Chiff and Fipple Forums

Geebawn you may not be familiar with my instruments but I've been making a brass Low G for about 20 years and it does not share its bore with any other key I make. The question that comes up for me is what determines a standard bore for any key and I haven't seen any info put out about how that is d...

Scottie there is a rule of thumb in making any wind blown instrument and that is by moving a hole closer to the head the note will sharpen and vice versa. Another rule is that by enlarging a hole it will sharpen the note and vice versa (lower the note). As long as the fundamental note is in tune wit...

Thank you Loren for the link which clearly shows that the airtream does not split but oscillates over the labium which is precisely my point.

Here's my 2 cents about how a fipple creates a tone. First off I hear a lot of comments about the "splitting" of the airstream which to my way of understanding doesn't actually happen. From my point of view as the airstream flows across the window it creates a low pressure in the bore and ...

Jack, here is some information regarding the differences between my aluminum A and the brass version. The aluminum uses a larger bore so is louder than the brass and has a cooler tone. The brass plays sweeter and easier in the upper octave due to its narrower bore and has a brighter tone I hope this...

Just as an aside comment, Shakuhachi makers which go way back have used these constrictions in the bore to tune their bamboo instruments. And they do this by painting lacquer (many layers) at different places in the bore to bring their instruments into tune. These are perturbations in the bore to ch...

From my experience what Tunborough has just said is correct. I've been using perturbations in my head joints for many years and the upper octaves have always been in tune as well as the lower and that's with a cylindrical bore.

www.reyburnwhistles.com

You're welcome Matt, yes the o-rings are rubber and they do allow for some expansion and contraction of the fit. The challenge is cutting the gland (groove) for the o-rings to sit in to get the right fit. I had a special cutter made that would do that using a router.

My original maple head used Teflon tape for the interface between the brass body tube and the maple socket cut into the head. It worked well but was a bit cumbersome so I chose to put double o'rings in the maple head which worked very well except in cases where the player forgot to lubricate the rin...

That appears to be a Slovakian Fujara which is an overtone flute. The two bottom holes are most likely used for tuning the instrument and not covered.

As Mr. Gumby has said shading the B note will help with those screechy, piercing high notes. This is why I tune my instruments to "Just temperament" as the B note is 14 cents flat of an Equal tuned scale which helps a LOT.

Ronaldo
www.reyburnwhistles.com

I agree Richard... that gizmo looks like it would work really well for smaller hands. A very simple piece of plastic with a low price.. worth a try for smaller hands.

I have just completed prototype development of the Aluminum Low F which fills out my line in both brass and aluminum. The new aluminum Low F is ready for new orders so come and get em. One of my customers just sent me a clip of Palmer’s Gate & Ormond Sound played by Turlach Boylan on his new Rey...

Matt, Richard is correct that the airway is tapered vertically so measuring it at the front end is not going to give the exit measurement. The width of the airway is 1/2" . The exit vertical dimension of the windway is less than 1mm. Of course there are other things going on in the fipple that ...

I taper the vertical dimension of the windways on all of my whistles. As Hans has pointed out this reduces the back pressure and makes it easier to hit the upper notes of the second octave. Also reduces buildup of moisture in the airway. I'm able to achieve this by cutting the airway into the fipple...