The Howard Low D whistle is made in the UK and has a brass barrel, black powder-coated finish, with a plastic fipple (mouthpiece). It has a unique, "reedy" (haunting) tone. The plastic fipple has become accepted and favoured by many professional players, due the consistency of sound compared to the wooden fipple. Howard low whistles are not hard blown nor do they use much air. They move solidly between the two octaves. With practice they can be played loudly or quietly in both octaves without significant changes in pitch.