contact info on it is current, though. Has anyone tried that phone number recently?
I have one, and don’t particularly like it. I played it for ten minutes when I first got it as part of a trade, and then put it away. I do love my Dixon, though. I got it as one of my first whistles and I still love it. Everyone has different tastes.
Absolutely true. May I ask what it was about the Water Weasel that you didn’t like?
Hi Ocean
I’ve had a pvc (red) D Silkstone and a C, D, Eb Water Weasel set for some years now (I’ve also got the A&Bb set too, but that’s probably irrelevant).
They’re both ‘comfortable’ whistles, both well finished and both made by craftsmen.
I think the WW is slightly louder, but Paul Hayward did tell me he had voiced this particular whistle to be slightly quieter so the reverse may be true normally.
I always think that the sound of the WW is purer, with the Silkstone having a more ‘reedy’ sound but maybe that only applies to the bottom three notes anyway, and it’s very very subjective.
I definitely do think the WW has better holes for bending and slurring notes, probably due to the crisp edges rather than the slightly rounded painted ones on the Silk. I think the WW is better behaved in the second octave although if you remember to blow harder on the Silk then it’s fine. For that reason the WW takes less air to play. There’s a bit of a tuning slide on the WW whereas my Silkstone’s one pce.
I hardly ever play any WW but the D and Bb, as an ear player I’m quite happy to change key altogether from the one written. The Bb’s nice for being that little bit less shrill for others in close proximity. I like my Generation Bb, mind!
Hope these ramblings help a little. Must go and watch Time Team!
j.i.
It sounds sharp to me. Sometimes I take it out and play it briefly and think, “Hey, that’s not too bad.” Then after a minute or two I’m thinking “Oh, that’s right, now I remember why I never play this one.”
OK, my desire for archaeology is sated for the day, and I’ve just played the two whistles for 30 mins, swapping back and forth, jigging, reeling and slow airing.
They really are remarkably similar in sound, almost identical at times - from my perpective as player anyway. The second octave is virtually indistinguishable in tone and the lower range has the differences I noted before, ‘purer’ for the WW and ‘reedy’ or more overtones for the Silk. And I stand by my observation of the WW needing slightly less air in the higher octave than the Silkstone.
I like 'em both. If I had to part with one then it’d probably be the… Silkstone… maybe. Prob’ly. I think.
j.i.
I suggest a Burke (or a Sindt for similar reasons) as a pre-premium whistle. The reason is that as you learn to play better, you will have more and more breath control and start to develop a sense of what you want. The Burkes are moderately priced and pretty reliable, have decent resale value and very few people dislike them outright. Some of the other brands mentioned have more detractors.
I havent played a Water Weasel in three years. I ordered one, returned it, got another and returned it. In those days, it was not smooth to me, had a jarring upper octave and it was disliked by the fiddler I was playing with at the time. FWIW, Glenn Schultz was very honorable and friendly in my exchanges. I have played his premium whistles at Lark In the Morning and still just did not care for them even tho’ they are beautifully made.
Maybe now, after a few years, I would have a different opinion of them. But when you are talking about whistles that are even more expensive , you might just make do with the Burke for a while and save some bux.
I am not sure why you would want narrow bore. The regular AlPros and Brass Pros are very user-friendly. I have seven of them. That said, I am officially thinkin’ about getting a more premium whistle. Lixnaw swears by the composite. I played one and liked it. I like the Alpro but some folks find it too bright.
Once you have developed a strong set of likes and dislikes, I think JessieK would be wonderfully helpful in steering you toward something. Not to volunteer her, but she has always been generous in this fashion. But as I say, it helps to try a range of cheapies and start to get an idea of what you like before turning to her advice as it will be more specific then.
Good luck!!
I’m surprised no-one’s mentioned the obvious: Ask a maker to build you a whistle to your specifications.
In your first post you said you wanted:
Which are pretty much the main characteristics of my Busman. I was going to chime in with a recommendation but then later you said:
Why the disparity between your opinions and mine? Well, I asked Paul to make me a whistle possessing certain qualities. He did.
Perhaps the soundclips you heard were from a whistle someone asked to be breathy, or flat, or with no ‘richness’ in the sound (whatever that means).
If you know what you want in a whistle, and are capable of articulating those requirements to a maker so that he or she can understand them, you’ll get what you want. And it’ll be unique to boot.
Or you can keep buying whistles in the hope of finding one that possesses the important qualities you’re looking for.
Makers are really extraordinary people; they do what they do for the love of it. There are plenty of them on the board, I’m sure if you asked them they’d be happy to work with you.
Thanks, Jay-eye! That was definitely helpful (especially the information about the holes, and the effect that has on bending). 
Good to know. I’ll keep it in mind when I evaluate it.
Between the sound clips I found, as well as the comments from everyone in this thread (as well as others), I ordered a Burke.
I may also pick up a Water Weasel and comparing the two - if they’re different in complimentary ways, I plan on keeping both.
My understanding was that you lost a bit of the purity, sweetness, and brightness when moving from the Narrow Bore to the Session.
Is that not correct?
Good to know. And thanks for the well wishes!
Paul PM’d me and confirmed that the sound clip I referenced was for a much older generation whistle - and that the current ones aren’t nearly as breathy.
I listened to a more recent set of samples, but the sound just didn’t appeal to me. I freely admit that my opinion may radically change if and when I ever hear one in person. But from the clips, it just wasn’t for me.
It’s definitely a possibility.
But between the recommendations and comments of people in this (and other) threads, as well as Joanie’s recommendations - I decided to try a Burke to start with. I’m sure that I’ll continue to purchase others as well, as each whistle offers its own unique qualities of sound and performance, and music is about nothing, if not variety.