This is probably a very niche question and I'm not going to be surprised if I don't get a lot of responses but... does anybody have any experience with both the Doug Tipple and the Mark Foster ( of My Whistle and Flute) PVC flutes and how they compare to each other?
Failing that in particular, Does anybody have any experience with Foster flutes versus any other PVC flutes?
Thanks
PVC: Tipple flute vs. Mark Foster flute?
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MichaelRS
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rubenroks12
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Re: PVC: Tipple flute vs. Mark Foster flute?
I don't have a Mark Foster, but I do have a Tipple. I suppose the Tipple would have a more reliable second octave because of the Fajardo wedge. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Mark Foster Flutes have a uniform cylindrical bore throughout. The second octave will be progressively flatter as you go up the scale with standard fingering. You might need to employ renaissance fingering to get it in tune.
I have heard great things about Mark Foster Flutes. Good value for money, but he is a general maker of different kinds of folk flutes. I imagine it would play alright as a folk flute, but would not play exactly like a traditional Irish flute (reedy tone, honking lower octave, sweet upper octave). Doug Tipple is a specialist on Irish Flutes, if you are new to Irish flutes, I strongly recommend that you start with a tried and tested Tipple.
A cheaper alternative would be the Tilbury PVC flute available in G and D. They do not have a fajardo wedge, but the second octave is serviceable with standard fingering. The cut of the embouchure also lends itself to the reedy Irish tone.
Note: that being said, I'm still very interested in trying a Mark Foster flute. His work is beautiful in its own right; especially the aluminum ones. I just imagine that it would be a bit of a different animal to the Irish flute we know.
I have heard great things about Mark Foster Flutes. Good value for money, but he is a general maker of different kinds of folk flutes. I imagine it would play alright as a folk flute, but would not play exactly like a traditional Irish flute (reedy tone, honking lower octave, sweet upper octave). Doug Tipple is a specialist on Irish Flutes, if you are new to Irish flutes, I strongly recommend that you start with a tried and tested Tipple.
A cheaper alternative would be the Tilbury PVC flute available in G and D. They do not have a fajardo wedge, but the second octave is serviceable with standard fingering. The cut of the embouchure also lends itself to the reedy Irish tone.
Note: that being said, I'm still very interested in trying a Mark Foster flute. His work is beautiful in its own right; especially the aluminum ones. I just imagine that it would be a bit of a different animal to the Irish flute we know.
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MichaelRS
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- Location: Orange County, California
Re: PVC: Tipple flute vs. Mark Foster flute?
Thank you for your thoughts and taking time to respond. I have since ordered a couple of flutes from Mark Foster and I am rather pleased with them. One is the standard type low D PVC flute and the other is what he refers to is a Fife in the key of G. (Both demonstrated on his My Whistle and Flute YouTube channel)
While perhaps not as refined as the Tipple, I have found these flutes to be serviceable as well. Particularly for the price point
Thanks again
While perhaps not as refined as the Tipple, I have found these flutes to be serviceable as well. Particularly for the price point
Thanks again