Hello, as you can probably see, I am new to the Chiff and Fipple forums (although I have used the site before). I have been playing a Clarke since I started playing, and would like to move on to a higher-quality whistle. I have pretty much settled on the Burke after days of agonizing searching, but now there are different materials to choose from! I’m sort of leaning towards the aluminum, but on the Irish Flute Store’s youtube video comparing them, it seemed that the aluminum was having some troubles getting the low notes out. Has anyone experienced this? Also, does the Burke company have a return policy? It doesn’t say anything on their website. Any other comments/suggestions on Burke whistles would be helpful.
Jim is right. I have several Burkes in all three materials and the Burke aluminums are fine on the low notes, but in my experience do require a bit more control than the brass, which I find to be more forgiving. The brass can take more push, and my brass session remains solid well past the point where my aluminum would begin to jump the octave. The aluminum is great…I just have to use a slightly different approach when playing it and back off a bit more.
In Doc’s video, he has the least trouble with the brass, which bears out my own experience with Mike’s whistles.
According to the information sheet included with his whistles:
LIMITED WARRANTY: Full refund if whistle is returned within 30 days of receipt, less shipping charges, or free postage on first exchange within 30 days of receipt.
I love my aluminum D narrow bore…no issues on any of the notes. I also second irishflutestore.com . In addition to good prices on good whistles, you get the pleasure of dealing with our favorite whistling veterinarian.
I have a few of Mike’s whistles in both brass and aluminum. I think a person can adjust to either rather easily in terms of playing. I think it depends on what kind of tone you are looking for. The brass and aluminum sound very different from each other to my ear. The brass is very warm, rich, and mellow. The aluminum sounds a little “cooler” and crisper. (Anyone who can describe the differences better than I - PLEASE jump in here.) I tend to prefer the sound of brass and that’s with all whistles, not just Mike’s, but that’s just me. But, sometimes I’m looking for a cooler, crisper sound and aluminum does that for me, so I like to have some of both.
I have a brass and love it. Many folks I know prefer the aluminum because they believe it’s a little more responsive. It’s also significantly lighter, if that’s important.
My advice is don’t buy a used Burke because the design has been improved recently and the new Burkes play better / sound better than the old ones. What I saw on Doc’s store recently were old style with a narrower slide.
I played a mess 'o Burkes at the Dublin I-Fest in August & bought a brass session D for $190. My previous whistle was a Clark Meg. All the Burkes I played were very good, but I settled on brass for the warmer sound and the session over the narrow bore because I figured in time I’d want the session whistle anyway. I kind of liked the narrow bore sound better - tad sweeter.
Aluminum Burkes do like all other Burkes on the low end (and the high), just beautifully.
There are some subtle tonal characteristics due to the materials but no performance characteristics. The Aluminums IMO are a bit purer in tone than the brass or the composite.
