Chiff and Fipple Forums

i noticed the far edge of the embouchure hole was a bit rough but so far it seems fine. i haven't tried the third octave (wouldn't know how!) but the first two octaves are good, it has a strong Boehm-like tone, rich in the first octave and with a bit of a reedy colour in the second. the second octav...

something a bit different: Rudall Carte cocuswood 1867 system flute. https://i.redd.it/c484r8yn50f51.jpg i've been on the fence about trying one of these for ages and finally decided to give it a go, so i picked this one up earlier this week. it'll never replace my 8-key flute, but i like the cylind...

Tony Millyard R&R-style 8 key flute in D.

i just got this back today after sending it off to have the keys added, so far i couldn't be happier.

the conical bore flute in general dates from the early Baroque period (i.e., the 1-key Baroque flute) when it replaced the various cylindrical flutes (especially the renaissance flute) that were in use previously. but that was a very different flute to the one we play and as far as i know is conside...

The boehm flute is so much the superior instrument, objectively. this was not considered the case by many people (especially composers) at the time it was invented, who felt its sound did not blend properly with the other woodwinds and it was incapable of being played in the way they wanted; some w...

i don't particularly like the term "Irish flute" (or "celtic flute" or "folk flute"), although if i'm talking to classical musicians i might call it the "19th century simple system ("Irish") flute" if i feel i need to be specific. i think "Irish...

carbon fibre violins [...] can now be seen being used in European symphony orchestras by some players out of interest, do you have any examples? i was talking about CF fiddles with a classical violinist friend recently, who had played one and seemed quite impressed with it, but i haven't seen one &...

i'm currently reading Ardal Powell's book "The Flute" and thought this passage was interesting (or at least amusing): Other German sources suggest that the strong low register Tromlitz exhibited and Devienne disliked may have been characteristic of German taste, not just of Tromlitz's - wh...

for my keyless D flute, i mailed the maker (Tony Millyard) in May and received the flute about two weeks later. that's because he makes keyless flutes in batches and happened to have one in stock; if i'd wanted something else it might have taken a bit longer. his original estimate for adding keys, a...

i very much doubt the McNeela "cocuswood" flute is actually made of the same cocuswood that was used to make flutes during the 19th century, as they claim. that wood is almost extinct and essentially unavailable for commercial use, and any new flute made from it would sell for a very high ...

i happened to be talking to a luthier yesterday about materials when Rocklite came up; apparently, it's some sort of resin-infused wood, but the particular resin and wood involved seems to be a trade secret.

last time i bought cork grease they offered me a 5 year warranty on it. i almost took it so i could claim another one when this one ran out...

Chris Abell sells whistle heads for Boehm 'C' flutes. perhaps he would be willing to make one for a picc too?

my old fiddle teacher played the hurdy-gurdy. that seems to be having a bit of a resurgence nowadays so perhaps it's not exotic, but it is fairly unlike most other instruments! perhaps well known is the Swedish nyckelharpa, which has a similar system of keyed strings.

i have a Millyard flute with the offset L3 hole. my understanding is he simply moves it slightly around the flute; he doesn't move it up or down or change the angle of the hole itself. so i can't imagine that would affect the tuning at all. i personally haven't noticed any problems but i'm still get...