Overton, I have two so I can share one with others…
I agree with almost all of the nice things said about Overtons, but I would, wouldn’t I—I own nine including a low F. I also play only Bernard-made Overtons (so far) so I have no direct experience of the more commonly available Colin-made products. I do recognise my whistles in the positive (and sometimes the negative) comments though so I’m pretty sure there’s product consistency.
As far as Susatos go, there is no comparison. IM sometimes HO the high Susatos are quite good whistles but the low ones have little but cheapness going for them. One thing I’ve noticed though—while Susato lows sound a bit like recorders when I’m playing them, if I record and play back the results they sound much less so. (OK, OK, no jokes about my low quality mikes adding the chiff please. My mikes aren’t that bad.)
I can’t be wholly satisfied that my Overton gives the ultimate low-F experience though. I have a Grinter low F on order and very high expectations. Yes, I know they’re not cheap. But check out the exchange rate, you might get a pleasant surprise.
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-09-26 02:00 ]
I have no complaints with my
Susato low F, the price is right.
Please note its also my only low
whistle.
cul 73
mac
On 2002-09-25 22:25, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
Woops. I meant Susato. My bad.
Chris
Your bad??? Susato??? After all the things you’ve said about how incredible Overtons are??? Oh wait…I get it. 
[ This Message was edited by: blackhawk on 2002-09-26 04:53 ]
For a slightly dissenting opinion, my favorite low F is a tunable Kerry Pro. Reach is pretty easy, air requirements are on the easy side too - noticeably easier than any low D I’ve tried except Dixon - but you still get to lean into the upper octave a bit. Tuning is spot on. The tone is … ahhhh! 
Slightly breathy, slightly reedy, with lots of cool overtones.
Jens
I have a BO original Overton and I LOVE it! However, the only other low F I’ve played is a Grinter (take note Wombat, me old Aussie matey) and it was magnificent. Only a brief tweak, but I did make a mental note that it took the BO on and won (though the beak could’ve been narrower).
Nick
[quote]
On 2002-09-26 04:26, nickt wrote:
However, the only other low F I’ve played is a Grinter (take note Wombat, me old Aussie matey) and it was magnificent. Only a brief tweak, but I did make a mental note that it took the BO on and won (though the beak could’ve been narrower).
I’m all ears cobber. (When will they stop teasing me about my ears?) Looks like my choice was both patriotic and right on the money. Now if only I didn’t have a couple of months to wait. Oh well, I’m glad for Michael Grinter that they are in such demand.
I own an Overton Low F. Well what can be said that hasn’t been said already: It’s an absolutely awesomewhistle.
Aside from IrTrad music I also enjoy listening to Klezmer music. Never tried to play the clarinet, but I imagine the Overton Low F comes close in dynamic range. It’s fabulous to let it soar and then bring the volume back to a near whisper…
Like all Overtons it requires some pressure, but not a lot of breath. Easy to get used to and quite pleasant IMO. The tone is full, reedy and strong. It’s a very expressive whistle.
The chieftain f has a more open sound, which I like a lot.
From the high and Low D Dixon’s that I have heard I have become very curious about the Low F he makes. Perhaps that would be more in the price-range you are thinking Avanutria?
Jeroen
\
Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you.
(W. the Pooh)
[ This Message was edited by: pixyy on 2002-09-26 04:43 ]
Although I love my Overton Low F (my only low F), I wish the fingerholes were smoother under the fingers. As there has been no attempt at chamfering, I find the metal scratchy and uncomfortable.
I understand this is only the case with BO Overtons, not CG Overtons, which have chamfered holes.
If I ever got another it’s probably be a Dixon, as I love all my Dixons.
My BO Overton low F has holes that are neither scratchy nor uncomfortable. I think it was made quite recently though.
I just ordered an Overton low F, can’t wait to play it. For now I’m playing a Susato F. The sound is nice but it doesn’t play very comfortable. You hardly can feel the fingerholes + grip of the right hand is hard, espacially for fast tunes. I also have a problem with the mouthpiece, it’s quite thick. And one of the main problems is it’s soaked very quickly. So I wouldn’t recommend you a Susato. Go for the Overton, I’m already playing an Overton low D and love it, also very nice people the “Overtons”, Brigitte responds very quickly on all questions.
Cheers
I’m all ears cobber. (When will they stop teasing me about my ears?) Looks like my choice was both patriotic and right on the money. Now if only I didn’t have a couple of months to wait. Oh well, I’m glad for Michael Grinter that they are in such demand.
[/quote]
Wombat - have a chat with Michael to see if he can make the beak narrower and longer. The low D I bought from him is the best there is, but I’ve since had the beak re-shaped a bit. It’s just a bit big for your mouth and gaining optimum breath control.
I’ve only one low-F so I can’t give you a comparison. However, my composite low-F from Mike Burke is one of my favorite whistles. I usually prefer metal whistles, in fact this low-F was the first “sewer pipe” I bought and I was very hesitant to get it. However, after I bought it I found I liked it well enough that I have bought two others.
All of my Burke composite whistles have a somewhat mellow sound – not quite the “traditional” whistle attack associated with, for example, a Generation or even a Copeland, but not quite “flutey” either as there isn’t as much chiff as I usually associate with a flute.
John
On 2002-09-26 03:37, blackhawk wrote:
On 2002-09-25 22:25, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
Woops. I meant Susato. My bad.
ChrisYour bad??? Susato??? After all the things you’ve said about how incredible Overtons are??? Oh wait…I get it. >
Doh… I REALLY meant McHaffie! Yea, that’s it! McHaffie is DA BOMB!
I used to have a Cheiftain Gold F. I will someday soon have green Overton Low F to join my lonely blue Overton Low D. The Overton will be my favorite Low F.
Colin Goldie, Overton Low-F.
Why? hmmm… anything else wouldn’t be an Overton? Kind of like, anything else wouldn’t be a low whistle, it be a fipple flute. I like the timbre and tone of the Overton Low whistles. I have Mezzo-A, Alto-F, and Tenor-D overtons. I’ve had other A’s and D’s, but still prefer the O’s.
On 2002-09-26 12:09, LeeMarsh wrote:
Colin Goldie, Overton Low-F.
Why? hmmm… anything else wouldn’t be an Overton?
Actually, a Bernard Overton Overton would also be an Overton.
On 2002-09-26 12:20, nickt wrote:
On 2002-09-26 12:09, LeeMarsh wrote:
Colin Goldie, Overton Low-F.
Why? hmmm… anything else wouldn’t be an Overton?Actually, a Bernard Overton Overton would also be an Overton.
Of course! I’ve recently played an older (1980’s) Bernard Overton Overton Low-C. Still had that wonderous Big O Sound.
My point is that to my ears, the Low whistle sound is Overton (Colin or Bernard) versus the more flute like sounds of, say a Burke.
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-09-26 12:27 ]
Why are we Australians so keen on the BO Overtons while others don’t seem even to be familiar with them unless they’re ancient? Actually, I think I know but I’m not telling. (Well, not just yet anyway.)
On 2002-09-26 10:00, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
On 2002-09-26 03:37, blackhawk wrote:
On 2002-09-25 22:25, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
Woops. I meant Susato. My bad.
ChrisYour bad??? Susato??? After all the things you’ve said about how incredible Overtons are??? Oh wait…I get it. >
Doh… I REALLY meant McHaffie! Yea, that’s it! McHaffie is DA BOMB!
McHaffie, is it? I heard you were hanging up your whistles to spend the rest of your life pursuing the perfect recorder. 