Just thought I would share my thoughts on the new whistles I received recently. Why you ask? Do I really think you care? Well, no, but my wife won’t listen to me talk about them and you at least can choose not to read this! That said, for those with the fortitude to press on, please keep in mind that every statement that follows should be prefaced with IM not quite so HO.
The first whistle to show up at my doorstep after my Whoa spree was an Overton Low A. One just can’t help but be impressed with the shear girth and length of the thing! (I was briefly worried that some might think I was trying to over compensate for other areas, but I digress 
) Having never played an Overton before, I was anxious to hear the famous Overton tone and was not disappointed, however this particular whistle had a massive amount of backpressure, even on the low octave. Indeed after closer inspection I found that the windway had been deliberately narrowed by way of pushing the plate on the underside of the mouthpiece in. I don’t know if this was done when it was made or if it was done after but it certainly looked like it was done on purpose. Now I can, in a logical way, see the point of wanting to make a large whistle take less air to play, but I personally felt silly blowing so hard into such a big whistle and getting so little sound (volume). So off to ebay it went.
Next tube to arrive at my door contained another Overton, this time a Low C. This one thankfully has a normal size windway, with backpressure in the upper octave but not overly so. I was amazed at the size difference in both the length and bore between a Low C and D. I found this whistle to be more finicky to play, requiring a lot of breath control. I’m a bit disappointed with the tone, as it is breathier than I would have expected from an Overton. I’m determined to give this whistle more time for me to become accustomed/acquainted with it, so I’m trying to keep from forming any firm opinions yet.
Another day, another tube, one more chance for Overton. Next was the staple of low whistles, the Overton Low D. It’s hard for me to talk about the Overton without comparing it to the Low D I have been playing for years, a Chieftain OS, so I won’t. I will start by saying that I love my Chieftain, and will certainly admit to a bias from the get go. (as mentioned in a previous post, I have tried a new model Chieftain low D but preferred my OS, even though the new style is a fine instrument) The first noticeable difference was in the weight, the Overton being considerably lighter and more “aluminum” feeling, where my Chieftain looks and feels like a heavy steel pipe. I can certainly see the benefits of a lighter whistle for longer playing sessions, but I like the sturdier feel of the Chieftain. The Overton certainly had a cleaner, sweeter tone, with an awesome, resonant low D note. However, when played side by side, the Chieftain has a darker more complex tone. I would not say that one was better than the other, just different. The Chieftain was also by far a much louder whistle. I want to say that the Chieftain also plays easier in the second octave, but this may be that I am just more accustomed to it’s air pressure demands than the Overton’s, which does have a bit more backpressure. Unfortunately, I had bought the Overton Low D used, and when it arrived I was very disappointed to see that it was not in good shape, with allot of long scratches around the finger holes and some noticeable dings on the finger hole edges. It looked like someone had played it while wearing rings on their fingers! So I did not keep the whistle, though I would have if it had been in better condition.
With two out of three strikes, It was with a bit of trepidation that I opened the fourth and final tube once again left on my doorstep (God only knows what the UPS man was thinking). Thankfully I was in for a pleasant surprise. In my hands was a used Kerry low D. Yes, the old huge black plastic head beginners low D from Kerry whistles. I originally went looking for one of these awhile back after hearing Phil Hardy play one on one of the many movie clips off his excellent website. I liked the audible difference in tone colors between the Kerry and the Chieftain, again, not better or worse, just different. And indeed the Kerry does have a darker and warmer sound than my Chieftain. As well as being very chiffy, it is also quieter, which makes it an ideal practice whistle. The bore is shorter and wider, making it easier for beginners I would imagine, though the bottom finger spread is still considerable. I had given up on finding a Kerry as all the online distributors were out of stock. Phil had some in, but the new ones have blue plastic heads instead of black (an aesthetic no-no), so I decided to hold out for a used one. I didn’t have long to wait for one to pop up on ebay, and I only paid $70 for it, considerably less than its $130 new price tag. It does take a little more concentration when jumping octaves to keep from squawking, with a noticeable issue going from Cnat and D, but nothing that cannot be overcome. So it’s with much chagrin that I find I am most happy with the cheapest of my purchases. Not that I think the Kerry is better than an Overton (that would get me kicked off the forum for sure 
) Just that the Kerry more closely met my personal expectations of what I would get for my money.
My next whistle purchase will be a Dixon plastic low D. I want to add a plastic whistle to my collection, and the Dixon’s looked better than the Susato’s. I’m currently holding off ordering as I want to get another whistle with it, but cannot decide if I want a Reviol or an Overton. Congats if you made it this far through my rant, you must really love whistles or have allot of time on your hands! 
Kevin