M & E or Dixon

dakotamouse · Post by **dakotamouse** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 10:52 am

I'm thinking of taking the plunge and ordering a polymer flute. I'm debating between the Dixon or the M & E. I would be interrested in your opinions. Is the price difference worth it for the M & E? How about ease of playing. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Mary

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 11:01 am

An M&E flute can be very good, but it's a bit bulky (heavy, not so tapered on the outside) and the finishing is horrible. I had to sand every hole with my dremel tool to get it to be decent. If you don't want to take that chance, go with the Dixon 3-piece. The Dixon requires a slightly more focused embouchure (with your lips) than a properly finished M&E, but one can get used to that in a short time. So, I think you should go for the Dixon 3-piece. It has a beautiful tone and plays fairly easily.

Jessie

dakotamouse · Post by **dakotamouse** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 6:09 pm

Wow, you'd think finish wouldn't even be a concern with the extra bucks they want. Anyone else have thoughts. So far I'm leaning to the Dixon.

Mary

Thanks Jessie

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 8:01 pm

Mary,

I haven't played the Dixon 3pc., so I can't comment on that one. I do however have an M&E and I agree with Jessie: It's heavy and rather large. Mine also has very rough tone holes, which I found extremely dissapointing considering the price.

OTH, it is very easy to play - not nearly as nice as my Copley, but certainly easier than my Healy or the cheap Dixon whistle/flute combo.

Jessie,

Do you remember exactly what Dremel bit you used to smooth the inside of the tone holes? I'd like to do the same to my M&E, but don't want to tear it up by using the wrong bit....

Loren

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 8:21 pm

I have jewelry sanding bits for my dremel tool. It's very important to use a sanding bit and not a grinding one, or you'll change the size and shape of the holes. And I would recommend fine sanding as opposed to coarse. My bits are less than a quarter of an inch in diamter and come to a point.

Jessie

RudallRose · Post by **RudallRose** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 8:31 pm

I'd not recommend sanding bits at all.
The key to making polymer shine is white rouge. The key to taking the unfinished stuff from the inside of the holes are felt bits. Anything abrasive (even felt if it's on there too long) will change the shape of the hole.
Use a SOFT cone-shaped felt-tipped bit (they're white and come in hard, too, so be careful!), spin it onto some white rouge, then take it to the hole carefully and slowly, not lingering into any spot for too long. Remember, it's plastic, so it will become maleable with high temperature spinning on it.

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Wed Oct 03, 2001 9:10 pm

just out of curiosity...have you thought about a Seery delrin flute? I've not played one, but his whistles are super nice. The finish was beautiful at any rate, and the tone was quite 'flutey' in nature. Just a thought.

B~

Jens_Hoppe · Post by **Jens_Hoppe** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 4:27 am

My recommendation? Before you commit to anything, check out the archives on the woodenflute mailing list at

http://archive.woodenflute.com/woodenflute-archives

No fancy search facilities I'm afraid so you will have to be a little patient. On the other hand there is much to be gained from the expertise on that list. Last year, when I was considering a synthetic flute I read through lots of discussions on the merits of the various flutes (and ended up buying a Seery).

Cheers,
Jens

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 8:19 am

While Tom Doorley of Danu plays magic on a Seery flute, I have found every one I've played to be cloudy in tone and EXTREMELY heavy to pick up.

David...do you have any experience with jewelry making or jewelry sanding? I referred to fine sanding bits. They are actually polishing bits...it's true - you can polish a surface without adding a foreign substance.

Jessie

dakotamouse · Post by **dakotamouse** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 10:47 am

Well the Dixon is on order from the Whistleshop and a pair of whistles to boot, damn this WhOA. Thanks much guys.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 11:09 am

Wow, the Seery is even heavier than the M&E?!? Yikes-a-hootie!!

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 11:48 am

Yeah, Loren, Delrin is extremely heavy. The Seery flute also has a thick outer bore and a thin inner bore.

Jessie

jomac · Post by **jomac** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 12:30 pm

I'm buying a use M&E. Haven't got it yet, but I'll tell you what I think when I get it. I won't be able to compare it with a Dixon or Seery, though, since I never tried them.

toddyboy50 · Post by **toddyboy50** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 5:36 pm

Hello....how do you think the Dixon would compare to an Olwell bamboo, in terms of ease of play and sound/tone quality ?

RudallRose · Post by **RudallRose** » Thu Oct 04, 2001 6:22 pm

Jessie:
Yes, plenty with jewelry-gauge bits/wheels as many of the rings/keys are sterling after all!
I still prefer the felt and rouge for the delrin work. Again, the key is to remove what's there and work the surface gently....and the rouge-impregnated wheeels, etc all have silicone as the abrasive. Again, it's plastic and I'm not at all comfortable putting any abrasive to it unless my intent is to manipulate the hole size and shape. it can be done, but I wascertainly directing it to an untrained hand. If it's a trained hand, then go for it, but I still believe you'd prefer the result from the felt and rouge. Takes a tad longer, but there's certainly much more room for any error, I think