Chiff and Fipple Forums

I suggest all 8 keys, but for 95% Irish music you either 6 or 0 keys. For non-Irish, you probably want the full chromatic-cism. Reasons to desire certain keys: Eb - Necessary for accidental D#/Eb. Necessary for third register, and enhances the E note quite a bit. Most ITM players turn the key out an...

I think the wood trimmed flutes from Windward are particularly beautiful. Not to ignore the quality of the workmanship.

Although I just bought this 1840s Rudall & Rose, I'm in need of cash for a new car, rather than spending to renovate it. Thus it goes back on the market. This is a large-holed, Patent head flute with nicholson type right hand section - eased finger holes and up-turned long F. All metal pieces in...

Wearing a Hair Shirt As someone who took a long time to build consistency and strength, I am sympathetic to the argument that an easier to play flute is more rewarding and enjoyable for a newcomer. I have had several 19th C flutes with "harder" embouchures, and I now absolutely love the t...

These "folk" flutes were common, and are decent enough players, but a bit soft for a session. Intimate rather than boisterous. They play OK in the keys of D and G, but are difficult for any other sharp or flat keys. Not a concert flute like Terry's 8-key Greg Larsen style design; those are...

In answer to your question, my lip covers very very little of the blowhole itself. Just a millimeter or so. That sounds like very little coverage. I've heard 1/4 to 1/3 of the hole, but I'm not a teacher. If you cover too little, then you will definitely be sharp. You can adjust the cork, but now y...

I also had to work to avoid playing sharp. Jim's and Paddler's comments helped me a lot. One other question is: How much of the embouchure hole do your lips cover? In-person flute lessons once a month or even once per quarter are very helpful in speeding your learning and correction habits before th...

I have couple of questions: (1) Is it important for the embouchure shape/size to "match" or be "tuned" to the bore and/or flute hole size? One of the first things flute players do when they meet is to swap their flute heads, e.g. Olwell head on a small-bore R&R. (2) Is it be...

Jonathon/Paddler The Patent head flute has a tuning "knob" that is geared to move the "cork" in a pre-determined "optimal" way. If you want to change cork position to be different from the manufacturer's design, you would need to physically add or subtract length. There...

My Patent Head R&R #4676 is pretty much the same as Julien's at 11.5x10.9 (to the best of my gauge reading ability. I'm sure it is original, as the rest of the flute appears to have never been played. I'm wondering why you call this a "large" embouchure - not that I have a database of ...

I understand the aesthetic desire to have a wooden flute, and this is not an impossible quest. The problem is that many if not most of the 19th Century Boehm flutes from England will be high-pitch, as in A450, which is half-way from D to Eb. And the good concert pitch flutes from the 20th Century mi...

Congrats Jonathan on your purchase. After bidding up all those others , you deserve to get one for yourself.

It will be interesting to hear your assessment and comparison with the other 19th C flutes you have.

Given the sales price plus $500 - $800 in repairs, and you are pretty much at $3,000. Great for a large-holed Rudall, but high for a small holed one. Personally, I don't think a renovated Rudall & Rose 8-key should be cheaper than a modern 6-key. All the Rudalls I've played have acceptable inton...

Adding a C foot adds considerably to the price, as that is a lot of extra work for the maker. Not to mention the wait time. You can get a great 19th C antique flute for much cheaper. $2,000 - $4,000. The lower price is available it the flute does not have the inscription "Rudall & Rose"...

What Terry Says: And, having got to the right geometry, I don't find any need for holding the flute up - pinned between the chin, the LH 1 knuckle pushing it in, and the right thumb tip pushing it out, it can't possibly fall down! And the benefits are many: - the left thumb can wave around in the a...