Flute Materials
Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:34 am
No answer to the dilemma...
I am currently playing a Sweet "Shannon," my first flute. I chose the Shannon in order to get some experience in order to narrow down what I want in the long term. The Shannon is fine, and I will probably keep it.
What I want for a long term flute is a small holed Rudall and Rose design, with a fairly small bore. I do not play in sessions, and I am more a hobbyist than a serious musician.
The dilemma is what material to go with. I have played pipes for a couple of decades and love the feel (and the idea) of wood, but live in climate that is extremely hard on wood instruments. I am not sure I want all the maintenance concerns of wood, nor do I want to be worried about cracks.
There is a lot to be said for delrin. I know there is some debate about quality of sound versus wood, but my ear is not sensitive enough to discern the difference. My hesitation is because delrin is made from formaldehyde, which spooks me a bit. (I know the Shannon is Delrin.)
Some whistles are being made from dymondwood, but I have not found a flutemaker who uses it. Geoffrey Ellis makes flues from resin infused wood, but it apprears that he does not make the kind of flute I am looking for.
I would be very interested to hear any responses, advice, suggestions...
Thanks to all
David
I am currently playing a Sweet "Shannon," my first flute. I chose the Shannon in order to get some experience in order to narrow down what I want in the long term. The Shannon is fine, and I will probably keep it.
What I want for a long term flute is a small holed Rudall and Rose design, with a fairly small bore. I do not play in sessions, and I am more a hobbyist than a serious musician.
The dilemma is what material to go with. I have played pipes for a couple of decades and love the feel (and the idea) of wood, but live in climate that is extremely hard on wood instruments. I am not sure I want all the maintenance concerns of wood, nor do I want to be worried about cracks.
There is a lot to be said for delrin. I know there is some debate about quality of sound versus wood, but my ear is not sensitive enough to discern the difference. My hesitation is because delrin is made from formaldehyde, which spooks me a bit. (I know the Shannon is Delrin.)
Some whistles are being made from dymondwood, but I have not found a flutemaker who uses it. Geoffrey Ellis makes flues from resin infused wood, but it apprears that he does not make the kind of flute I am looking for.
I would be very interested to hear any responses, advice, suggestions...
Thanks to all
David