Delrin flutes?

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Le flute padawan
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Delrin flutes?

Post by Le flute padawan »

Hi guys,
I am thinking about buying my first flute, and I need some advice on good beginner flutes. My teacher recommended Delrin flutes, are these good beginner flutes? Thanks
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by AaronFW »

Le flute padawan wrote:Hi guys,
I am thinking about buying my first flute, and I need some advice on good beginner flutes. My teacher recommended Delrin flutes, are these good beginner flutes? Thanks
Delrin is a material used to make flutes. There are a lot of makers who use Delrin but some are better than others.

Here are a few recent discussions about Delrin and non-wooden flutes:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=105394

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=106862
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Nanohedron »

Le flute padawan wrote:My teacher recommended Delrin flutes, are these good beginner flutes? Thanks
As Aaron said, it depends on the maker. I think your teacher was recommending Delrin on the basis of it being comparatively inexpensive and near-ironclad for conditions that might do in a wooden one. Made right, a Delrin flute can offer you everything a well-made wooden flute can, only without the upkeep. Also, it's a good visual substitute for blackwood, so there's that. Some people take a Delrin flute along when they go camping, for instance. You don't have to worry about it as much.
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Le flute padawan »

I think the flutemaker that my teacher recommended is named Desi Seery. Are his flutes made well?
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Nanohedron »

Yes, indeed.

IIRC, Tom Doorley played one on the Danú album Think Before You Think. Here's a track that pretty extensively showcases what a Seery can do in expert hands:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gOSldsYIQ
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Loren »

Le flute padawan wrote:I think the flutemaker that my teacher recommended is named Desi Seery. Are his flutes made well?
Didn’t Des Seery pass away in 2015? I think someone else was going to carry on making the flutes but I’m not sure of the current status.

Regardless, I believe I’d not be alone feeling that in recent years there have been better Delrin flute options, particularly for the learner. Usually I suggest buying from a maker in your home country or region of practical. This way any future repairs/adjustments or the addition of keys (where applicable) will be quicker and less expensive. If you tell us what country you’re in, we can make some recommendations.
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Le flute padawan »

I am in America. I dunno if Seery died, my teacher said that he knows Desi Seery
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Loren »

Seems like maybe you should just ask your teacher to procure a flute for you then?
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Steve Bliven »

As Loren suggests, there are a sizable number of flute makers who work in delrin. In the US, there is Dave Copley and Walt Sweet whose work is regularly mentioned here for good quality at a reasonable price. There are several others that I'm sure will be mentioned.

There are presently two mentioned in the Used Instruments Forum
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=106874
and
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=106874

Either look to be worth investigation and might be fine for a starter.

Best wishes.

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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by kkrell »

Loren wrote:Didn’t Des Seery pass away in 2015? I think someone else was going to carry on making the flutes but I’m not sure of the current status.
kkrell wrote:Des died a couple of years back. His daughter, who was also making flutes and was setting up shop in Galway, I think, was killed before then (auto accident?). I think Desi had a son, not sure if he's carrying on, or someone else, but they're still being made to order:

https://www.facebook.com/seery.flutes
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Nanohedron »

Somehow I missed the sad news about D. Seery. Le flute padawan, you may want to pass this on to your teacher.

Years ago I tried one of Seery's Delrin flutes, and I recall a very favorable impression. A used one made by Desi would be worth a shot; I'm unfamiliar with the present line. But I agree with the others that for convenience and ease of service, in your case a US maker is definitely worth considering.
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Le flute padawan »

Thanks for the tips, guys. The reason I came on here and didn't just buy a new Seery flute is because I wanted to get people's opinions on them, and maybe find out if there are any better flutes. But thanks for the advice, I will look those flutemakers up
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by jim stone »

I have a Copley bottom of the line delrin flute, and I've also owned two Seerys.
FWIW, while I liked the Seery flute, I like the Copley, which is cheaper, as well.
Certainly the Copley is a very good flute, and it's readily available from Dave C.
The bottom-line Copley has a delrin tuning slide (delrin on delrin) which
works fine, in my experience--well enough that I never miss a metal
slide.
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by JimmyManley »

I recently got into the flute. Doug Tipple was recommended to me and I after 'talking' to him via email I ordered one of his delrin flutes. I didn't have anything to compare it to but i have to say it seems well made, is in tune over the 2 octaves that I use and I'm very pleased with it.
I have since got a wooden flute that I prefer the sound of but i still play the Tipple pretty much everyday. It was very affordable though the UK government imposed a hefty tax. I would definately reccomend Doug Tipple for a first delrin flute
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Re: Delrin flutes?

Post by Peter Duggan »

Doug Tipple makes flutes out of PVC pipe, not Delrin.
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