To get back to this subject…I think perhaps we could create a data base of meaningful feedback and comparison of various whistle make and type with agreed upon areas of comparison and criteria along each area. For example:
I. Appearance/Materials/Fit and Finish
II. Physical Comfort
III. Tonal Qualities
IV. Volume
V. High/Low End Balance
VI. Responsiveness
VII. Air Requirements
VIII.Ease of Octave Transition
Rather than a critics corner, this could be a resource for players (esp. newer ones and/or collectors)to get a more rounded and distinct idea of what whistles might be like or would suit them; more descriptive than this one’s better than that one, etc.
BTW, today I messed around with a bunch of high end whistles in the Low G, A and Bflat keys.
Low G - O’Riordan, Copeland, Overton
O’Riordan - Tuneable, black anodized aluminum, nickel silver ferrules, black plastic mouthpiece and fipple. Somewhat smaller and perfectly rounded finger holes with finished yet gripping edges, narrower bore than Overton, round tubing.
Exquisite appearance, best tuning slide ever; very wide arced airway and comfortable mouthpiece.
Very clear, crisp, pure tone, easy to play, light weight, full and bright sound, best high octave of the three, unbeleivable balance between low and high end, easy transitions and air requirements, very difficult to make mistakes. Compares most to the sound of a human voice.
Copeland - Totally different in every way, esp. tonal quality which is full and somehow dark. Some chiff, almost amped resonant undertone. Requires more air. Almost bluesy reverberations. Sounds most like a flute. Easier to slip from high to low octave.
Tuneable brass, with delrin fipple set in brass mouthpiece, raised walls around top airway hole, much narrower arced and less wide airway, also very comfortable mouthpiece, substantial yet not heavy. Also stunning appearance. Some holes a bit bigger and almost elliptical; well finished and good grip.
Overton - One-piece round aluminum with integral mouthpiece and fipple. Wider bore and thicker walled. Finger holes are more like the Copeland. Very narrow and straight windway. Somewhere in between the other two in tonal qualities. Full and edgy; almost wiry or saw-like, like the bow played across fiddle strings somewhat. Air requirements are easy once you get used to it and need diaphragm concentration or can most easily slip from high octave to low. Most volume.
All three whistles have ample volume, are very different one from another, are expertly crafted truly wonderful instruments.
My personal taste orders them O’Riordan, Copeland, Overton.
A Whistles - Schultz Water Weasel, Abell African blackwood
WW - Tuneable grey PVC with red plastic fipple set into PVC mouthpiece. Airway has moderate arc and width and mouthpiece is comfortable. There happen to be no marks on the tubing which some hate, some love, and I don’t care about either way. This is round, wider bore and thicker wall than Abell. Finger holes are well finished with good grip and much bigger than Abell. This is one of the funkiest looking whistles I’ve seen (in a good way - not as in seedy or smelly but as in uniquely low profile cool). It is easy to play, has full round tone, good balance and transition between high and low ends, physically comfortable, easy air requirements, good volume.
This is a moderately priced whistle that blew me away; it’s terrific.
Abell - This is part of a two body one mouthpiece set and I happen to like the Bflat partner better. That said, this is a visually stunning whistle with African blackwood body and fipple and sterling silver mouthpiece and ferrules (one engraved). Perfect fit and finish. Small finger holes that are easy to cover consistently yet more difficult to half hole. The airway is peculiarly (as in all Abells)narrow side to side and the mouthpiece is stubby making it somewhat less comfortable for me than others initially. Some care needs to be taken with the approach as it is easy to miss your mark with air occasionally initially creating an almost no sound. This is chiffy, airy, but with very consistent lovely sweet tone, easy air requirements and transition and balance. It’s hard to describe - almost muted somewhat but a beautiful mellow flutey tone. The mouthpiece takes getting used to, but it’s worth it.
Bflat - Grinter, Schultz Thin Weasel, Abell, Overton (This will be abbreviated; I’m sleepy)
Grinter - Tuneable red lancewood, lancewood fipple and mouthpiece, brass fittings, narrow arced windway, finger holes close to the Abell.
TW - Tuneable Honduran rosewood, stainless steel fittings, widest bore, largest fingerholes, airway very much like the Grinter.
Abell - see above
Overton - see above
All in all - a great bunch of whistles. The three woods are very much alike in tonal qualities and perhaps this runs contrary to the belief that wood has unique character (esp when you consider the above comparison between O’Riordan, Copeland and Overton Low Gs).
Thank you and good night.
Philo
The block on my Abell Eb/D/C set (serial 
so perhaps one or more were a special order, otherwise the are, in all likelyhood, fitted with Delrin plugs.